A lovely sight, Phil.

The sunshine helps to show the bulging panels as you tack your boat. Moreover, as you reef to three panels, you appear to do it the way I do; first drop it a bit too far and then re-hoist it a little. This makes the sail stretch out and set better. Also note the moderate twist in the sail with only tree panels up. I think that twist of the fanned top section adds a bit to the camber and is good. Anyway, I find that the three top panels make a very efficient little sail, which surely can propel the boat to windward in a blow.

Good job!

Arne

I got this youtube video tonight of the Brenda B taken and posted by a newer JRA member and his wife after a fun introductory junk sail around the harbor.  I don't know how to make into a hyperlink.

Phil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD55DYEgFXg

Phil,

I think most readers here, including I would be happy with sails setting as well as your sail does.

Don't worry, be happy!

Arne 

I got back yesterday from a solo three day cruise around Penobscot and Blue Hill bays here in Maine. Great sailing with winds were mostly 10-15 kts. At different locations seas varied up to three feet. The combination of boat and sail gave me so much confidence. At times sailing with 7 up got me where I wanted to go with little drama. I made enough of my own when I was too focused on a chart and lost my hat to the sheet in an accidental jibe. Later, on my way home I was so pleased, sailing pretty much on one course almost straight downwind with the full sail at very close to 90 degrees in following seas. The boat averaged over 4.5 kts over four hours. The old rig couldn't come anywhere close.

Another highlight came when I was tacking down the Deer Island Thorofare with seven panels up planning to stop in Stonington to get a food item. A similar sized sailboat intersected with me and followed along for a bit. Later after a trip to the store and a cup of coffee in that great fishing port I was met at the dock by a sprightly woman who said she was in that boat, a Carl Alberg, Cape Dory Typhoon. She was quite curious to know what the rig was and what boat I had. Said she wasn't able to point as high and couldn't keep up. While is a bit apples to oranges both boats displace 2000 lbs both have similar ballast 40% to 45% ratios, the Compac draws 2 ft, the the Cape Dory 2.5. The biggest difference is in the CD's hull shape with its full keel. Still it felt awfully good to know that a sail I'd sewn myself, one with a reputation for not going well to weather on a boat that doesn't have a reputation for pointing that well caught that sailor's attention and curiosity. She also mentioned that winds that night were forecast to gust up to 30 kts. I was already headed for Pulpit harbor a great hurricane hole that I knew would be filling up. But with my shallow draft I able to settle into the most protected corner, away from most of the large boats and schooners to spend a quiet night.

On a different subject, the day before heading out I took a young couple sailing who had contacted me through the JRA. They were so enthusiastic about the the junk rig and even more so after an afternoon on the water. They had a million questions which I answered as well as I could and they were a delight to spend time with. I would wager we will be hearing from them here at some point.

It's been interesting few days with the Compac. I was out the other day with a couple of the grandchildren enjoying a comfortable sail with 4 panels up in 15 knots. The 19 ft Compac carries 40% ballast in it's shallow keel. In no hurry to get anywhere and no pirates in sight, I was happy with the progress up the harbor against the wind and an incoming tidal current. As the wind gusted stronger and waves picked up a bit I missed some tacks mostly from a starboard tack and even on good tacks it took boat took longer than it should to find it's way back on course. The sail back was great, still four panels up at what must have been hull speed or close to it, almost like surfing. Having a heavy weather helm, which was unusual, should have tipped me off to what was going on. While I've only sailed Brenda B with her new rig off and on over seven weeks, I have broad reached at hull speed with 6 panels up and a light helm

Back to the boat a couple of days later with a tape measure just to look things over and re-check sail balance. Full sail was still at 10% but the batten parrels allow a 12- 13% balance when reefed. To keep the sail aft I guess I should have sewn the pocket gaps to allow for shorter batten parrels but I had changed the mast location aft by 4 inches and expected needing more balance. Not so. I also noticed that the parrels had stretched and were too slack on starboard tacks and may also have played a part. That was easily fixed. It took a little longer before I noticed what must have been the real problem. My balanced kick up rudder not only had lifted quite a way up but also was fouled with heavy growth that somehow clung to the blades slippery molded plastic surface. Both were easily fixed.

I've been out once since. In light wind, 5 kts or so and wondering about the difference in balance when reefed. I found that letting go of the tiller under full sail I very slowly rounded up, as one might expect. With one panel reefed, sailing slightly free of close hauled, and the tiller completely free a curious thing happened. The boat would sail for three or four minutes osculating 2 or 3 degrees either side of the original compass heading. While that was pretty cool in that situation I'm thinking I may at some point want to consider bringing the reefed sail closer to 10% without having to re-cut and re-sew pocket gaps. If I should things that come to mind are moving the yard sling point from about 4 or 5 inches aft of center to the yard's center or adding LHPs

With the tape measure out I discovered something else but that will be for another post. It's after midnight and morning is just around the corner