What's this rig ???

[Ship's Cat 73]

This one's got me ~~~ I've tried all the search words and expressions I can think of on Google but can't find any info on this type of rig.
I'll attempt to post a few pics. (Hope they work?)

The yacht which is around 80 ft in length has what I can only describe as a 'one-piece-rig'. The mast, mainsail boom & the "bow boom"? (or "fore boom") are all in one piece. (I can't think of another name for that boom onto which the foresail attaches at its foot ~ that's why I'm asking these questions -- I need to know!) That one piece, self-supporting rig fits onto what looks like a "turntable mast step" and I assume that the whole thing swings on that step.
I can also only assume that if the foresail swings to starboard the mainsail must swing to port??? (and vice versa)

The foresail looks like a fairly standard furler with only one jib sheet as it runs on a short self tacking track which sticks out by not much more than a metre on each side of the mast.

So, can anyone tell me what this type of rig is called, and how it works?

 

[Tam Lin]

Aerorig/ Airorig?

 

[Tranona]

Yes Aerorig. Briefly popular with some custom builders about 10-15 years ago. Did not catch on because of cost and complexity - despite looking simple it is not. Developments in sail handling - furling mains, electric winches etc took away some of its advantages.

 

[jwilson]

Yes Aerorig. Briefly popular with some custom builders about 10-15 years ago. Did not catch on because of cost and complexity - despite looking simple it is not. Developments in sail handling - furling mains, electric winches etc took away some of its advantages.

+1
I also seem to recall some legal cafuffle about design ownership/patents a few years back.

 

[pmagowan]

That is Fly, a ~72' custom built boat with aerorig. The whole mast does spin round which allows sail trim with 1 rope. It was made by the owner of carbospars and is a no expenses spared kind of build. The mast, as you would expect, is carbon fibre. The hull is, IIRC, a wood composite. She can and has been sailed single handed transatlantic. I think she is for sale.

 

[Zen Zero]

Is that Ardrossan?

 

[Ship's Cat 73]

Thanks guys for the info.
It has been sitting on the pontoon alongside the wall there for some time, and although I haven't spotted any 'for sale' sign on her she may well be up for sale privately(?) as it isn't on Sunbird's brokerage list.

. . . and yes Zen Zero, that IS Ardrossan. These pics were taken yesterday ~ a day when, weather-wise, it could have been Syvota/Mourtos!

 

[LittleShip]

I'm almost certain that many years ago when crossing over to the Hebrides in my sailing days that this is the boat that "cruised" by as if I was stood still :ambivalence:

Tom.

 

[tadr]

Aerorig and Freewing are trade names for variations on the Balestron rig. Google that and lots of images turn up.

 

[rob2]

There were various attempts to lanch a swing rig of this basic design principle over several decades. I well remember beating up to a catamaran fitted with one, thinking to luff him a little for fun (I've softened with age). It wasn't until the manouvre had been detected that I noticed the swing rig which allowed him to point higher than I could with a fin keeler! I did recognise one of the crew from issues of PBO and suspect that the review of the rig mentioned my mistake to demonstrate how effective it was. The boat I was sailing was a T24, one of those boats which really get into a groove when beating.

Rob.

 

[Rowana]

Ask Snowleopard, poster of this parish. He has one on his eponymous catamaran.

 

[Sybarite]

Ask Snowleopard, poster of this parish. He has one on his eponymous catamaran.

Here's another fantastic version:

http://www.yachtmonalisa.com. It has now changed name: i saw it moored next to Skip Novak's boat at Ushuaia when he was doing the heavy weather series for Yachting World.

 

[Sybarite]

Yes Aerorig. Briefly popular with some custom builders about 10-15 years ago. Did not catch on because of cost and complexity - despite looking simple it is not. Developments in sail handling - furling mains, electric winches etc took away some of its advantages.

However when tests were done back then with two similar boats, the aerorig was faster on all points of sailing. Bénéteau are actively testing an amended version and I wouldn't be surprised to see it soon as a standard offering, or, at least, an option.

http://www.beneteau.com/Sailing-Yachts/Wing-Sail

I think the idea is great. It simplifies downwind sailing and, in the event of a sudden squall you can let the whole lot feather.

Gerard Dijkstra has also said that he will specify it for his next boat.