Personally I like the idea of a soft wing sail, in fact I quite like
Wharram's high gaff soft wing, or the double sided junk rig
http://wingsail.neuralfuzz.com (this could be modified to be balanced
like a ballestrom rig). Both of these have difficulty with stays, but
not insurmountable and should be easy to reef without fear of jamming
bolt ropes. I am not sure how efficient these rigs really are against
traditional marconi rigs but I do know that my windsurfer sail that I
use on my outrigger is effectively one and goes pretty well and
development of windsurfer sails seems to be going tha way- apart from
the kites. The ability to control camber cleanly is obviously a
benefit.

GUters have a long tradition for workboats in the waterways of Europe
but I must admit, very few instances for modern yachts.

I'd like to see the wing sail succeed as I like the idea of going for
efficiency rather than size as it puts less sress on everything and
reduces heeling moment. this is where I'd like to go but I will
probably have to make do with second hand sails that roughly fit.
robert




--- In harryproa@..., "jjtctaylor" <jtaylor412@c...>
wrote:
> I have not been too keen on kites. Nice idea but I don't get much
> help from the crew. So sail management has to be pretty easy
> and relatively foolproof. I deal with all the goofs and sail
setting,
> others only have to steer on occasion. Not much interest in
> keeping a kite aloft or even trying to get it off the deck . Plus
a lot
> of extra lines, winches and other hardware that has no other
> function except kite support.
>
> The base plan is only two winches total. Could actually function
> with only (1), but am lazy a bit and would prefer to to single hand
> with (1) winch facing each helm wheel.
>
> I like to set the sails and GOooo. Occasional trim and watch the
> world go by.
>
> I don't have any major issues with a gunter, except for some
> problems with sail attachment and the weight of the mast
> extension. Some other issues like where does the mast light go
> and how to deal with a lightning rod if it is not the highest point
at
> all times.
>
> 1200 sq ft is a LOT of sail area to hoist (and expensive), perhaps
> a single wing sail could meet the need. Fly the jib when air is
> really light. Except for running dead downwind a wing is
> generating lift no matter how light the wind. Sail area could be
> less for the same lift to drag ratio. Softwing, like dynawing
> (dynarig) makes some sense as it is reefable. Higher lift to drag
> lowers the center of effort as the leeward force vector is reduced
> and we get higher lift force in the direction of effort.
>
> Like this boat, soft wings have little commerical exposure and
> few if any applications of this magnitude. So there is added risk
> to the project. Then again, VERY few gunters out there
> especially really big ones.
>
> Regards,
>
> JT
>
> --- In harryproa@..., "Robert"
> <cateran1949@y...> wrote:
> >
> > You haven't given any good reasons against the gunter. My
> idea is to
> > have a gunter with a curved spar to give an elliptical tip. The
> other
> > idea is to have a split lug with the top spar having a hole in
the
> > middle to slide up and down the mast and flattened to provide
> an
> > endplate for the foils. I am assuming that you would use a kite
> for
> > reaching and running except for very light airs so I am
> assuming that
> > you would want a large screecher at each end for pointing in
> light
> > airs
> > . This could be attached to a mast extension if you need the
> extra
> > area.
> > I know that you don't like the idea of two masts,especially
trying
> to
> > allow protection form being taken aback with semi stayed
> > configurations but it is still a possibility for two high aspect
> > sails and working the slot.
> > I must admit, I'd be tempted to start the motor in confined
> > waterways, but it is an extraordinary feeling to be sailing down
> a
> > narrow wooded channel with no wind at water level and just
> picking up
> > enough at mast top to drift along at 3 or 4 knots. This was one
> of my
> > more pleasurable moments sailing the Fly River in Nui
> Guinea.
> >
> > Robert