Middle East 'Canoe' Sailing

You have to allow pop-ups, and it takes a while to start - but it's worth it.

The sail looks like a huge asymetric - and below a beam reach that's all you need I guess.  Certainly my mainsail doesn't do much when the kite is pulling us along. 

Lovely long flat luff to create roll over vortices, so probably works a treat on a really deep reach.

Whereas the Indonesian version ... it's soo wrong, how has it lasted so many centuries?

Originally posted by NickA lovely - and you CAN tack it (slowly)

One of the advantages of there being different cultures still out there is that you can leran from different approaches to things. I suspect there is probably more there of what used to be the traditional sailors principle that only a fool sails upwind and against the tide. The low aspect ratio steeply inclined leading edge rig on the dhow is probably petty mediocre beating, but I bet on a reach it produces shed loads more power per square foot and especially per kilo heeling moment than a bermudan rig. And if you're smart enough not to have to beat... well no contest which rig to use is it?

those look beautiful

I was sailing a RS 400 as that race was going on, it was the Sheik bin zayed al Maktoum or somthing like that.They do go quick exept they cant tack or jibe so it gets rarther boring i expect. Plus the starts all a bit of a muddle it just the boat with the fastest RIB towing them that gets there first when the hooter goes.

Yes one of my sisters lives out in Dubai (or the building site formerly known as.....). I must look out for these next time. 

I know eff all about boat design but these look very efficient boats.  Lots of interior room, but slim and long at the waterline. The sails (note best linen) seem to do the job as well.  We're definitely overcomplicating all this sailing lark....  now where's my adze and awl.