Considering anchoring sail. Saw one a www.BannerBayMarine.com. Anyone have any experience with one? Supposed to reduce swinging when at anchor. Appreciate the input. Edventure
Anchoring Sails
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Saw an article in Sail about anchoring sails
I tried an "anchoring (riding) sail" for the first time a couple of weeks ago in a flat-water anchorage in WS of up to 20 kt. Since I didn't want to spend the ca. $400 right away to buy one from Banner Bay, I borrowed a small jib w/ hanks from my sailmaker friend to try one out. The first thing I can say is that it did significantly reduce the amplitude of the boat's swing on a single hook. However, I think that unless you have a regular backstay (not split) to which to hank on the riding sail, it probably won't work too satifactorily for most boats. Unless fixed to a backstay, tightening the sail pulls it too far fwd in my opinion, and it will probably slap more (than a fully hanked version) when the wind gets on the opposite side. Not that a sail fully designed for the purpose couldn't to a better job than my makeshift deal; however, I can see that it will likely always be a "distraction" while you're trying to sit peacefully in the cockpit at anchor in relative quiet. Not that I'm a fan of bow-stern anchoring, b/c I'm not, it nevertheless is probably a much more effective way to keep the boat in place; save the $400 and get a second set of good ground tackle. BEO
I tried an "anchoring (riding) sail" for the first time a couple of weeks ago in a flat-water anchorage in WS of up to 20 kt. Since I didn't want to spend the ca. $400 right away to buy one from Banner Bay, I borrowed a small jib w/ hanks from my sailmaker friend to try one out. The first thing I can say is that it did significantly reduce the amplitude of the boat's swing on a single hook. However, I think that unless you have a regular backstay (not split) to which to hank on the riding sail, it probably won't work too satifactorily for most boats. Unless fixed to a backstay, tightening the sail pulls it too far fwd in my opinion, and it will probably slap more (than a fully hanked version) when the wind gets on the opposite side. Not that a sail fully designed for the purpose couldn't to a better job than my makeshift deal; however, I can see that it will likely always be a "distraction" while you're trying to sit peacefully in the cockpit at anchor in relative quiet. Not that I'm a fan of bow-stern anchoring, b/c I'm not, it nevertheless is probably a much more effective way to keep the boat in place; save the $400 and get a second set of good ground tackle. BEO
You just have to consider what you are trying
to accomplish. The bow of the boat has a large center of effort and the center of lateral resistance is far aft. You need to move the windage aft of the center of lateral resistance. With a split back stay this could be done with triangular sails hanked on port and starboard and both clews controlled by the same sheet.
to accomplish. The bow of the boat has a large center of effort and the center of lateral resistance is far aft. You need to move the windage aft of the center of lateral resistance. With a split back stay this could be done with triangular sails hanked on port and starboard and both clews controlled by the same sheet.
Double your trouble?
Good idea, except that now you need two halyards or a bridle system to tension the heads of the twin sails up, and two places to tack the twin sails to the stern. I suppose the latter isn't too problematic since you could use the stern pad eyes supporting the split backstays; and, of course, you now need two nearly-identical triganular sails. BEO
Good idea, except that now you need two halyards or a bridle system to tension the heads of the twin sails up, and two places to tack the twin sails to the stern. I suppose the latter isn't too problematic since you could use the stern pad eyes supporting the split backstays; and, of course, you now need two nearly-identical triganular sails. BEO
I would set such sails with a rolling hitch and a
boat hook. A rolling hitch above and below each sail would serve. We're not talking about much of a load here. Some large scrap sunbrella fabric would serve for the sails.
boat hook. A rolling hitch above and below each sail would serve. We're not talking about much of a load here. Some large scrap sunbrella fabric would serve for the sails.
If you have a stern rail, consider
removable lee cloths for the rail so you have a wind break in the cockpit. The extra windage aft will have the same effect as a riding sail and you can sunbathe out of the wind. Easy to get them tight enough so they don't flap around. As easy to take off and put on as a sail.
removable lee cloths for the rail so you have a wind break in the cockpit. The extra windage aft will have the same effect as a riding sail and you can sunbathe out of the wind. Easy to get them tight enough so they don't flap around. As easy to take off and put on as a sail.
Was just at the Hunter Rendezvous
on the Chesapeake Bay in Solomons. Got to watch a Hunter 41 and 44 at a mooring. One had an anchor sail and the other did not. Winds were hitting 20 with the gusts and both boats were SWIINNNNGGG. I watched them for about 20 minutes and spoke to the owner of the 44 and asked if he sailed like that with the anchor sail up and he said usually not that much. He finally took it down since it seemed to aggravate it. BTW - the Pain Killers were killers... Jim S/V Java
on the Chesapeake Bay in Solomons. Got to watch a Hunter 41 and 44 at a mooring. One had an anchor sail and the other did not. Winds were hitting 20 with the gusts and both boats were SWIINNNNGGG. I watched them for about 20 minutes and spoke to the owner of the 44 and asked if he sailed like that with the anchor sail up and he said usually not that much. He finally took it down since it seemed to aggravate it. BTW - the Pain Killers were killers... Jim S/V Java
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