apparent sheeting angles for self-tending stays'ls

[Ian McColgin]

Ahoy osteoderm,

One very slick solution is the "camber spar." The one I had on Granuaile proved so popular that a number of other boats here-abouts got one.

Essentially the bent and pivoting spar proceeds normal from the luff to the clew. The tension is adjustable both directly by outhaul and by stay tension. The sail's luff is not quite straight, but angles a bit where the spar meets the luff on a roller.

The sail is perfectly self-tending and self-vanging from a center deck sheet block. It requires no winch to set up. The dangerous part of the spar, the clew, is nice and high. The sail is quiet anyway, with fewer tendencies than conventionally clubbed jibs to gybe back and forth off the wind and wonderfully docility when tacking. No need for helmets and padding on the foredeck.

The camber spar is not cheap and the sail must be made for it but once past the initial expense, it's really finastkind.

G'luck

Ian