Any Sailing Tips for a Modified Junk Rig?

[TopHat]

Hi all,
Ive just bought this Top Hat 25, have owned a Top Hat before but never one with this rig.

Its a modified junk rig, possibly called a Junkette Rig??

Ive got a little bit of work to make her sailable, but nothing major. I have never sailed a junk rig before..any tips on sailing her?

How is it to windward?
Can also hoist a headsail on this one, would there be an optimum size headsail to mainsail ratio?
Reefing?
Anything else?

cheers
Shaun

[Christian Van H]

Thomas Colvins books detail the junk rig and it's use...

[feelsgood]

Originally Posted by TopHat

Hi all,
Ive just bought this Top Hat 25, have owned a Top Hat before but never one with this rig.

Its a modified junk rig, possibly called a Junkette Rig??

Ive got a little bit of work to make her sailable, but nothing major. I have never sailed a junk rig before..any tips on sailing her?

How is it to windward?
Can also hoist a headsail on this one, would there be an optimum size headsail to mainsail ratio?
Reefing?
Anything else?

cheers
Shaun

I design and build junk rigs and can give you any advice you want FOR FREE please contact me on psg1640@gmail.com

[svwillow]

Looks like you have a very sweet boat and got very lucky with the rig. I have been cruising with a junk rig for 8 years now and would never, never change things. Unless I wanted to win races around the bouys. (we have raced her and for sure the upwind leg in flat water will kill you). However, that truly makes no matter if you are simply out there to sail for the day or cruise long term.

The headsail will for sure help windward performance, if that is of great concern to you. I would simply measure what size jib will fit to the rig you have in place, and then find something used to give it a try.

My boat, Willow is a junk rigged schooner and I do at times wish I has a jib to fly up forward, but only very rarely. We have made some very difficult windward passages with this rig and have done just fine.j

Well, I have no real words of wisdom, but do have this to say.

"A junk rig on the horizon always improves the view."

Perhaps something I have written on my website will help. Log of s/v Willow

It is the easiest rig to sail and low stress with it.

Greg from Hilo Hawaii

[Hud3]

Welcome to the Forum, Greg. We'd love seeing some photos of your boat under sail, if you have them.

[Eleven]

Well Hud, you've maintained another folklore.
If you get bored with sailing, change your boat.
There's a whole new learning curve waiting for you.
How did the sale go, are prices still good?