Unusual boat

[Ken Cross]

Our recent trip to the San Juan and Gulf Islands I saw this unusual boat. I was told it was owner constructed over the last 15 years. I'm looking at that massive boom with no sheets. (I assume hydraulic controls but didn't get to ask the owners.) It was anchored in Reed Harbor. Nice looking work. It must have been in the 38 to 40 foot range. I understand this was their first trip out.

Ken

 

[Stu Jackson]

No sheets = rotating boom (and/or mast). Pretty spiffy.

 

[Ron20324]

There was a thread about a month ago about the boom arrangement, but it was a different boat style.

 

[Sailm8]

I think that is called an aero rig or something like that.

 

[Rick D]

Sailm8 Nailed It!

It's basically a soft wing sail, with, of course, many differences.

 

[JRacer]

Pretty strange. But, interesting. Wonder how it sails.

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Aero-Rig

 

[woodster]

Pretty strange. But, interesting. Wonder how it sails.

maybe like a square rigger

 

[Brian S]

Beneteau has also been toying with this rig.

 

[Salty Canuck]

Yep, aero rig. Mostly, mast rotates and then both sails are self-tacking. Dontchaluvit?
Rod

 

[higgs]

The rig has been around for a few years.

 

[shemandr]

It's been around for at least 5 years and maybe 10. I'm not sure it was successful or will be. The advent of the modern sail plan i.e. large main, 100% jib, and asymmetric chute on a carbon fiber mast, with light laminate sails has sort of eclipsed the aero-rig.
I don't know the engineering of either in detail but I would guess that the Aero-rig is a bit on the heavy side and the modern designs are moving the other way. Nevertheless it was innovative and could be good for cruising boats who want an easy to control sail plan. I expect like some other good innovations this one will wither.

 

[Brian S]

I had read somewhere that Beneteau was toying with it, in an attempt to make sailing even easier and more idiot proof - essentially almost as easy as power boating, in an effort to attract more sailors without the difficulty of learning so much about sailing.

It's been around for at least 5 years and maybe 10. I'm not sure it was successful or will be. The advent of the modern sail plan i.e. large main, 100% jib, and asymmetric chute on a carbon fiber mast, with light laminate sails has sort of eclipsed the aero-rig.
I don't know the engineering of either in detail but I would guess that the Aero-rig is a bit on the heavy side and the modern designs are moving the other way. Nevertheless it was innovative and could be good for cruising boats who want an easy to control sail plan. I expect like some other good innovations this one will wither.

 

[Stu Jackson]

in an effort to attract more sailors without the difficulty of learning so much about sailing.

Yes, I guess once they took off the traveler so you couldn't properly trim the mainsail and made the jib fairlead tracks so short you couldn't trim the jib, anything and everything else became possible.

Why learn all that complicated crap?!?