Robin Fröberg wrote:

In my opinion it's very useful to be able to move the sail forward and back to achieve good balance on all courses in all wind speeds

David Thatcher wrote:
Like Robin's boat the sail on Footprints has the ability to be canted across the mast. I think for a low AR sloop junk rig this has the advantage in being able to minimise weather helm and obtain better balance with the boat.

I must confess that I've never felt the need for it myself.  I don't seem to experience excessive weather helm on a reach, but then, I'm quite happy to reef as Fantail still romps along happily.

Gary Pick wrote:Later on a straight stretch of river we were tacking with an apparent wind angle of around 30 degrees and doing 6 knots with the sail sheeted just outboard of the rail. it was impressive but we were almost a rail under and strong weather helm...both hands on the tiller.

It's your Berrmudian heritage, me dear.  Just reef.  It's so easy.  Don't forget you were sailing with (at least) the equivalent of full sail and No 1 Genoa.  I know the racy boys all sail on their ears, but that's because it's so hard to reef.  I don't know of many boats that perform better at an extreme angle of heel and I'm sure everyone (Redwing included) would be happier sailing more upright!

Jean Estor wrote:

Could she be "Ninth Charm" ?

 

(Sorry for the out of topic) ;-0))

Indeed, it certainly is!

Gary Pick wrote:

Rudders are all part of getting the best out of your rig.:-)

This is very true. One of the reasons I am wanting to give Footprints a better rudder is that I have some friends who have a Newick 38' trimaran, which I admit is a whole different class of vessel than us junk rig monohulls. Anyway they had sailed from the United States to New Zealand in their trimaran and while here in NZ they decided to rebuild their rudder using a proper NACA foil shape. Once completed and refitted they could not believe the difference in performance from their boat. They claimed a significant increase in speed and much easier helming. Last I heard they were close to completing their circumnavigation after about 12 years of travel. This long time was not as a result of slow speed, but they were taking a very leisurely cruise around the world. Of interest is that it took them 17 years to build the boat so I like to think they are getting every year of building back in travel and rewarding experiences.

Good luck David

To serve science I suggest you don't add an endplate to the rudder at once, but if you make the low end squared off and horizontal, you can glue on a plate later.  Then you can better learn what factor improved the steering most.  My limited experience is that on a low aspect ratio rudder, an endplate will improve the rudder more than any careful streamlining of the rudder itself will do. 

The late American boat designer, Phil Bolger used the endplate on many of his designs after having tried it on a traditional catboat. I have used it on a sailing row-boat and it really works.

Arne

PS: All my jabbering about rudders here may sound a bit off-topic, but it is not: Better steering lets one get the best out of the sail with less fuss.