Stay'sl sheets

[benz]

Is there a good way to set up a staysail so it has just one sheet going aft? The sail will not be club-footed, but the padeyes on the coachroof that the sheet blocks attach to will be prettty close to the clew cringle. Could they perhaps be set up like an old-fashioned mainsheet, which has the sheet going from one side of the boat to the boom, then back down to the other side, through a block and back up and through, etc. but whose end result is just one line to pull on to bring in the boom?
Thanks!
Ben

[osteoderm]

As you describe might work, but the blocks would have to be well aft to get any tension on the foot of the sail. Thusly rigged, the sheet parts would surely chafe on the mast horribly. I've spent loads of time thinking on this, and the only sigle-sheet stays'l solutions I can think of involve either a club or a foredecktrack (preferably curved).
If there's some other great practical solution, I'd too love to hear of it!

[Brian Duff]

Staysails.
A lot depends on the proportion of your staysail to the rest of the rig, or the amount of drive and performance you expect to get out of it. Be sure the rigging you set up fits with the rest of the boat.

If you want a self tacking sail with sheet adjustment from the cockpit, lead the sheet from the clew of the sail (either direct or with a purchase) via a block on a track traveler then to a lead well up the mast then down to the mast base and aft. This will give a self tacking , cockpit sheeting sail with some contol over sail shape. The control over sail shape is semi-automatic, because the track here will be curved with the ends forward, to suit the travel of the clew of the sail and provide for a more forward, outboard sheet lead with the sheet eased, and a more aft, inboard sheet lead with the sail trimmed in hard. The traveler car can travel free or be controled with lines. This uses only one line leading aft. A clew board is commonly seen on these rigs, to provide more sheet angle adjustment.

This is by no means my preferred arrangement, however it provides 'A' solution to your question.

----Please tell us more about your boat and rig. ----


EDIT: I just went and read your other posts benz. Do not use the above solution on your boat. Toatally out of place IMhO. Instead I would set up a simple bronze rod 'horse' across your foredeck in front of the mast, as far aft as possible. Provide a bit of forward bend to this horse, or upward, but it will be nearly straight. Weld a large washer or other stop at each outboard end of the horse to keep the sheet from falling onto the upright of the horse and not self tacking. Next just splice a piece of three-strand to your sail, also include a large captive thimble, into the eye which captures the clew on the sheet, sieze the eye tight tight between the clew and the timble with the neck of the thimble toward the sail, and the large radius toward the sheeting point, so that you can trim the sail by passing the sheet under the horse, through the thimble on and on. A ttwo to one purchase is usually enough for that size staysail, but on 30kts+ if you haven't chosed to take a reef in the sail, then you might lead the sheet around more times for more purchase. Secure with a slip half hitch, then a few more to be sure. The sheet will probably be 20' or so for this arrangement, the sail will be friendly and self tacking, and you will be able to get it sheeted well on all points, if you are willing to walk forward. This is my prefered arrangement.

[benz]

Thanks Brian D.,

I've considered the horse--I even have a piece of 3/4 bronze rod that would suit--and your method of sheeting it sounds interesting. Only I'd like to have it go aft so it can be adjusted from the cockpit--but perhaps there is no perfect arrangement.....
As for more of my boat and rig, it's a Cape George 31 that I bought as a bare hull and am trying to finish by when my kids will be old enough to put to sea (read: potty trained). I'm going to put a gaff-headed rig on it, and hope to use all aluminum spars (I'm weary of varnishing acres of woodwork). It's a big exciting challenge to be designing my own rig (as well as deck, layout, and interior), and it's a lot of work (I'm in the throes of fairing the topsides right now), but so far very satisfying.
Thanks for the advice; I'll be getting on the forum quite a lot in coming months, I expect.
Best,
Ben