Stavanger, Sunday

So far I have sold two junk-rigged boats without problems. I have also been lucky enough to sell the original Bm masts and some sails, so about 1/3 of the costs of the new rig was covered that way.  Now that I make my own sails and even masts, the cost of a new rig has dropped.

There may well be many people who would not own a junk-rigged boat, but on the other hand there will also be some who just fall in love with them and must have them. The trick is to take good pictures under sail and put them in the ad.

However, it could be that it is easier to sell junk-rigged boats in Stavanger: All of the junks here (6) have big , cambered, powerful sails. These junks certainly suffer no reputation of being slow as there has never been a fleet of junks with flat sails here.

Cheers, Arne

The Junk Jib is in my humble view, has all the aspects of a junk.  Though, yes, it is still a pointy shape! (but we see a large variety of shapes already)  Although not shown, it would have standard junk sheeting, probably double.  The reefing is in the same manner as a junk.  It swings free, past 90deg.  It could even be rigged with the luff forward of the forestay.   Compared to the fore mast of a 3 mast junk it has some differences.  On the downside: it does not lean forward, so will not set without assistance  in light winds whilst running (but if the winds that light, a cruising chute  may be used),  it does not have so much area high up.  On the upside: it does reef down to a very useful storm jib, with a good up-wind shape.

I have certainly not gone of Junks,  for a cruising sail, it is hard to improve, and with the latest developments, for fast cruising & club racing equally good.  As I said, the Junk Jib is a half way measure, before committing to a full conversion.  As we are all aware, a junk conversion is often a double whammy - not only costs plenty to fit,  but normally reduces the value of the boat. 

Cheers Mark

& I thought the HT a bit heavy, especially with twin diesels most now have.

John's boat has a fixed cockpit cover,  does not do much for the looks.  The more usual soft cabin tent looks ok.  It does add to the usable space, giving a break between living space and bedrooms.

Sorry folks, gone a bit off - junk rig, but perhaps others may be thinking about going to two hulls (or I would say, not doing without one and adding a big lump of lead to compensate).  One thing sailing at Kipford brought home,  beautiful though Mallie and Bodger are, I would not wish to suffer all that leaning over stuff.

Mark