Hi Shemaya. On Paradox we've used stay covers over the batten parrels - slippery, flexible, easy to cut, UV proof but I reckon your cable tie thingies will be even better (and cheaper).

Hi Evgeney. Rubber buffers weren't a problem on the Sunbird. I was thinking of the type you see on the side of e.g. wooden dinghies - this sort of thing. Obviously the smaller area of the buffer/fender in contact with the mast, the better. If you're in anything of a seaway the motion of the boat keeps the battens moving relative to the mast, so friction tends to be limited.

Hi Evginny. My wife and I sailed a Sunbird 32 junk schooner for 30 years so I recognise all the problems you've mentioned. Great to see that you are gradually solving them one by one, and that the site's regulars are helping out so well as usual. My wife and I now sail a Freedom 39 which we converted to schooner junk and are slowly revisiting things all over again.

You may find that you can ease the sail-lifting problem even more by fitting a strong strop (=line) between the deck and your new halyard blocks. The aim is to make the angle between the two line directions as big as possible = less friction. Regarding the slap of battens against the masts, foam (yes UV may be a problem) or 'rubber' buffers (as used on dinghy gunwhales) can help: you can rivet or screw the latter on.

Sailing downwind with a schooner is a pleasure, especially goosewinged in the right conditions. Annie has given great advice; it's really down to you and how your boat performs with the sail hauled in hard or eased out. Reefing is of course important wherever you place the sail. Generally we haul it in tight once it starts flapping from side to side. This helps stop the boat rolling and takes unfair pressure off the foremast. I remember Robin Blain of Sunbirds telling me once of the time he and Alan Boswell, who designed Sunbirds and was a partner in Sunbird Yachts, scared Needlespar who supplied the masts by crossing the Solent in a F8 from behind with all sail set: not to be advised but a good test then of what some now consider a weak foremast.

Enjoy your boat. We are presently in Brest, France, but are aiming at the Med this summer. There are a few junks in the Med: check out our boat locations maps.

Evgeniy Goldshtein wrote:

Ok, sailing on the main with foresail sheeted to the center line worked for me.

Well, that's good news, anyway.

Could you guys tell what solutions exist for making the sailing more quiet? 

In my case I have a nice "boom" when the battens hit the mast (on a light wind usually), 

This is particularly noticeable with a metal mast.  Your best bet is to keep the batten parrels pretty tight and perhaps use contact cement to stick something like closed-cell foam to the battens where they hit the mast.

squeaks from battens and/or ropes rubbing the mast

You could try putting some grease on the ropes if it really irritates you.  But I find it quite a comforting and companionable noise, myself.

and lately squeaks from the wood cones that holds the mast in the partners.

This sounds like your wedges are moving.  I have used an unorthodox but so far successful method of both preventing them from moving and from squeaking: I sent some foaming polyurethane glue ("Gorilla") down the gaps.  Not enough completely to glue it all up, but enough to turn all the wedges into one more-or-less solid one.  I doubt the glue will stick particularly well to either the mast or the partners, but can no doubt chisel some of the wedges out if I have to.  If your wedges are very good ones, I suggest you number them, remove them, lightly grease mast and partners and then put them back in order before adding the glue, to make them easier to remove another time.

Masts and battens are made of aluminium and yard, boom and battens also covered with PVC pipe in the area where it touches the mast.

I've heard about foaming the battens, but how could it hold the sun?

Thanks!

Ok, sailing on the main with foresail sheeted to the center line worked for me.

Could you guys tell what solutions exist for making the sailing more quiet? 

In my case I have a nice "boom" when the battens hit the mast (on a light wind usually), squeaks from battens and/or ropes rubbing the mast and lately squeaks from the wood cones that holds the mast in the partners.

Masts and battens are made of aluminium and yard, boom and battens also covered with PVC pipe in the area where it touches the mast.

I've heard about foaming the battens, but how could it hold the sun?

Thanks!