what's that rig?

[newtothis]

I saw an old St Thom of Cunliffe video of him sailing in a Thames barge.

The 'boom' is neither at the top of the sail, like a gaff, nor at the bottom, but instead goes out at an angle, almost from the tack to half way up the luff.
Does this style of rig have a name? And what are the pros/cons? I only ask out of curiosity, and because I saw this pic of a very basic sail that also uses the same principle.

 

[Mudisox]

Same as an OPI ?

 

[wombat88]

Sprit or spritsail, plenty on the interweb.

 

[newtothis]

Sprit or spritsail, plenty on the interweb.

Thanks; I'd heard the term 'spritsail', but never known what it was. I thought it was some sort of foresail.

 

[Medway Matt]

The rig is very efficient in terms of manpower, sailing barges were generally worked by a crew of two, that is skipper +1. The sail plan's also versatile with different sails set to suit the situation. The rig can also be dropped to shoot bridges with relative ease, though hufflers (extra crew) were taken on board temporarily for this.

Sailing barges have a decent turn of speed, my dad used to talk of sailing at 12 knots. The stability of the hull shape also gave the advantage of not having to sail in ballast if they had no cargo.

 

[johnalison]

Sailing barges have a decent turn of speed, my dad used to talk of sailing at 12 knots. The stability of the hull shape also gave the advantage of not having to sail in ballast if they had no cargo.

Hence my invariable rule of never trying to cross tacks in front of a barge.

I find it sad that we only ever see barges unladen. I would love to watch one sailing with the gunwales almost awash, better still if it were a stackie. I always think of the Optimist as a foetal sprits'l barge.

 

[Daydream believer]

The rig is very efficient in terms of manpower, sailing barges were generally worked by a crew of two, that is skipper +1.

I was always told that it was Skipper+ 1 crew Plus a dog
I think they were used for sailing in fog & general notice of change of course, ie 1 kick for changing to stbd, 2 kicks for port & automatic barking at the other blokes dog when too close
So in those days it was lots of barks for " get out the b..y way"
That is where the current 5 hoots for " I am unsure of your intentions" was started.

 

[Medway Matt]

I was always told that it was Skipper+ 1 crew Plus a dog
I think they were used for sailing in fog & general notice of change of course, ie 1 kick for changing to stbd, 2 kicks for port & automatic barking at the other blokes dog when too close
So in those days it was lots of barks for " get out the b..y way"
That is where the current 5 hoots for " I am unsure of your intentions" was started.

Of course! I'd forgotten about the dog.

 

[Medway Matt]

Hence my invariable rule of never trying to cross tacks in front of a barge.

I find it sad that we only ever see barges unladen. I would love to watch one sailing with the gunwales almost awash, better still if it were a stackie. I always think of the Optimist as a foetal sprits'l barge.

It'd be great to see a loaded barge trading and I love your idea of the the Optimist.

 

[mjcoon]

... I always think of the Optimist as a foetal sprits'l barge.

I live near a local airfield (White Waltham) where a blimp used to fly years ago. I had the whimsical idea that mass releases of party helium balloons were its spawn...