Lateen/Dhow Sail Rig 2020-2021

Next experiment will be with a Lateen/Dhow sail.

I like the Junk/Lug sail and will keep this rig for 2020 but I feel a need for a new experiment.

Design of the yard, sail and control sheets will be for use in spring 2021.

Design sketching over the next few weeks, then yard fabrication.

Why ?

I use a furling headsail on the forestay with the current Junk/lug sail. 

When the junk/lug is fully loaded there is sufficient load on the mast to tension the forestay and the furling sail works smoothly.

When the junk/lug is only lightly loaded there is insufficient load on the mast to maintain tension in the forestay which then sags making furling and unfurling next to impossible.

So increasing sail area forward of the mast, and removing the furling headsail will be explored.

A whole new sail rig may appear to be somewhat excessive but lets see where it goes! 

Option 1: 

Dhow/lateen sail with yard initial position parallel to the forestay, loose footed, tack 8ft forward of the mast. 

Tack downhaul to bolt eye 8ft forward of mast on sprit and lead back to cockpit winch.

Option 2:

Junk/lug sail extended to tack 5ft forward of mast, yard fixed position parallel to forestay. Current configuration is tack 2ft forward of mast.  

Tack downhaul to bolteye 5ft forward of mast at bow and lead back to cockpit winch.

I may also add a small hank on headsail to the forestay

Option 3:

Full batten Dhow (junk/lug/dhow). The main difference from the current junk/lug will be tack downhaul to control line in cockpit rather than downhaul fixed at mast base.

For 1 & 3 to work well. I either need to make a longer bow sprit or relocate the mast another one to two feet further aft. I need some sketches to further explore. This will make the angle between deck and yard more acute, with a longer yard and potentially a greater area of sail without a significant change to the sail center of effort. 

I will be working on sketches for relocating the mast which also leads to some changes to cabin layout and restoring the fore cabin hatch, maybe for the better.  

2 is the simplest and may work better with the mast relocated further aft.

2020-09-19 this experiment will be on hold for a while, my source for the sail is not taking new custom orders due to Covid-19 related material shortage.

2020-10-09 this experiment will be on hold at least until 2021-2022. I will be using the current full batten Junk/lug rig for 2021.

Sketches to follow.