Your rig looks very similar to that of the old Montague Whalers that the British Navy formerly used for sail training and small boat handling. It was considered important for the main yard on the top of the lug sail to be always on the lee side of the mast as otherwise a "bad tack" would be the result. Whenever the vessel tacked, a command was given to "dip the lug" and at the appropriate moment when the main sheet was slack enough and the sail was amidships during the tacking manoeuver, one crew member stood and pulled down on a short looped rope attached to the forward end of the yard and pulled the spar down and behind the mast and over to the new lee side. A "bad tack"setting did not sail as well as a proper setting as described above. I notice you often had a bad tack setting in your video clip. You may like to try out this on your boat. However the Navy Whalers used a boomless loose flooted main sail, you would need to make some adjustment for your boom arrangement.
G'day Theodore. Exactly right, the design is intended as a tribute to the Montagu Whalers. My Dad recalls from his days at Darmouth dipping the lug as you describe. The Welsford interpretation is intended to be sailed without dipping, perhaps as you say because of the boom. My predecessor had the main boom but never used it, but I don't believe he dipped the lug. I've seen debate about whether the 'bad tack' is any less efficient than the 'good tack'. I'm agnostic, mainly because I'm a cruiser not a racer. Nevertheless, I might try dipping one day when I have enough hands on board.
@@TonyKeyes That all makes sense now. However you could dip the lug while usind the boom but would need to also loosen the tie at the mast and swap sides with the boom at the same time. A bit of a complex mission and probably not worth the effort if you are merely cruising. However I would be neurotic as it seems to be not shipshape. You have an attractive boat. Happy cruising.
Your rig looks very similar to that of the old Montague Whalers that the British Navy formerly used for sail training and small boat handling. It was considered important for the main yard on the top of the lug sail to be always on the lee side of the mast as otherwise a "bad tack" would be the result. Whenever the vessel tacked, a command was given to "dip the lug" and at the appropriate moment when the main sheet was slack enough and the sail was amidships during the tacking manoeuver, one crew member stood and pulled down on a short looped rope attached to the forward end of the yard and pulled the spar down and behind the mast and over to the new lee side. A "bad tack"setting did not sail as well as a proper setting as described above. I notice you often had a bad tack setting in your video clip. You may like to try out this on your boat. However the Navy Whalers used a boomless loose flooted main sail, you would need to make some adjustment for your boom arrangement.
G'day Theodore. Exactly right, the design is intended as a tribute to the Montagu Whalers. My Dad recalls from his days at Darmouth dipping the lug as you describe. The Welsford interpretation is intended to be sailed without dipping, perhaps as you say because of the boom. My predecessor had the main boom but never used it, but I don't believe he dipped the lug. I've seen debate about whether the 'bad tack' is any less efficient than the 'good tack'. I'm agnostic, mainly because I'm a cruiser not a racer. Nevertheless, I might try dipping one day when I have enough hands on board.
@@TonyKeyes That all makes sense now. However you could dip the lug while usind the boom but would need to also loosen the tie at the mast and swap sides with the boom at the same time. A bit of a complex mission and probably not worth the effort if you are merely cruising. However I would be neurotic as it seems to be not shipshape. You have an attractive boat. Happy cruising.