Hi all and I hope Cisco
Looking for any advice on trimming gaff rig main its also loose footed.
Its on a wharrem tiki 26, but doesn't have the actual tiki rig james designed for it.
Has normal alloy mast with sail slides, not a gaff with yoke etc.
Seems to be working fine but I'm a bit of a perfectionist, yea I know dont laugh
on a wharrem cat I'm worrying about sail trim. Just like getting the most out of the wind.
Thanx in advance everyone
Robert
Bit of a curly question there Robert. Gaff rig AND loosefooted AND not to the designers spec. It's a bit like "You have to be there."
I got your email with photos and have had a look at them. I have sent a description of how to load and post pictures which you should pick up pretty easy.
I have had virtually no experience with gaff rigs but I will give it a go based on my understanding of a gaff rig.
Looking at the photo, I assume the foot of the gaff goes up on a sail slug in the track and comes to a stopper before it gets to the top of the mast. Haliyard tension is then going to have a significant influence on how well the rig performs so you can experiment with that. The top of that sail looks to me to have too much curve in it.
When you say the main is loose footed, I am assuming you mean there is a boom and the main is only attached at each end with an outhaul at the rear end. If so there is the outhaul tension to play with. If there is no boom, I am at a loss.
Wharram cats are usually fairly good sailers with their designed rig so I just wonder why this one has been modified. Can't help you much there mate but if I run into somebody who knows them well, I'll find out what I can.
You are the catarmaran expert here. I have always had fin keel sloops. Cheers Peter.
Thanx Cisco
YOur a very considerate person I wasnt even going to ask due to like you said kinda needing to be there. Like I said also it works fine but I love getting the very best out of sail power. One problem is not up setting owner, who although admits he doesnt really understand, does get the boat moving fast enough for him.
I had never sailed on Gaff rig either,I've been out 5 times now I think,and I'm amazed,shocked,pleased,all those adjectives. oh and by the way no boom!!! when i mentioned loose footed, should have added that sorry. YOu are so right about camber in sail at top, but worked on that.
Also he really doesnt have a traveler system as you and i would think and i dont want to upset him to much with saying, Hey you should really travel down now since we are off the wind. So I'm just enjoying the ride you may say, but just have a hard time not pulling strings
hope your getting some land sailing in my friend, dont forget to call when your coming down.
Sorry one more thing you ever bee to Byfield Nat.Park??
Sheet in Hike out
Robert
Hi Robert, The boat being a smaller Wharram, I had a strong suspicion that the rig might be boomless, traditional and basic.
Once again my comment is qualified by saying "little gaff rig experience" and "as I understand it".
If the mainsheeting is going from the clew to a central sheeting point on the deck and stays that way, I can't see that you will ever get the full potential out of the sail/rig.
So let's look at it a different way. It is traditional and basic, so we will keep it that way meaning no boom and no traveller track. In character you might say. I am assuming there are no winches aboard as well. This then requires creativity with blocks and tackle.
Let's set up two sheeting points(port & stbd) that are a little further away from the mast than the length of the foot of the sail. Set up two mainsheeting rigs that can be independantly cleated from each other. Attach one to port, the other to stbd and the other end of each to the clew of the sail.
The clew of the sail is now infiitely adjustable to be firmly held at any point in the area limited by the length of the foot of the sail and the sheeting points. The double mainsheet has eliminated traveller, vang, boom and outhaul, is cheap and easy to set up and stays within the character of the boat. Put it to the owner in those terms and I am sure he will go for it. Cheers Peter.
Having a gaff schooner and 2 sails to trim, heres my input.
I'll assume its loosefooted on a boom..
firstly set the height of the boom with your topping lifts(one each side) then when you hoist the sail,tension and set the luff halyard first, the adjust the peak or outer halyard second, till there are no wrinkles. this is called peaking the gaff. Any wrinkles along the topping lifts mean you need to tighten the luff halyard then the peak halyard again.
by loosening the topping lit you flatten the sail for up wind, by tightening the topping lifts you get a fuller sail for downwind or riding gusts.
removing the boom from a gaff sail so it doesnt hit heads is wasting your power IMHO.you would be better off rigging as a sprit sail main or even a gunter rig( think mirror)
I cant see the point of a sock sail on a gaff rig. I would think of it as something to wear out
more roach tension needed, ie peak the gaff
upwind , just nice
It is a boomless rig Paul and I don't see a second halliard on the gaff but I guess there has to be one more. Maybe it is too close to the mast in the pic to see it.
Have a look at this thing Gizmo sent me. Fortunately I disqualify for it at 94kg.
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Sail%20Boats//~nnm9/2007-Bicsport-Open-Bic-Energised-Sailing-275-metre.aspx?search=DzWVP%2fSP%2f8wlXTxthAj%2b4A%3d%3d
Great concept.Cheers Peter.
thanx heaps Landyacht and Cisco
like the idea of the dual mainsheet used that on a european multi one time worked well and this could be excellent application for it again.
There is a peak halyard and figured that out as you said landyacht thank you also there is no boom. think Cisco showed you in photo he was so kind to download for me.
LIke i said boat does extremely well now but know could be better i think, thought
but not my boat and owner not wanting to spend much since it works now
Grreat to hear from you guys thanx heaps
Robert
Those photos are a good example of the moment traditional rigs and modern materials fail to meet.
what you have there is really a badly cut hook topped main. The dutch use them on their traditonal sloops. rather than letting the sail flatten towards the top t sailmaker has cut way too much curve all the way to a stiff short gaff . add overtightened battens ( or ones that have been rolled up bent)
That long luff panel should have way more tension.
definitely a case for 2 halyards..
in summary , yuk.