Hi Arne, thank you for your thoughts. 

Interesting your point on the parallel sections of sail. I am very attracted to the non parallel fanning style visually. How much of a difference will this make? I do have the gear, a walking foot sewing machine, to make the sails. It's all about budget. If I've enough to have them made I will, but I'm happy to take on the sharp curve of learning the art of making my own sails. 

I'm not sure about the other point and thank you for it as a consideration to help me get this right first shot. I have seen this barrel shaped style sail  what would you recommend?

R

Yep. Working now.

Chris

Hi Randy

I just get 'iCloud can't find that page' from that link.

Alan Boswell is one of the founders of, and ex-chairman of the JRA and has designed hundreds of junk rigs.

Chris

There's also Blondie's 3-masted design for Sea Bear, although I think I'd want to rake the foremast forward around 8 degrees, and make the foresail near identical to the mizzen, giving around 1200 sq. ft.

Chris

Hi Randy,

There are a few different types of "balance" that seem to come up, so it helps to keep them straight. 

1) The weight balance you mention is about hull trim: moving weight around so she stays on her designed waterline. 

2) Then there's the "balance" of the amount of sail forward vs aft of the mast.  Split rigs have upwards of 30% forward of the mast.  Bermudians have 0%.

3) Rudder balance is like number 2 above, but about the rudder around the rudder post, , not the sail around the mast.  Some people are strong proponents (like our very capable Arne) of a substantial and balanced rudder for Junk conversions.

4) But at the moment, we're talking about sailplan balance. This is about the location of combined lateral force on the sail in relation to the combined laterals force on the hull.  Imagine no sail aft of the midship line, and lots right up near the bow.  This would cause the boat to pivot on the keel off the wind.  All sail near the stern and none near the bow would cause it to weathercock into the wind.  "Balanced" in this sense would be no tendency to do either because the sail is balanced with the hull.  (Things get complicated as far has how much unbalance you want.  Perfect balance is actually undersirable because there's little feedback to the helm.)  This gets dynamic because on different points of sail, you have different forces at work, both under and above water.  David's got a really good point:  the sister ship has put a lot of sail forward, with a long bowsprit. That indicates that the hull form you've got might need sails way up there to avoid lee helm.  Is there any way you can talk to the owner of that sister ship and get a sense of how she likes her sails set in various conditions and points of sail?