Mizzen staysail

[michaeld5503]

Hi all,
I have a 45' cutter rig ketch built by Aquacraft in Tiawan. It came with a mizzen staysail. Absolutely no idea of how to rig it. Anyone have a similar setup? There Is only 1 halyard at the mizzen, I assume the staysail should fly from the mizzen, but don't see how.

[Blue Stocking]

Use 1 on my Rhodes Reliant Yawl. A sail for when the wind range is broad reach to the quarter. Tacks down to a windward side deck fitting and crosses the boat to sheet to the end of the mizzen boom on the lee side of the mizzen sail.. Is taken down before, and reset after each tack. Hoists on a halyard on the forward side of the mizzen mast.

[UNCIVILIZED]

It needs it's own halyard, & commonly they're rigged much like a loose luffed jib. With the tack set a bit above centerline, & sheeted appropriately. Sometimes with a tackle at the tack so that the sail's luff tension can be adjusted, or pulled further to weather.

Also, you need to ensure that your mizzen mast is properly supported to deal with their pull. Either via runners or permanent stays.
And of course such sails are usually they're flown off of the wind. But they're not complex to rig or fly, & just need a bit of tinkering & experimentation in order to optimize them.

You can also find a bit more info on them in the Dashew's Offshore Cruising Encyclopedia, Vol. II & via videos in the usual locations.
BTW, the book is available for free download at www.SetSail.com & you should be able to find more information on the sail, & other items via that website as well. It's one run by the Dashews.

[Tetra]

Originally Posted by UNCIVILIZED

Also, you need to ensure that your mizzen mast is properly supported to deal with their pull. Either via runners or permanent stays.

Yes, this is very important. Many/most ketches' rigs were not designed for the forces that can come with a mizzen staysail. (Although, it might be possible to find this out through research with your boat manufacturer.) I flew one of these sails with my last ketch and the boat's designer was quick to mention the need for running backstays.

[StuM]

This is quite a good primer on using the mizzen, including a section on the staysail:

How to set up a sailing Ketch - Cruising Life