Prairie Islander's Topsail

[NormMessinger]

We put it up for the first time yesterday. There was hardly enough wind to move the boat without it. Just our kind of day.

I made the topsail ezakally as Sailrite provided it. I wonder if there should that much belly in the thing. What say ye, what say ye all?
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d704b3127cceb713d87421160000003610

We'll be out in company with Akimbo tomorrow so maybe Ed will get a good shot of Prairie Islander with all sails on.

[Thad]

It should be cut flat. 'Twould be better. Still, there is usually more breeze up there and on a light day it will make all the difference. Flat, it will keep pulling through all your tacks, otherwise it will be luffing when on the wind.

[John B]

flat is good.
thats what I told my sailmaker. Flat. and then I took it back for him to flatten it.if you want shape for off the wind you just ease the sheet . On the wind you wind it in nice and tight and make the peak halyard go slack.
But Norm... you've got lots of fun playing around with trim before you go cutting anything. I actually ran mine a season before I worked out what would be best.
You have to set the yard at different heights to get your sheet lead correct whereas with a jackyard topsail you can just shift the sheet along the jackyard to find an optimum sheeting point.

[ 09-26-2004, 12:28 AM: Message edited by: John B ]

[Ian McColgin]

Definatly play before cutting. I'll bet it'll flatten out a bit if you streatch it a bit along the jack pole and the gaff. Those parts look looser than the unsupported side that appears to be holding up the gaff it's so tight in comparison.

Very nice looking.

[ 09-27-2004, 07:46 AM: Message edited by: Ian McColgin ]

[Noah]

I can't tell cause it hurts my neck to look up there...