Our Westerly 22, Palinurus, has at last got a junk rig of sorts!
The project started from Arne’s ideas described in his document “From Gaff to Junk” and came to fruition this year when Covid, Brexit and the Gunter-rig yard needing repair all culminated in a project based on working with what you’ve got, re-using old stuff and spending as little as possible (except for a badly needed new sewing machine!)
Back in April the old worn out Gunter mainsail was laid out on beams to get an idea of where battens would work, and after various struggles with a cheap sewing machine and a total lack of suitable timber for battens and a bout of “lock-down inertia” I finally got it together in recent weeks.
Some points to bear in mind:
- I’m well aware this is the sort of thing that can get the Junk Rig a bad name but…
- It’s only a very temporary solution for learning purposes.
- It’s not expected to last very long
- It’s supposed to be fun!
And lo and behold it seems to work! We motored out to a nearby Island the first evening, intending to sail back but the wind died to almost nothing but at least we got familiar with raising and lowering etc.
Yesterday I went for a ten hour jaunt, motoring and sailing in light airs (flat calm to force 2 or 3), about 8 miles offshore south of Cape Clear and back through the islands. Got up to 3.5 knots at one stage and a young Minke whale had a close look at this strange beast too, swimming right under the boat in crystal clear water. I didn’t use any headsails, just observing this sail. Lots learned and lots of adjustments and lots of ideas about a more permanent sail.
The main thing I learned, and I’m not surprised, is that sailing with a junk rig is a pure joy! (Never mind about the slatting battens and the odd tangle.)
The Westerly 22 Gunter rig is very heavy, the yard is massive and the halyard attached to a sliding wire strop is nerve wracking, and it is a nightmare to reef single handed in any sort of a sea. I always thought the peak of the sail just added drag and didn’t do much work so it won’t be missed. A junk is definitely the way to go.
Pictures with captions in my member profile photo albums.