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Auxiliary Sails

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  • 23 Aug 2020 19:05
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    Reply # 9185662 on 492576
    Anonymous member

    Thank you for sharing your experience. Not mad to experiment!

    I am now thinking along the lines of using one of my oars, which is the right length and onboard anyway, for the mast - so I should be able to set something up with minimal expense just to see what happens. I am thinking of upwind potential though, so super-light material and not too baggy.
  • 18 Aug 2020 09:02
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    Reply # 9172031 on 492576
    Anonymous member

    At the risk of appearing quite mad, I will openly admit to having used a ghoster on my junk rigged vessel for downwind sailing in very light airs. It worked - we sailed, slowly. The advantage being that the light cloth would fill and stay filled, which the heavier cloth and even heavier battens of the main sail would not (if there's any kind of residual swell).
  • 11 Aug 2020 13:20
    Quote
    Reply # 9157659 on 492576
    Anonymous member

    Despite having read all the comments against the idea I am keen to have a go at rigging a Pilmer type ghoster on my boat! Most of my sailing is on the lake and I would like to be able to sail more effectively up wind when it is very light. I don't think I would take it sea sailing but I would enjoy giving it a try and the spars could be stowed away in the cabin easily. My boat is small and it would be fun to give it a try. Also, it actually gets a good write-up from Hasler/McLeod.

    If I had a 3m mast and a 2.5m yard (perhaps 50mm and 20mm diameter carbon fibre tubes) then a sail made the same shape as on p82? How baggy or flat for best results anyone?
  • 04 Feb 2011 21:33
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    Reply # 515955 on 492576
    Deleted user
    We have had two drifting sails on two different boats. The first was a commercial spinnaker that we put up a few times during periods of boredom. The second we made from an old spinnaker as a ghoster for Easy Go. Don't know why because we never have even thought of using it. Often forget that it is buried down below. Would likely make a better sunshade as the two masted junk rig is satisfactory in all winds and I really don't enjoy deck work.
  • 22 Jan 2011 20:37
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    Reply # 505390 on 492576
    Anonymous member
    Just to reinforce the message and to make sure there's no back-sliding:
    Yesterday, I sailed down the D'entrecasteaux Channel into Huon River; moderate breeze, and a broad reach, then a run with several gybes, then close reach/run with variable wind off the land. The bermudan boat behind me, of similar size, put up a spinnaker to overtake. I kept comfortably ahead all the time, finally leaving him far behind. I was having lunch, and putting down my sandwich from time to time to adjust the sheets and vane gear. He was always having to go to the foredeck to gybe the spinnaker, and had no time for lunch.
  • 22 Jan 2011 04:37
    Quote
    Reply # 505075 on 497284
    Anonymous member
    Thanks, Ketil and everyone who wrote.
    You've all done a great job of convincing... I've put auxiliary sails out of my mind. Out, I say. Yes.
    Kurt
  • 17 Jan 2011 16:38
    Quote
    Reply # 497284 on 496672
    Anonymous member
    Kurt Jon Ulmer wrote:
    Thanks for the quote.

    I'm surprised but not disappointed that no-one has written enthusiastically about their drifter or chute or gennaker, squaresail or gollywobbler. 
    It's great that they're quite unnecessary, like chainplates, rigging screws and sheet winches.

    Cheers,
    Kurt

    Hi Kurt,

    At the start of the two star regatta I sailed, the wind was so weak that it would not fill the lightest ghoster or spinnaker. Edmond Dantes blue barndoor made use of the little "almost draft" and propelled me at the speed of 0,35 knots. Ask me if there where any annoied fases around when the spinnaker and drifters where of no use? In the last regatta in 20-24 knots wind, there was one boat ripping their spinnaker. I sailed singlehanded with hull speed downwind, with one panel down. If you want to have a hard life, go ahead with auxillary sails. I would not dream of it in my worst fewer.

    Regards

    Ketil
  • 16 Jan 2011 09:18
    Quote
    Reply # 496672 on 492576
    Anonymous member
    Thanks for the quote.

    I'm surprised but not disappointed that no-one has written enthusiastically about their drifter or chute or gennaker, squaresail or gollywobbler. 
    It's great that they're quite unnecessary, like chainplates, rigging screws and sheet winches.

    Cheers,
    Kurt
  • 16 Jan 2011 04:11
    Quote
    Reply # 496636 on 492576
    Anonymous member
    Somewhat belatedly, I quote from The Bible on this topic:

    'There remains a minority of sailing fanatics who are prepared to accept some optional deck work in light weather tin order to improve their sailing performance still further by the use of "ghosters", ie soft feather-weight sails that should be be carried in winds of more than Force 3 at the most...

    'The use of any form of ghoster reduces the all-round visitbility and involves extrea gear, extra deck work, complicating if cauyght aback and a risk of carrying something away in a squall ... Nevertheless, these disadvantages may be accepted by owners who want to race their boats, or who sail with an active crew who need employment, or who cruise without an engine.'

    One can't help feeling that H and McL were not too enthusiastic about the idea.
  • 13 Jan 2011 06:40
    Quote
    Reply # 494805 on 494617
    Anonymous member
    Slieve McGalliard wrote:

    Hi Kurt

     

    The Kiwi prop is a bit off theme...

    Agreed. I'll send a short email - hope that's okay - and not burden you with any testing, not now!
    Cheers,
    Kurt
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