Double head sail downwind rig

[shemandr]

Does anyone remember the name of a double headsail downwind rig for trade wind sailing? There were two poles, each on one side and I think the poles had control lines to steer the rig. No mainsail. I’ve searched the forums but do not have the keyword I need. We had one or more threads on this in the past. I recently did a long off the wind sail and was thinking about this and now I would like to look at the details. TIA!

 

[AaronD]

I've seen rigs like this discussed under various names. I first saw it mentioned by John Vigor as the twistle rig, AKA 'twizzle rig' (see also here). It looks like that was discussed at this thread (possibly others as well). From a quick Google search, I also see references to a Simbo rig, so that might be a useful keyword too. Hope that helps.

FWIW, Vigor's book "Small Boat to Freedom" was a good read.

 

[rgranger]

I don't think this is what you are looking for but it does have control poles port and starboard.

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

 

[Davidasailor26]

Twizzle is the term I’ve heard. One perspective of it at 10:45 in

 

[markwbird]

I think you can just get a second pole and a second headsail and rig up each one. You need a foil with two tracks but otherwise it's just two headsails up at the same time with poles.

 

[shemandr]

Twissel sounds familiar. I’ll search that. Thanks.

 

[capta]

The Twizzel rig does not have the poles attached to the mast and looks to me to be a disaster just waiting to happen.
I've flown two head sails down wind across all three oceans, Atlantic, Pacific and Indian. I have never tried to use it to steer the boat and I doubt it would work with the normal tradewind seas which tend to broach the boat.
I wouldn't bother putting the second jib in a slot in the foil, just fly it tacked to the deck and with a tight halyard.
Have two poles attached to the mast with two topping lifts, two foreguys and use the sheet as an after guy. You don't want the pole swinging all over the place, only as a fixed fairlead for the sheet. Lead the sheets to a fairlead amidships and then to the winches, not to the stern as you would with a chute.
If you have the smaller jib to weather, you can even come up a bit and kill much of the rolling. Just ease that pole a bit forward and put a belly in that sail.
Practice in light airs until you've got the hang of it and it will become your favorite long distance down wind rig.

 

[shemandr]

On this trip we used a poled out jib and main wing on wing. So in more wind we could reef the main and leave the or could roll in a bit. It was versatile and despite our misgivings re rolling the boat was fast and smoother than the deep reach. That’s why I wanted to review the Twizzel thing.