PS: Could I ask you to measure the actual dept of camber in the sail, like on the photo below? How close did you come to the calculated version? Remember to subtract the batten thickness  -  guess why I say that…

I did measure it without using any long stick and therefore it's not super accurate, but it was an impressive 50cm (45 mm battens included). It makes 45cm, but batten pockets are a bit loos and it will also add some? And tack-line was not installed, which would have decreased it a bit?

On calculations it was 8percent of 460cm = 36,8cm.

Will measure it more exactly on both tacks next time.

Edit: Soo, the lower panel was 47cm (-4,5cm) and 37 cm on the right and left tacks., when measured again a bit more exactly...

First two trials were done with my new sail and happy with the result! The first time was a mess as it was with dropping wind and waves didn't let me do any changes at sea but after some adjustments, it was a pleasure to see it all shaping up. There is more that can be done and comments would help for sure!

Arne Kverneland wrote:

However, I see that David only uses six panels on his Weaverbird, so I may worry without reason. I don’t know if each batten has a downhaul on Weaverbird. What do you say, David?

Arne

Initially, I had a spanned downhaul to pull down the first two reefs, but now, I have a lower LHP as it will haul down the reefs and haul the luff aft at the same time. The weight of the battens makes a difference - mine are quite light. I don't know what Hard will end up with. The sail shape is the same, but the sail may not need to be hauled aft so much as on Weaverbird.

Hi Hard,

I see that you are reducing the number of panels from nine to six in the shown sailplan. I wonder if it is better to divide the area into seven or maybe even eight panels. My thinking behind it is that when I keep the ratio between the vertical batten distance, p, and the batten length, B, fairly low (mostly below 0.25), the luff of all the panels (except the lowest one) stays quite straight, without needing any downhauls. From your sailplan the AR appears to be around 2.4 and the p/B=0.35.

In addition, I generally think it is false economy to reduce the number of battens, as the load on the battens and sail cloth goes up.

However, I see that David only uses six panels on his Weaverbird, so I may worry without reason. I don’t know if each batten has a downhaul on Weaverbird. What do you say, David?

Arne

PS: Hard, may I ask how tall the mast is and what sail area you are planning for?

Quite some time has passed since my last update. Let’s fill that gap…

Last winter while having a hard time getting good progress with the sail it was blessing for me to see Oscar Fröberg selling his junk-rigged Fingal27. The boat itself was in poor condition but it had several parts I could convert to my boat, the lead keel had its value and I was happy to be able to sail her from Loviisa (Finland) to my place in Tallinn (Estonia) to do the job. The 12m aluminium mast was exactly what I needed! The sail was kinda prototype made of the white tarp but it was well made, it had served Oscar for two seasons and I saw it could do more. Oscar still has the webpage up describing the boat and the sailmaking progress: link 

As my own boat needed lots of TLC, fixing the gearbox, replacing all the cabling, replacing the sprayhood with a doghouse etc I made an expensive effort of transporting her to my backyard in the fall. In spring I was now able to complete all those jobs I had planned and by converting the rig from Oscars boat with rather a little effort it was an awesome opportunity for me to get sailing much faster!

I’ve been posting my progress on Facebook page SV Lian 

For the ones with no facebook account some direct links hereby, that should still be accessible… 
Replacing the old sprayhood was quite an exercise but I am very satisfied with the result: link 

Partners also were cut out from the Fingal and got transferred: link 

Some overall views of the awesome summer of 2017: link and link

All photos combined here: link

Windvane “Windy” got installed later in the summer. Not an easy exercise at all for the double-ender… I still wanted to be able to fold the tiller and have that extra range for rudder… It was a success also!

Work in progress here: link 
And the first trial that happened to take place in 12-15 m/s wind: link 

The windvane was made by a friend of mine that has sailed around the world and had some time there to think about how the windvane should be made to work well and last forever. He is now making that attempt. Mine is the 4th or 5th working prototype and it’s getting there!

That’s the 2017 in short:) Huge thanks to Robin Fröberg, who has been supporting me a lot with all kinds of advice and support!

Here is the very last sailplan waiting for some minor final changes: link