2. Does it make sense to have some kind of a smallish “gaff” at the top of the rig? It would be between the forestay and backstay of the pivoting rig, just like the boom does now, but it would make room for some more sail up top. The pointy topped sails don’t look right to me. It might require a small “crane” at the top of the mast to move the axis of the rig back a little.
Cutting a long story short, I was sketching a few rig ideas when I came up with the sketch below. I realised that I had seen it before and eventually found it in AYRS 68 from 1969. It was used on a proa called Alpha 3 by M J Beeton.
Mr Beeton tried a couple of triangular rigs before coming up with the one below. There is picture of the boat sailing and Mr Beeton claims it can be sailed single handed but there is no other detail. I just got to thinking with modern materials there may be some mileage in it.
It then reminded my of something more recent and read through the posts of Snelson’s Canoe where on 13th November this rig was described
Anyway thought this might have been of interest
TINK
This is an interesting thought. It bears mentioning that the rig I am proposing is a jib, mounted on a forestay, with a backstay for the club boom. The boom, forestay and backstay are always up, and you raise or lower the jib (I want some battens to fill out the top) on the forestay. I hope that’s clear.
So the head of the jib can be fatter than the backstay—just as it is on lots of monos with a backstay. It doesn’t have to fit inside the triangle completely.
Cranes and gaffs at the top are not very tensegr-ish. There are bending loads going on there!
Is your rig set up the same way—pivoting on the “headstay”?
I would describe it as an offset balance lug rig specifically for proas. Think of it as a normal balanced lug rig with yard and a downhaul say 1/4 of the way down the boom. Yes I would agree there is a lot of engineering required. I may sketch up a few ideas with a highly peaked yard and see what that looks like.
Not my idea in any way as I say it was Mr Beeton back in ‘69.
Garry Hoyt has developed what he calls an offset lug rig, but I think if you’re going to do that a soft wing sail would be better.
http://www.garryhoyt.com/id19.html
TINK
Nothing like a picture!
I remember the Hoyt offset rig. I love that thinking, but keeping something taut (like the forestay) and offset feels hard. I do like having a trailing “halyard” to adjust twist, but don’t like having that stuff up there all the time.
I’ve contemplated offset junks for the same reason…at least with a junk the luff you’re tightening is shortish.
I like the iteration. That’s what this forum is about.
chris
Dear Chris
Here are a few sketches of the rig with a higher peaked yard which looks nice. I also like the idea of arranging the downhaul on a pole like the spinnaclaw rig (in the archives but search finds it). I will draw that one up tonight, it could allow good control of the CE position, sail steering?
May make a few physical models when I get a chance
Anyway just keeping the brain working until I can get on with the job at hand, actually sailing
TINK
See below
Offset balanced lug rig with adjustable CE, needs 3D physical models to develop it any further. As the red struts rotate to control CE position they puts the boom to leeward.
I like what it does but not sure about how it does it and lots of work needed on the precise geometry and stresses / deflections involved
TINK