split rig sailing-again

[shaunbarrymcmillan]

When I posted on this topic recently -someone asked me to be more specific. I was specifically thinking about ketches and yawls -historically Harry Pidgeon circumnavigated twice with Islander (a ketch) . Capt. Joshua Slocum obviously did it in Spray (a yawl.)

Specifically I was wondering about using a yawl rig with a small boat (25ft). With a yawl things are out of the way more. As John Welsford stated he has used that rig in his small craft designs.

So I wondered about it-keeping things simple and also using the mizzen for multiple purposes- ie a riding sail and for ease of sail reduction. Also-to aviod the high cost of a manufactured wind vane. Possibly a yawl with a simple sheet-tiller arrrangement. Currently I am trying to find Letcher's out of print book on self-steering in used book inter-net sites.

Some may query me about an electric atuo pilot but I really hate electrics - the less I have the better. The only real benefit to sailing from electrics in my opinion are LED nav lights and may be depth sounders.-but that's my opinion.

With my last boat I often just waited for tides and acquired a taste for lead lines.

I just don't see that old skills should go to waste , or be forgotten, and there is no need to make sailing and boating more expensive- me being just middle class ans all- Ted Turner I'm not. People used these old techniques for hundreds of years before our new flangled stuff.

[StevenBauer]

I'm interested in reading this book also: http://www.alibris.com/search/books/qwork/5998223/used/Self-Steering%20for%20Sailing%20Craft

How about a review after you finish it? :)


Steven

[TerryLL]

Here's a very simple yawl that dates from the mid 1800s, if not earlier. The boat is a 23' Cape Ann Dory from Howard Chapelle's American Small Sailing Craft. The masts are identical except for length, so the mizzen can be set in the fwd step. There are actually two fwd steps so she can be sailed with main and jib only. Very handy rig that has numerous variations. Running downwind, for example, the main was set alone in the fwd step and the mizzen sprit used to boom out the foot of the mainsail. She was not fast, or particularly dry, but handled just about any weather with a comforting predictability.

http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k365/TerryLava/cape_ann1.jpg?t=1233626189

[johngsandusky]

I sailed a 26' yawl for 6 years, mostly without power, year round. She is very handy. Her mizzen is not very small, and added plenty of drive, in spite of what is written about mizzens. With two headsails, main and mizzen, she also would self steer often enough to make her easy to cruise. I could tie the helm off and make lunch, or set the nav lights (oil). If it was cold I'd tie off the tiller and stand in the companionway out of the breeze. Yawls are good.

[Paul Pless]

Here's a very simple yawl...ketch?

[TerryLL]

Yes, KETCH. What an idiot I am at times. Thanks for the correction.

[James McMullen]

Yawls are great--a real sailor's sailboat. I regularly sail a 36' Winslow yawl and a 20' lugger cat-yawl. Once you learn how to make that mizzen do its duty steering the boat for you, you'll never want to be without it.

[David G]

Yes, KETCH. What an idiot I am at times. Thanks for the correction.

Terry -- Y'all had me confused there for a minute ;)

[TerryLL]

Terry -- Y'all had me confused there for a minute ;)


Sorry. Just a burst of cerebral flatulence on my part.

[Vinny&Shawn]

I have owned both a 37' ketch and a37'yawl, both hulls were well suited for their respective rigs. Both boat were a joy to sail and exhibited similar characteristics under all points of sail. The mizzen was the first sail up and only came down when we put the boat to sleep,waiting for our return. The mizzen stayed up all the time even at anchor ,the only time this sail was ineffective was sailing in a blow close on the wind. But splitting the rig,jib and jigger,was a quick reduction when you needed time to,reef other sails,make lunch,etc. On a reach, strong!!! I would say these rigs did well at self tending for periods of time.

My present boat a gaff cutter and my first boat a Philip Rhodes designed cutter both lend themselves smartly to self steering. These boats seem to answer their helms quite readily for balance and self steering. They settle down to their own rhythm easily.

Thoughtful consideration for combining hull,rig and sails are the key to balance for any well founded vessel!!