I wonder if I might steer the conversation away from the split junk rig for a bit to ask about balancing non-split rigs.

My Coromandel suffers from excessive weather helm, and I've not really been able to correct it by adjusting the position of the original flat 1983 Hasler-McLeod sail.  That's a sail I'm reluctant to modify, so I'm considering building a new sail. I've discussed this in the thread "New sails for Tammy Norie".

Let's suppose for the moment that I simply build a bigger flat HM sail with a lower aspect ratio and more area in front of the mast.  What can I expect?  Less weather helm?  Trouble tacking?  Bad performance on the "bad" port tack? (At the moment, Tammy sails better on the port tack.)

And if I further add camber to the panels?

What are people's specific experiences with large lead on non-split sails? Tell me stories please!

I'm asking not because I've decided what to do, but because I have not and I think this is the right thread to record experiences.

This response to the previous post is from Chris, on Emmelène.  Context: I’m relatively new to junk rig and have retro-fitted a split-junk to my Coromandel.  More details at https://emmelenevoyages.wordpress.com/

As Richard said, for one week, I tested this rig on the south coast of the UK, in light airs, cruising alongside his Coromandel, Tammy Norie.

I’m absolutely delighted with the split-junk rig: both its sailing performance and its ability to be easily controlled.  The phrase in the above post, “control issues”, may mislead readers of the forum.  My split-junk rig is extremely simple to control. 

The main-sheet is under significantly less tension than the original “hi-power” rig.  Indeed, the sheets leading to each batten often hang rather loosely, which initially came as a surprise to me because my main experience has been with dinghies and Bermudan-rigged or gaff-rigged yachts.  Meanwhile, despite this low sheet tension, the rig drives the boat with good power, to windward and on other points of sail.

Indeed, this lack of sheet tension is one of the many features that I love about the split-junk.  It means that it is extremely low-stress (low anxiety) for me, as I can sheet in or out without necessarily using the cleats on the pushpit.  Just gently tugging on the lines with a hand suffices for subtle, temporary sail adjustments.  Tacking and gybing are quiet, calm manoeuvres.

That said, even if I don’t adjust the sail much, it drives in all conditions (that we encountered – mainly light airs around force 3 to 4) and many sailing hours went by this week during which I certainly didn’t need to adjust the sheet – or the tiller.  For this is the beauty of the split-junk rig for the Coromandel: no weather helm.  The rig proved balanced to perfection.  My tiller sits centrally whether I lash it or not.  It’s a joy to be able to set the boat on most points of sail, then let go of everything and enjoy a cup of tea as she sails along hands-free on a reach, for example.  The only self-steering I needed on a run downwind was a bungee on the tiller.  The split-junk rig is truly exemplary in terms of balance on the Coromandel.

To let power out of the sail, it’s true that because the sheet is not pulling hard itself, it requires a bit of help in light airs to pay out the line so that the sail is empty of wind.  This may be partly because my main sheet is running through old pulleys and tackle, and is stiff old rope also.   Using the rudder to point the boat up helped me empty the sail.  I have not tested how to heave-to in heavy weather, but my own limited sailing experience would encourage me to at least lower some panels (and maybe all) if I want to stop the boat in a seaway.  My initial impression is of easy de-powering and good control at all times so far.

The only time “control issues” – which I maintain is too strong a phrase - occurred was when my own seamanship was justifiably in question in a busy harbour mouth, at night, with confused seas and strong headwinds over tide, whilst the outboard motor was driving the boat, along with the full sail.  I made a mistake, and that is not the rig’s fault, but my own.  It was simply resolved, with no drama from the rig, by lowering the sail. 

In summary, the split-junk rig has proved excellent in my opinion (especially to windward), on this first cruise aboard my Coromandel, in fairly light airs.  It remains to be tested by me in heavy weather. My split-junk rig is perfectly balanced and easily controlled.  I am definitely a convert!

Hi all,

I made the jibs of RUNA !completely! new and had some sailing last week on the lake of Constance. Wind was poor all the time, once I had a 2bft sailing for a short time, where she showed a good performance. I was overtaken by a 3 times bigger boat, his skipper was wondering that I went to windward in the same direction like he did. Balance is right now, no leehelm anymore, no backwinding of the main. Jib sheeting angle is 11°. In those low winds (3-4 kts) the sail did not perform like I wished, I was mostly hanging around just like the sailcloth, sometimes awfully hobbyhorsing in those nasty overlaying waves created by ferries and motorboats, whereas the bermudan rigged boats still made some speed, because having in relation much more sailarea than RUNA. I lost about 2 m² by shortening the jibs.

Some fotos of the sail in the harbour, it is not yet set perfectly, especially the top panel needs to be altered to match asthetically to the other panels. (Look at fotos in my album). Perhaps I should add another panel to gain more sailarea when sailing in this low wind region.

Much thx to Slieve for his very helpful advices in the month of July by mail. I strictly followed them and can say that the new jibs do their job very well.

Bert

Foto: Runa to the right ;-), looking from Dingelsdorf to Überlingen

Hi Guys,

Just to put your minds at rest, I am copying here a quick note re our recent race from Poole to Yarmouth.  Little Amiina with her 'scary' 33% balance did best of all the boats not using Spinnakers.

They had all the hard work, stress, dangerous lack of control, breakages, broaches etc., and Amiina sailed blissfully through with so little fuss, beautifully balanced, and totally in control.  What is more with a fairer TCF, we would have been first.

Now for the Round the Island races on 01/07/17.

Sam Gill Trophy - 20/05/17

"20 mile race, mostly off the wind from  East Looe Outer buoy (Poole entrance) to Yarmouth Pier via North Channel and Hurst Narrows.

14 boats took part.  13 BR, of which 4 Van der Stadt Splinters + 1 split-junk Splinter.

Wind southerly F4 rising to F5.. Elfin and Whisper used their spinnakers all the way. Whisper had a full sized spinnaker and when it worked she did well, but she broached a couple of times and eventually broke it.

Elfin had a half sized spinnaker and managed it much better, but still it was hard work.

Amiina sailed very easily, with no effort, and only the lightest touch of weather helm.

Interestingly for the Round the Island race, the Island Sailing Club has given Elfin a TCF of 0.818, Sparkle 0.821, and Amiina 0.776... With these TFC's in this race, Amiina would have been 1st.

In this race you can see that Elfin, with the bigger main, and spinnaker had a TCF of 0.744, Whisper 0.752, & Amiina 0.762!!!

(See photos and Results sheet in my photo album.)"

Bert, can you possibly upload some of your working drawings to your album?  I'm sure that whatever your issue is, it will prove to be something quite simple, because Slieve's rigs have proved very satisfactory on other craft.  If other people can look at the profile, your figures and the sail details, I think we should be able to get to the bottom of this, and have you sailing happily before summer is over!