What Kind of Headsail is This?

[endoftheroad]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

G'Day EOTR,

Perhaps you misunderstood my comment... The shape that I was referring to is the three dimensional shape that an airfoil sail has, not the outline triangle. You can't really see that shape with the sail lying on the ground.

You may have actually hoisted the sail on your boat... I dunno, but as I said, sailmakers "hoist" sals horizontally for inspection. In that position gravity tends to give the sail the same sort of shape that wind does when the sail is n use. It is a useful technique to get a rough idea of a sail's properties.

I suppose in your sail the D-rings could be used to attach hanks in the same manner that conventional sails use grommets. It is not a common method, though, and one wonders why it was used.

It remains a mystery why the PO would cause such a thing to be built!

Cheers,

Jim

Yes...I completely missed that one,
Sorry and thanks for clarifying.

[barnakiel]

Looks like collision device to me too.

b.

[savoir]

Exactly. Once someone sees that thing they'll be so bamboozled about what it is that they'll collide with something.

[Redcoat]

You could fly it on flag day in Washington State.

[Nauticatarcher]

It could have been made as a flat cut riding sail for use at anchor.

[svmariane]

Might it be somebody's idea of a temporary/emergency sail? Even though it doesn't appear to have the properly arranged corner connection points and etc., it MIGHT make do in a pinch.

As a fore sail should the fore stay or roller system drop. And/or;
As a Try Sail should the main blow out.

I can see where one could connect a halyard to the head for hoisting; connect a second line to head and weave through the D rings down to the tack and tie off (to replace the fore stay or mast-track); a third short line connected to tack to tension the leading edge. Add sheets.

Baffling...

[sigmasailor]

Originally Posted by svmariane

I can see where one could connect a halyard to the head for hoisting; connect a second line to head and weave through the D rings down to the tack and tie off (to replace the fore stay or mast-track); a third short line connected to tack to tension the leading edge. Add sheets.

.. and rip it apart in anything above 10 knots!

[barnakiel]

We met a sailor in the Azores and her sail was exactly same type of PVC coated material.

It was a small, junk rigged (I believe) boat. An English speaking lady with a fat cat (animal, not boat).

b.

[svmariane]

Originally Posted by sigmasailor

.. and rip it apart in anything above 10 knots!

Yeah, well, I DID say "...somebody's idea of a temporary/emergency sail?"

[Viking Sailor]

Maybe it is someones practice sail from learning how to make sails. Cheap yet good/strong enough for a test hoist.

[endoftheroad]

maybe it was made for a movie set. the computer filled in the rest.

[Kestrahl]

I've seen some Junk Rig sails made from high quality tarp material. It actually works quite well (and I'm a sailmaker). Its light, strong, has good tear resistance and you don't have to heat seal the edges but lacks any strength in the bias because the weave inside is so big. But whatever it lasts well and you don't need to use a sailcover. Pefect for a shoestring budget DIY

[atoll]

ideal for rainy day sailing..........

[europaflyer]

Originally Posted by Viking Sailor

Maybe it is someones practice sail from learning how to make sails. Cheap yet good/strong enough for a test hoist.

That's a good suggestion. Or at least no worse than anyone elses.

To me, the lack of hanks and just the general appearance doesn't suggest it being a sail. Maybe this is a silly suggestion, but could it be some sort of really unconventional sail bag/protector for a highly technical, expensive sail? IE, lay the sail on top, clip the hanks on to the loops etc., and roll it. Prevent the sail coming in to contact with itself when rolled to prevent damage through chafing... or something? Sort of like packing a really expensive garment with tissue paper. Hard to gauge how thick the material is, but if it is thin enough this might just be plausible...

Please, tell me if I'm being stupid.

[belizesailor]

Ive got sun shades made out of similar PVC coated material. If this is a similar material then it is very tough stuff. Mine, I know from experience, will hold up w no damage to 40+ knots...they then took some damage, but did not fail catastrophically.

Great stuff for a sun awning/rain catchment because it is bonded w adhesive not stitched and thus inheriently waterproof seams.

Is this "sail" made from intersecting panels like a normal sail or one sheet of material?