Unknown Sail Name

[sms5572]

Can anyone help me to identify the proper name for one of the sails on this boat? It is the triangular sail attached to the main backstay. We took this picture on a bareboat trip to the BVIs. I have never before or since seen a rig exactly like this one, and I have never been able to find a sail plan that is similar enough to identify the proper name of this sale.

It was roller furled around the backstay of the mainmast and the clew was rigged to a traveler mounted at the top of the mizzen. This traveler and the sheets on the clew were obviously remote controlled from the cockpit.

I will be forever grateful if anyone can help me solve this mystery.

[Landlubber]

...I would have called it a wishbone......

[Stumble]

It looks like a mizzen Spencer toke, though a Spencer Is normally set differently. With the leech running up to the mizzen sail instead of down as this one does.

It might also be called a mizzen staysail. Which seems to be the most proper, but it is a sail I have never seen or worked to be honest.

[Petros]

I would call it a "bij" which is jib backwards.

Large topsail? OR Top'sl?

[TeddyDiver]

It's just a kind of staysail more common with some schooners here rigged in a bit unorthodox way in a ketch. That is IMHO..

[Perm Stress]

I did met a name "mule" somewhere

[Tad]

Originally Posted by Perm Stress

I did met a name "mule" somewhere

Correct......

[sms5572]

Thanks so very much to Tad and Perm Stress for this piece of knowledge. I have searched for years to find the correct name for this sail, with no luck. Thanks to your posts, I have been able to locate many pictures and articles about the mule sail and it's uses. it's appreciated.

[Landlubber]

......a mule, eh, well aren't I a donkey. I thought it may have been a wishbone. Better go have a look at some of my books......

[sms5572]

Actually, it seems you may also be right. As I have now explored "mule sails" on the web, I find that many people who have these on their boats refer to them as wishbone mules.

[Landlubber]

.....so, like a mule I may be half right anyhow.

[sms5572]

The one interesting feature this particular rig has that I have not seen on any of the other postings I have now found is that it actually had a traveller mounted at the top of the mizzen to allow the sail to tack with the rest of the boat. We were able to motor up close to it in the dinghy one evening at anchor and it appeared that the traveller was also rigged to the cockpit for control from there.

Obviously, this was a VERY nice boat and we drooled on it for days as it seemed to show up at almost every anchorage we were at as well.

[Landlubber]

...emmm, yes there are some very special boats we occasionally see, I well remember an Alden that came to Brisbane about 20 years ago. it was simply superb. Lots of special innovative ideas, makes the walk around the marinas well worth the effort.

[sms5572]

A fact I remind myself of each time I purchase a lotto ticket.

[Arvy]

In any case, it is a nice way to compensate for the losses due to the triangular main sail
was it a furl in mast sail?