Sailchute

[southace]

I seen one about 8 mile out it was heading up the coast made me think would this be a easy option for down wind passages...now I see the video it looks kinda dangerous dont you think??

SailChute - YouTube

SAILCHUTES HOME

How would one go retriving in 30kn plus winds?? stress to rig?? death rolls on a mono?? Im not so convinced yet.

[daddle]

Wow! What a lousy idea. Spinnakers are wild enough and they are attached firmly at two corners.

The vendor kinda provides the better solution in his text: Don't sail dead downwind with any sail (Except perhaps twin headsails on some old slow beast).

[southace]

Originally Posted by daddle

Wow! What a lousy idea. Spinnakers are wild enough and they are attached firmly at two corners.

The vendor kinda provides the better solution in his text: Don't sail dead downwind with any sail (Except perhaps twin headsails on some old slow beast).

Hahaha that reply make me laugh hard

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by southace

I seen one about 8 mile out it was heading up the coast made me think would this be a easy option for down wind passages...now I see the video it looks kinda dangerous dont you think??

SAILCHUTES HOME

How would one go retriving in 30kn plus winds?? stress to rig?? death rolls on a mono?? Im not so convinced yet.

Actually, its a pretty inovative approach. The sail osscilates with the wind but with the attachment points, the yacht would not. Dumping the chute would not be unlike causing the dreaded "streamer" in a parajump. In fact, the sail could build in a safety valve with a velcro seam that blows out with an overload. Going down wind in the trades, one frequently has 20 to 25 knts actual and the only twin head-sails that are really workable for that are separae twins with a dihedral angle between them. Of course, the yacht wanders around under such a rig, but it will self-steer.

I recall when "Kite Boarding" was laughed at as "nutty". Now kite boarders are everywhere. Whenever we drive up to St. Pete we always see them on the noth side of the Skyway Bridge tho' how they stand the cold is beyond me.

[Hydra]

IMO, the biggest disadvantage in a Sailchute is that it is optimum only when sailing dead downwind, which is slow in light to medium wind.

On a cat, a symmetrical spinnaker set without a pole would be more efficient and probably much cheaper (less lines and less stitches).

On the video, the Sailchute doesn't appear easier to recover than a conventional spinnaker in the same wind conditions.

I was also struck by the images of all these monos sailing while the cat is motoring.

Alain

[ggray]

I don't like the idea of attachment to the masthead. Someone else makes one for deck attachment, and it had more than one "sheet" which would give more control , and probably could achieve a higher course.

[Orrjames]

I'll buy it and then use it as a sea anchor......

[Orrjames]

Speaking of which, any real sea anchor fans around ?

[SunDevil]

Interesting concept, but I think it still need some more refinement.

And the competition from this type of sail, would make it hard to sell.

http://yachthub.com/ad_img/7/5/4/8/0/6_2.jpg

[Bruce626]

It seems like one could just buy a surplus military cargo chute and give it a try - it only looks about as wide as the catamaran, perhaps 20' diameter. If a small one worked then one might try one a bit larger. Should be cheap if nothing else.

[biltong]

I still prefer the Parasail. Works well without a pole. Downside is the price.

[Mr B]

Mines 31 foot in Diameter, Works a treat,
Shame I didnt get to use it more,
I put a rope from the centre that I pull to invert it to get it down,

$2200-00 AUD delivered,

[mrohr]

Looks like it could be exciting and fun on some elses boat. NOT MINE.

What happens when the wind suddenly gusts up and the boat rounds up?

Not going going to try this single handed.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by mrohr

Looks like it could be exciting and fun on some elses boat. NOT MINE.

What happens when the wind suddenly gusts up and the boat rounds up?

Not going going to try this single handed.

I've sailed one on a 36' sloop. A boat would naturally tend to resist rounding up with these rigs.

We found that the sail tended to want to dive into the water about once every ten minutes. It was fun for a test sail, but a lot more work that a spinnaker.

[rgesner]

Can anyone with actual experience (as opposed to conjecture and supposition) speak to specific pros and cons of a chicken chute versus the Sailchute?