Three sets of Really Simple Sails at Lauwersmeer RAID, Netherlands.

Raid Extreme at Lauwersmeer. 20 boats showed up, 40 people in total including three of our sails showing both lug sail and laminate sails on sailing canoes and a light fast sailing dinghy. Slightly different idea for a RAID of having several checkpoints with participants able to choose any order to visit them all. Sailplanes call this a “cat’s cradle” event.

Two canoes and the Goat Island Skiff attended the event

You can see the Lugsail and the Square Top Laminate sails in this clip. We developed the rigs too based around the dimensions for packing the sails into the boats.

The organiser Koos put our 50sq ft sail on his Artemis sailing canoe.

We developed the entire rig using standard aluminium tubes for our Viola canoe design – photos below.

Koos is a crazy moth sailor, so he’s fitted a hiking plank to his Artemis canoe.

We provided the spar spec to Koos and can also supply it to anyone wanting to use the 50sq ft sail. The current mast and sail is for monohull dinghies up to about 4ft wide.

Koos is talking about a bigger sail – bigger or smaller we can do them. This is a custom sail to be ordered direct from us.

Price (Sept 2016 subject to variation. Includes shipping) USD$643 including battens or €458.76

koos winnips Artemis sailing canoe sail and rig - really simple sails com

koos winnips Artemis sailing canoe sail and rig - really simple sails com

The Prototype VIOLA canoe from Storer Boat Plans

This was the boat’s second outing since the builder Joost Engelen finished building it. Viola, Joost’s wife and others who have sailed it so far has found it to be a “non tricky canoe”, which is an unusual thing.

Plans for the Viola Sailing Canoe are Ready! Joost has found the boat fast and unusually stable. He can stand up to get the mast down for low bridges in the Netherlands. And this transforms to sailing pace with no big surprises – more like a sailing dinghy form.

Viola sailing canoe from storer boat plans sail - really simple sails com

It is a very “dinghy style” hull – with flattish sections up the middle of the hull provide lift right through the speed range rather than the old style hulls that have planing sections at the back only.

Boats with flattened areas through the mid area of the boat like the Australian NS14, the UK National 12, the UK Cherub and others get through that zone with no fuss and little change in trim.

Unlike the old fat stern planing hulls that have to stick their noses in the air to get the planing sections aft to a positive angle of attack. Very slow through the hullspeed transition.

Viola sailing canoe from storer boat plans sail - really simple sails com

The rig and sail of Viola is identical with that on the Artemis above. We can provide both the alloy tubing specs and the building method for a two piece mast that matches the sail on both these canoes for those buying the sail.

These are a custom sail and should be ordered direct from us. Price (including shipping, Sept 2016 subject to variation.) USD$504.13 or €458.76

Viola sailing canoe with Really Simple Sails laminate squaretop sail

Joost and Viola Engelens’ Goat Island Skiff

This is a well travelled Goat Island Skiff, having competed in the Caledonia RAID in Scotland in its debut year. An excellent fast light RAID boat “GISwerk” came in second in class and came third overall in all the rowing legs.

Joost Engelens Goat Island Skiff in Extreme RAID Event Netherlands - really simple sails com

The above photo of the Engelens’ Goat shows the nice balance in stitching tension and construction. Running in light wind will quickly show creases or wrinkles.

The 105sq ft sail is available ex stock from Duckworks USA (under USD$400 in 5oz Challenge cloth) or we can do any custom sails for any dinghies and small keelboats delivery in 4 to 5 weeks worldwide.

Joost and Viola Engelen Goat Island Skiff balance lug - really simple sails com

Joost recently had a serious back injury, so this is his second weekend in a row on the water. They decided to take it easy and enjoy the social aspects of the event.

Joost and Viola Engelen Goat Island Skiff balance lug - really simple sails com

Here you can see GISwerk, their Goat Island Skiff reefed with its Really Simple Sails Lugsail. These sails are available ex stock from Duckworks USA and ship internationally.