Twistle Rigs

[j44sailor]

I am interested in twistle rigs, and I'm wondering if anyone here has had any experience with them? If so, what are the best conditions for using a twistle rig? Are there any negative side effects that I need to know about? Also, did you use special nylon sails, or did you fly it using two standard headsails?

Thanks!
j44sailor

[rtbates]

No experience, but here's some info I found while researching the subject. Looks very useful/

http://www.simetric.co.uk/twizzle_rig/index.htm

good luck

[Les Bechdel]

I've got a custom steel 34 foot cutter that came with a twizzle sail, also known as a "butterfly" sail. I used it a few times and believe it would excellent for long term downwind sailing in the trades. Incidentally, you can lap one half of the sail over the other and use it as a jib (though a heavy one). It was rigged as a roller furling sail.

My boat has three head sails; sort of a solent rig with a staysail. I ended up removing the twizzle and putting on a light air 135 percent genoa on the forward most head stay. On the next head stay I've got a high cut jib that is about ninety percent. The innermost stay is for the stay sail and that is a hanked on sail. I also have a storm jib that can be put on that stay. Besides the weight issues of having three head sails, the only other negative aspect is that I have to roll up the genoa when I tack: there is only about 18 inches between the genoa and jib headstays.

I've done some downwind sailing with both the genoa and jib poled out and it seems to work fine, so the twizzle was a superfluous sail. Want to buy it?