My topping lifts are of 3/16" Amsteel, and I can't imagine that they generate much parasitic drag. They are essential to capture the sail as it...
With respect, that didn't answer my question. :) There are lots of pointy-tops around, yes - and lots of them motor both upwind and downwind, when...
Yes, the Omer wing sail uses some high-tech stuff, and tensions it vertically, and suffers less from distortions. The Beneteau wing sail uses...
Actually, Will, the top section sets quite well. That's because weight has more of an effect than tension, in a rig like this. When deeply reefed,...
Hi Will, You're right, the collapsing of the weather side flattens out the sail section here, and this is beneficial, or ought to be - except for...
Now that Bamfield Music by the Sea (a superb series of classical and jazz concerts) has ended, I'm cruising again, and can give a first sailing...
If your meaning is "does the chinese sheet take care of all the reefing requirement at the leech of the sail, and do I get seven reefs without...
Some early photos:
Just to show that I haven't been idle, here's a photo of the carbon fibre battens, hinges and noses, and a photo of the yard under construction.
It's stretchier on the bias, but reasonably stable along the threadline. Bermudan/Marconi sails need minimum stretch in all directions, so they...
Matt Sheahan has written about the Beneteau wing for Yachting World:...
Soft cruising Dacron sailcloth can be used. I used Richard Hayward's Sunwing http://www.heathcoat.co.uk/marine for my last wingsails. It's UV...
Mark, Short answer to all your questions: No. No book; I'm too busy making things and sailing. Single sided after part to the sail is easier to...
Tyvek and polytarp have been used for junk sails, so you could try. My feeling is that you would be putting so much time and labour into making...
That's fine. The battens we are currently making were designed to fit around a 10" dia mast, and the chord is 14' 9". I'll update the drawings...
If you tell me the chord of sail you need (parallel luff and leech for the lower two thirds), I can scale my batten shape to that, very easily....
At last, we seem to have a good moulding procedure for the carbon components, with the first piece out of the mould, and the second now curing in...
For the past week, we've been beavering away at making moulds for the components, but there's not yet anything to show you. Soon.
Cat2Fold, With Cad, it's easy to scale the batten design to any desired chord, and there is latitude in the spacing and number of battens, so you...
Yes, and I think I've already explained how they are unsuitable for large sails on a cruising vessel. They just don't scale up to become an...
