Bit of a curly question there Robert. Gaff rig AND loosefooted AND not to the designers spec. It's a bit like "You have to be there."

I got your email with photos and have had a look at them. I have sent a description of how to load and post pictures which you should pick up pretty easy.

I have had virtually no experience with gaff rigs but I will give it a go based on my understanding of a gaff rig.

Looking at the photo, I assume the foot of the gaff goes up on a sail slug in the track and comes to a stopper before it gets to the top of the mast. Haliyard tension is then going to have a significant influence on how well the rig performs so you can experiment with that. The top of that sail looks to me to have too much curve in it.

When you say the main is loose footed, I am assuming you mean there is a boom and the main is only attached at each end with an outhaul at the rear end. If so there is the outhaul tension to play with. If there is no boom, I am at a loss.

Wharram cats are usually fairly good sailers with their designed rig so I just wonder why this one has been modified. Can't help you much there mate but if I run into somebody who knows them well, I'll find out what I can.

You are the catarmaran expert here. I have always had fin keel sloops. Cheers Peter.

Hi Robert, The boat being a smaller Wharram, I had a strong suspicion that the rig might be boomless, traditional and basic.

Once again my comment is qualified by saying "little gaff rig experience" and "as I understand it".

If the mainsheeting is going from the clew to a central sheeting point on the deck and stays that way, I can't see that you will ever get the full potential out of the sail/rig.

So let's look at it a different way. It is traditional and basic, so we will keep it that way meaning no boom and no traveller track. In character you might say. I am assuming there are no winches aboard as well. This then requires creativity with blocks and tackle.

Let's set up two sheeting points(port & stbd) that are a little further away from the mast than the length of the foot of the sail. Set up two mainsheeting rigs that can be independantly cleated from each other. Attach one to port, the other to stbd and the other end of each to the clew of the sail.

The clew of the sail is now infiitely adjustable to be firmly held at any point in the area limited by the length of the foot of the sail and the sheeting points. The double mainsheet has eliminated traveller, vang, boom and outhaul, is cheap and easy to set up and stays within the character of the boat. Put it to the owner in those terms and I am sure he will go for it. Cheers Peter.

It is a boomless rig Paul and I don't see a second halliard on the gaff but I guess there has to be one more. Maybe it is too close to the mast in the pic to see it.




Have a look at this thing Gizmo sent me. Fortunately I disqualify for it at 94kg.
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Sail%20Boats//~nnm9/2007-Bicsport-Open-Bic-Energised-Sailing-275-metre.aspx?search=DzWVP%2fSP%2f8wlXTxthAj%2b4A%3d%3d

Great concept.Cheers Peter.

Those photos are a good example of the moment traditional rigs and modern materials fail to meet.
what you have there is really a badly cut hook topped main. The dutch use them on their traditonal sloops. rather than letting the sail flatten towards the top t sailmaker has cut way too much curve all the way to a stiff short gaff . add overtightened battens ( or ones that have been rolled up bent)
That long luff panel should have way more tension.
definitely a case for 2 halyards..
in summary , yuk.