Resources for setting up, tuning and handling balance and other lug sails

One very good thing about working with Storer Boat Plans is that Michael provide a great deal of useful information on his website to make our (and any one else’s) sails look good and work well.

So this will help anyone who uses our sails.

The most common question we see is the one about a lug sail having a “bad tack” because of  the mast pressing on the sail on one side.

The answer is that it doesn’t.  Lug sails work very well on both tacks and it will take a very able sailor to notice any difference in speed.  And the truly interesting thing is that the tack that has always supposed to be the “bad tack” isn’t the one with a shade less performance – showing that the conventional reasoning about the bad tack is completely wrong.

So here is a list of Michael’s articles.

1/ A Overview of traditional rig types and their setup.

Traditional rigs can work very well if set up correctly. Some basic do’s and dont’s on the design side or to help you estimate how different rigs may perform

http://www.storerboatplans.com/Faq/tradrigperformance.html

2/ Detail setting up of a lug rig using Goat Island Skiff as example.

These boats are quite quick.  The halyard system shown here is the best system for lug sails, lateen sails and can be helpful for Junk and Crab Claw sails.  For lug sails strong downhaul tension makes a lot of difference to sail effectiveness

http://www.storerboatplans.com/GIS/GISRigging.html

3/ More advanced look at sail twist control for lug rigs

Michael argues that the biggest advance in the development of performance sails through history is the control of sail twist.  He goes into three option for controlling twist. Using a powerful downhaul and introducing the “vanghaul” and “bleeter” developed by the Goat Island Skiff group.

http://www.storerboatplans.com/wp/design/rig/sails/making-balance-lugs-faster-2013-setting-up-sails-spars-and-rigging/

4/ An article on controlling heel angle of a jibless rig downwind – turn death rolls into something useful!

Using a more advanced sailing techniques to control the heel of the boat in a dynamic way to make downwind sailing faster and safer.  It will also show how there is a wrong way and right way to goosewing a cat yawl.

http://www.storerboatplans.com/wp/design/rig/sails/sailing-unstayed-cat-ketches-and-cat-yawls-safely-and-efficiently-downwind-in-strong-winds/

5/ A collection of data from the Goat Island Skiff group – spar dimensions, weights and stiffnesses

Some date from Oz Racers and Puddle Duck racers – how stiff does a boom need to be? How stiff does a yard need to be? Common constructions from a range of boats

http://www.storerboatplans.com/wp/design/foils/test-for-google-docs/

6/ A case study of sailing performance improvement as George races his GIS in weekly racing

http://www.storerboatplans.com/wp/boat/sailing-boat/a-cafe-racers-guide-to-club-racing-the-goat-island-skiff-georges-adventures-in-yardstick-handicap-racing/