Square Top Jibs

Here is a new Mark Lombard design using a square top jib-which has been used -on and off-in the mini transat class since 2002.
http://www.marclombard.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=87&lang=en

click on image and then again on resulting image:
(lombard design, Unidentified mini with square top jib ,and my own version from the aeroSKIFF 16 foiler)

 

Square top jib

Just ran across the square top jib on the Aussie 18 "Lumix"-very interesting: (more here- http://www.18footerstv.com/ )

pix from Scuttlebutt Europe today: (click)
Images © Frank Quealey

 

looks like they are trying to get some end plate effect on the second image. I have wondered why no one has tried that on the mail sail as well. it would effectively increase the aspect ratio and likely would be a rule "cheater" that limits sail size.

 

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It has been tried(well, winglets anyway) to, apparently no great advantage. Lumix, the aydeen above has won at least one race with that rig and also is using the first wingmast in the class.

 

It's also a rotating mast. I'm assuming that the headstay is still straight from deck to mast and they aren't using that batwing thing to deflect it. If so it appears that they headstay hits the mast considerable higher then the boat it's sailing with. This would give them more separation for a given luff length, looks like the luff is shorten than the other boat which would give allow them the chord length.