| I finally found the notes on trimmig a ketch or yawl. This is of interest to
me also, since I have a B30 ketch. I do not have access to Elf at the moment,
so I do not know where you are.
Holiday II will be sailing on the Mass. coast this summer. If you want to
experiment with me, let me know. With the split rig, ketches and yawls can
be remarkably maneuverable with good handling of the jib and mizzen. On a quiet
day I will try some of this on Holiday II, including backing up.
These notes come from TED BREWER EXPLAINS SAILBOAT DESIGN, International Marine,
Camden Maine. ISBN 0-87742-193-5, Lib of Congress #623.8'223. Many will find
the book simplistic, but it covers a broad range of topics with enough
information to make you truely dangerous.
I misquote without permission. To get the straight scoop, get the book and
look on pg 86 of the 1985 publication.
"The ketch has its mizzen mast stepped forward of the rudder post ... the
mizzen sail is larger than on a yawl, up to 20% of the total sail area. It is
not as weatherly as a yawl (seems lots of boat designers indicate a preference
for a yawl. This was implied by Olin Stephens in his remarks in THE DESIRABLE
AND UNDESIRABLE CHARACTORISTICS OF AN OFFSHORE YACHT. I think I got the title
correct. Doug)... Nevertheless a ketch is a popular cruising rig and rightly
so, as it is very versatile. It can be balanced nicely under a wide variety of
reduced sail combinations and it performs well off of the wind."
Some steps on reducing the sail plan on ketches and yawls, your mileage may
vary.
Full Sail
150 genoa
1st Reduction
To smaller genoa or working jib.
(Roller reefing here I come. Doug)
2nd Reduction
First Main reef.
3rd Reduction
To #2 jib.
(For me, probably still the roller reef.
I am probably also headed in. Doug)
4th Reduction
Double reef main.
(Given my choice, I'm at the bar feeling sorry for the poor sops
out in that mess. Doug)
5th Reduction
Storm jib.
Reef Mizzen.
6th Reduction
Final reef in Main.
Final reef in Mizzen.
7th Reduction
Drop Main.
Set storm trysail.
8th Reduction
Douse storm jib and Mizzen.
Pray alot, cry a little. (Ted Brewer's words not mine. Doug)
Reefing time, always whenever ANYONE suggests it. At the latest I would imagine
you would reef when the boat starts to feel overpowered. This would be when
she tries to head up with a gust of wind, or you feel too much weather helm.
Since desirable weather helm is something like 2-4 degrees, I take this to mean
anything more than 10 degrees, or when you rudder starts to stall out. On my
old boat the rudder would sunddenly feel soft and vague, and a gurgling sound
sould result from the cavitation.
After looking at the description of the various sail reductions, I think the
following general rule can be applied. Reefing a sail reduces its sail area by
about 25%. Reducing sail plan involves the minmal amount of reef, while still
maintaining the position of the center of area for all of the sails. Actual
targert would be to maintain the size and position of the center of effort.
I am just passing on other's knowledge. I never wanted to be out in my old boat
in anything stronger than a working jib and a single reef in the main.
Hope this helps.
Doug Claflin
dtn 244-7042
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| And of course, the mizzen mast gives you the opportunity to fly a mizzen
staysail when off the wind.
The first "big" boat I sailed on after dinghies was a 40' gaff ketch. We had a
mizzen staysail which was clipped to a deck eye roughly abeam the main mast when
needed and set flying from the mizzen masthead, balanced by a running mizzen
backstay. Together with the two foresails and a main gaff topsail, there was
plenty of string to go round! Strictly speaking, not a staysail as it was not
hanked to a stay, but I have not met anyone who could think of a better name!
For the last few years I have sailed a 16' dayboat with yawl rig - standing lug
main and bermudan mizzen. It was very reluctant to go to windward under jib and
mizzen alone, although this combination was great downwind in heavier
conditions, but to windward a reefed main and no mizzen was more effective. I
also had the advantage that I could easily furl the mizzen and then remove the
mizzen mast altogether under way to cut windage! My first sail reduction was
usually a reef in the main with jib and mizzen, which maintained good balance
and drive while reducing the heeling moment considerably.
I believe that one of the reasons for the popularity of the yawl was that it
gained significant advantages (over a sloop) under various rating rules, while
maintaining a better windward performance than the ketch. However, for
short-handed sailing, especially cruising (as in, "A gentleman _never_ sails to
windward":-)) the ketch certainly has advantages.
- Brian (who now has a gaff cutter for aesthetic rather than performance
reasons!)
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