Lateen sails

[yipster]

your right and agree on the white sail, i never was good in abstract painting

[pebbletripper]

I am researching the idea that the invasion fleet of william the conqueror used a form of lateen sail with a crude form of roller reefing. This may sound bizzar but check out my trial using a viking type craft I built myself . type in bayeux sails project in you tube to see the video. All comments welcome Images of the bayeux ships can be seen on my website www.davidjones.uk.com soon to be updated

[ancient kayaker]

I plan to make a small lateen sail for a 10 ft (3m) kayak to try out this Summer.

It will not have a mast, just the yard, attached at the bow. I am looking for the low aspect ratio to keep the CoE low with decent windward capability. The yard is fixed so it cannot be rotated to sail at different points but the sail foot is simply let out: this will generate a variable vertical lift component that might help cancel heeling force on a broad reach. No "bad tack" side. It will hinge down for bridges. With 10 ft (3 m) of yard extending from the pulpit (?) at 45 deg I can hang a 25 sq ft 4.5 sq m) sail. I previously tried 15 sq ft area, was actually able to work upwind but not easy, so 25 sq ft should be sufficient. CoE will be 4.5 ft (1.4 m) back from bow which is about level with my shoulder: I plan to use a hand-held boom to control the clew. For downwind I may have to jibe in a series of broad reaches.

I'm not sure how well it will work but I'll try it

[pebbletripper]

one interesting thing about the bayeux sails images is the use of norman shields either for or aft to help compensate for problems with either upwind or downwind sailing .When I used shields mounted to the rear on a small lake with a square sail I found that instead of drifting hoplessly down wind sideways I was able to travel upwind very succesfully. A small vertical element to the rear of your vessel may be an excellent companion but a pain downwind. If you look at many vessels from egyptian times they have a raised feature at the rear like a palm frond (a small rigid mizen ) it takes the strain off of the steering for starters. Good luck

[ancient kayaker]

Perhaps an ancestor of the yawl. Nice web site!

I built a small canoe which had a pronounced preference for feathering upwind, not a bad habit and better than its oppoite but overdone in this case. I did not expect the pressure of the wind on my upper body to be so pronounced. I added a skeg to fix the problem, runs straight as a die and is great on a big lake but it is a bear to turn.

I have a new canoe awaiting a paint job which is similar but with a slightly raised sheerline forward and a hair more rocker which should cure the problem; it will be better for the river trips I take. It is the same technique as you describe.

It promises to be a busy year.

[sharpii2]

Originally Posted by pebbletripper

I am researching the idea that the invasion fleet of william the conqueror used a form of lateen sail with a crude form of roller reefing. This may sound bizzar but check out my trial using a viking type craft I built myself . type in bayeux sails project in you tube to see the video. All comments welcome Images of the bayeux ships can be seen on my website www.davidjones.uk.com soon to be updated

A very interesting idea.

The sails shown on the tapestry DO look triangular.

My guess is they were, but rigged like square sails.

None of the yards shown seem canted to any large degree.

I don't see where you get the roller furling idea from. I can see that would require two yards. One would attach to the mast and the other would be held by the first only at its ends. I see a great weight penalty there.

why not just lower the yard, slab reef the sail, then raise it again.

From what I have read, the lateen sail never really worked on the North Atlantic. One of Columbus's ships was so rigged when he set off, but was quickly changed to a square rigger once he made a nearby landfall.