Junk rig decision and video

[philb Junkie19]

I previously posted some pictures of my Compac 19 under its junk rigged sail.  I also thought some might be interested in seeing a video of it on the water.  I am including a description of how I came to make this major change.

I've always been intrigued, and still am, by the variety and uses of sailing boats and rigs but especially after reading Phil Bolger's '103 Sailing Rigs'.  When, years back, I bought  damaged O'day 23 with no mast or sails I had fun playing with sail configuration ideas and decided to re-rig with a standing lug rig. I had a chance to meet with Phil Bolger aboard his live aboard, Resolute. He thought the idea very workable. While searching for a used lug sail I came across a new junk sail that closely matched my needs. The idea of a junk rig was new and baffling but a new book had been published, the 'Practical Practical Junk' Rig by Blondie Hasler, intrepid sailor and one of two British Royal Marines who survived a daring and successful raid by canvas canoe on a french port during WWII.  His book was so detailed it took the mysteries out of designing and building the rig. Phil designed a fairly simple to build mast and tabernacle for the new junk sail.

Hasler's original western versions of the junk were sewn flat.  Slightly flexible full length battens gave some sail camber in higher winds but were flat in lighter winds, opposite of the ideal. With the new rig I found I motored to windward more but the trade off was a great family boat that reefed or made sail in seconds, according to the conditions at the moment, to the reassurement and comfort of the crew. While some, mostly ocean voyagers, still sail with flat sails most are now designed with camber and give good windward performance. 

I mostly sail solo. A couple of calendar pages from seventy, I deal with the usual wear and tear and past injuries. I once had a roller furler jam in a tidal river with strong wind against a running tide, not so much fun. Replacing it with a better quality dependable furler was an option but I went back to hank ons.  For me going back to the junk rig is a natural.  It keeps me in the cockpit, With so many easy reefing options it allows me confidently sail in a wider range of conditions and hopefully will keep me sailing longer. Boats and rigs were developed over the years to meet specific needs, fishing, transportation, racing etc.and for sailing conditions. Converting the really great Compac 19 with its junk rig meets mine.

A couple who have been interested in the junk rig came by for ideas. After a sail and dropping them at the dock they took this video. They later posted it on you tube:            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD55DYEgFXg

[Tim Gardner]

Cool, what is the total sail area of that sail?
TG

[philb Junkie19]

Tim, 
Each of the seven panels is 29 sq ft. which brings the sail area to just over 200 sq ft.  I most often sail with either 7 or 6 panels depending on wind strength.  In the video I reefed down to three panels on my way to pick up my mooring just as the wind was picking up.  One or two panels would have been fine to get me to the mooring downwind under sail but I found that three panels gives the power to sail to windward if I fall short or miss the mooring after rounding up. I think its a pretty good example of the ease of reefing.
Phil