Jeremy, early testing with "Why Not?" years ago, which was flat bottomed showed a huge advantage to windward with a leeboard vs without. Make O'Break is flat bottomed and much wider then Why Not? therefor drawing less, but sails to windward extremely well, I was making upwind destinations in no time with him. I'm happy with the windward ability of this boat, if I had a GPS I would gladly test him with and without the board.......
Tacking? as cheating as it was.... Since the bow went through the wind, it's a tack. That's the huge advantage of the scull and having low bows, I will keep on with low bows vs high bows, More like Atlantic proa Cheers VS Russ Browns Jzerro. So if a bigger cruising version had an engine and lifting rudders, it could tack all day long, using the engine to push her through the tack, as long as windage is kept to a minimum.....
An unstayed rig will carry the CE way aft, requiring what ever to bring the CLR there, I find this to be white man's greatest problem with proa design! Why add weight and drag when all you had to do was move the sail ahead?????? Most modern proas carry their CE's way aft, after shunting they keep floating there caught in irons, waiting for the CLR to fall aft till they get going.... I had this problem in previous proas and will never tolerate it again, in close quarter sailing its a damn pain in the bum.....
AMA to WINDWARD! at ALL TIMES!! Still, if under emergency, a Pacific could become an Atlantic I see nothing wrong with that.
A bigger version for cruising will have a small outboard and lifting rudders, After my Greece cruise with "Why Not?", I mentioned in the video, that lifting rudders are coming up....... The Oar is too clumsy.
Jeremy this is the simplest way I could come up with having a proper shunting and reefable sail that truly works on a proa. Cruising versions of around 30 feet don't seem to be a problem, the way I see it anyway..... Time will tell.
Gonna go cruising autumn with him and if I like most of the design..... Next year this type of rig goes onto My 23 foot proa that was designed for cruising, from there, if the force is strong with us we will get bigger...............
Keep Shunting man!
Rael.