Reducing Sail Size

Yes correct there is a design for an Osprey jib. Never seen one, but would like to try it if one existed. I have a genoa furler on my Osprey as a way of reducing sail area in either light (helps kite to set on a run) or between/ after races if very windy. FFs use them in same circumstances. Was just saying to an FD sailor that they could do with trying a jib too, to allow lighter crews to sail them.

if i remember correctly  a number of classes  have specified sizes for  reduced/ storm/ crusing sails 

i beleive the Enterprise has /had  such a set of measurements.

Rupert the Streaker Wave sail came about for a number of reasons. Streaker sailors had initially tried reducing area by taking their old standard sail to the sail maker who chopped off the bottom 2 or 3 feet, which shortened the luff and reduced the area of the sail. These sails though are not very nice at all to use. Performance was ok up wind, because there was less sail area, but the boat was unbalanced and so became difficult to sail. The sail never looked that nice either as luff curves did not match anymore. Downwind the reduced sail area high up seriously reduced the performance. The Wave sail was developed so that the Streaker was still balanced up wind, infact the helm is very light when using this sail, the Streaker does have a rocking dagger board which allows you to balance the helm to a degree. And, the idea was not to totally kill all performance from the sail. This I think was acheived quite nicely with the double batten fathead sail design. It does have the advantage that the head of the sail spills the wind automatically when it is really blowing. Down wind though that extra bit of sail area higher up keeps things interesting. This forum was rather critical of the developement at the time, but maybe 40 or 50 of these sails have been sold in the last 3 years, and I know some Streaker sailors appreciate the reduced sail option.

Originally posted by Alan Gillard Streaker wave sail being used by Vronny. Fully class legal so can be used in class opens, we also suggested a handicap for club use at 1190, but then that would be up to clubs concerned?

Why was it decided to go so radically different to the normal sail?

Originally posted by SUGmeister Originally posted by JimC The trouble would be that if multiple size rigs became so prevalent as to be regarded as essential to be competitive then that would up the cost of the sport, which wouldn't be a good thing. In the late 60s early 70s it was completely normal at the front end of the Enterprise fleet to have 2 sets of full size sails, baggy for light, flat for heavy.

Which just goes to show how far mast and sail technology has come on, even in a nominally one design fleet, that they aren't needed any more, with the likelihood of getting caught with the wrong sail up.