What is best Sail design for a Catamaran?

[weavis]

Sad to say, I dont know the strengths of the different sail cuts and designs. And even less for a Catamaran.

Cats come complete with a stock sail from the manufacturer. Has anyone changed their sail and found better performance?

[robert sailor]

Few manufacturer's supply top quality sails on their boats so sails are easy enough to improve but for the average cruiser average sails are just fine. If you want to add a bit more zip then you can increase the size of your head sail or add a furling reacher type sail in addition to your present one.

[weavis]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

Few manufacturer's supply top quality sails on their boats so sails are easy enough to improve but for the average cruiser average sails are just fine. If you want to add a bit more zip then you can increase the size of your head sail or add a furling reacher type sail in addition to your present one.

Thanks for that. I saw a 40(ish) Cat on the web the other day with a Junk style rig and it set me off thinking......

[StuM]

Best? Prout style cutter rig, Second best? Wharram gaff rig

(D,RFC)

[boatman61]

Wharram Gaff Wing sail....

[StuM]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Wharram Gaff Wing sail....

That's the one - boomless.

[weavis]

Saw this in my searches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73n56dxBgYI

[valhalla360]

You can go old school with a crab claw.

[boatman61]

The beauty of the Gaff Wing is the simplicity and economy..

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by weavis

Sad to say, I dont know the strengths of the different sail cuts and designs. And even less for a Catamaran.

Cats come complete with a stock sail from the manufacturer. Has anyone changed their sail and found better performance?

There is no such thing as a catamaran.

There are many different boat makers who build specific catamarans. It is not uncommon for an owner to change the rig of their specific catamaran, sometimes wisely and sometimes not so wisely.

For performance catamarans a square top main would be most folks choice. Owners often add a screecher which sometimes means adding a bowsprit. Having a screecher and working jib both along with a square top can results in two slots and most likely a higher speed. Race boats will often have a selection of head sails for different conditions.

At the other extreme some folks like pinheads with a roller furling main sail and a club foot jib as the single head sail.

Choosing the rig should be done based on the boat and how the boat will be used.

[SaltyMonkey]

Originally Posted by boatman61

The beauty of the Gaff Wing is the simplicity and economy..

Hoiw the F. do you reef the thing without bagging your head?

[weavis]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

Hoiw the F. do you reef the thing without bagging your head?

Banging your head keeps you awake silly..........

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

Hoiw the F. do you reef the thing without bagging your head?

Drop it till you can tie the reef ties then take up the slack.. pretty much the same as one reefed a jib in the old days..

[44'cruisingcat]

Best for what? Ease,? Cheapness? Simplicity? Performance? All valid questions, but all will likely have a different answer.

[weavis]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Best for what? Ease,? Cheapness? Simplicity? Performance? All valid questions, but all will likely have a different answer.

Well a Catamaran comes with a sail set as a 'standard' which has to cover in the main, all of the criteria above.

A Catamaran is usually somewhat under canvassed due to the lack of heel to spill wind in a gust, and I have been looking around to see if there has been any improvements or enhancements to enable a better speed/ performance generally in the generic design. (Or specific to a manufacturers hull/s speed)

I have a fondness for the concept of unstayed rigging (Freedom yachts). However they are now out of business so either the concept didnt work or it was too radical to catch on.