G'day,
Went sailing on Sunday in Elementarry to assess una
rigs vs schooners. 15 knots of breeze, solo, with 11 sqm/118 sq' of
sail. This is half a Tornado sail area but the sail itself probably less
than 75% as effective due to the mast and the set up.
Simply amazing. It is a different
boat. Flies over the water rather than trying to force it's way through
it. Steered itself, the bows were up upwind and top speed was not a
lot different to the schooner rig (16.4 knots max, vs 16.8 with the schooner in
similar conditions). Followed a Tornado upwind, was pointing as high, but
going slower. Quicker than a racing Hobie 16 reaching. Not
many other boats were sailing. Not much sea, but occasional large wakes
from powerboats. Handled with aplomb, although wet if the beam hits the
wave top.
I steered using only the aft rudder which was
similar to steering a conventional boat, the forward location making up for no
daggerboard, the oversize rudder making up for the lack of lever
arm. Shunting was very easy (a nuisance going to leeward to lift and
lower the rudders), never got close to getting into irons or caught
aback. Downwind, it just got up and went. Occasionally buried
the bow, but did not slow it down. It is now definitely a boat
anyone could sail solo and one which I look forward to teaching my 4 year old
daughter how to sail on. Should also be able to look at the gps while
sailing, rather than only the max speed at the end of the day.
Interestingly, I only flew a hull once or twice the
whole time (too lazy to get off the windward hull, too amazed by how
comparatively easy it all was to bother with pushing the limits), which suggests
that the rig is under utilised, something supported by looking at it. A
new wing mast will help this. I was going to increase the una
rig sail area, but think I will go with the same area, but with a wing mast,
maybe forward raked to reduce sheet loads. Also building a single rudder
setup so I don't have to raise and lower them each shunt.
The single rig is quicker to rig and derig; An hour
and a half from arriving at the ramp to sailing, but at least half of this was
one off jobs that needed doing. Also easier to right after a capsize
and 4 grand cheaper.
I am not a lot wiser about how long boats should be
for a given sail area, but am pretty certain that it is much longer than they
currently are.
I think this was not so much a comparison between
schooner and una, more between lots of sail and less, although 2 is definitely
twice the effort of one.
Apologies for cross posting.
regards,
rob