Hey folks,
I think you're underestimating the versatility of carbon - specifically battens. if you look at what development classes are doing (AC, Int 14s, many multis) there's no traditional gaff, with an uphaul, etc, but there is one big batten that acts like a gaff to the sail and makes the main close to rectangular.

The other thing I learned after 15 years of sailing Int. 14s as a development class - is to hold the innovations down to a reasonable number so you know what actually is working.  If too much is new/innovative, you don't have a control point to compare to. Pick one area of innovation - Hull, Rig, Sails, Foils, and work to optimize them before you try the next part of the equation. And don't forget that the software is likely the most important part of the entire package!  Time in the shop is not time sailing.
Greg

On Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 6:34 AM, Gardner Pomper <gardner@networknow.org> wrote:

I looked at the web pages some more, and it looks interesting. By having an "uphaul" from the top of the mast, it looks like you can make that top boom alot lighter, since the ends are supported, and you can raise and lower it. Plus, it has a little sailtrack to make the jib self tending at the top as well.

Think this helps get around enough of the weight aloft issues to be worth while?

- Gardner

On Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 8:47 AM, Gardner Pomper <gardner@networknow.org> wrote:

Hi,

Thanks for the link. That is pretty much what I was talking about, although I thought it would end up with a bigger jib.  I thought I had seen something like this somewhere, but could not remember where. I noticed that he has a drawing of a 54' motorsailer, with about a 40' mast on it. I'll have to send him a note to see if it ever got built.

- Gardner

On Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 8:33 AM, pkeck2 <pkeck2@yahoo.com> wrote:

Not sure if you've seen these, or if they were mentioned in another post...but someone did something very similar to what you're talking about, albeit on a much smaller scale:

http://balancedrig.com/

Phil

--- In harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au, Gardner Pomper <gardner@...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
> This is probably a dumb question, but what is the problem with a "gaff"
> easyrig? By this I mean an easy rig with a boom at both the top and bottom
> of the mast, so that both the jib and main are rectangular in shape, instead
> of triangular? Everything I read indicates that a triangular sail is
> inefficient, and that more sail area higher up is better. I have seen solid
> wing sails in this configuration.
>
> I know weight aloft is a bad thing on a monohull, because it intensives the
> pendulum effect m the inevitable heeling, but on a multihull, which should
> never lift a hull (cruising, not racing proa) it doesn't seem like it will
> matter until you are in alot of trouble anyway. Plus, having a rectangular
> sail should lower the center of effort considerably, to keep you out of
> trouble.
>
> Anyway, basic explanations of why I am wrong would be appreciated <grin>
>
> - Gardner Pomper
>