Scandalizing a sprit rig

[1stnewyorker]

I was reading Joe's (Cold Spring on the Hudson) post and the mention of scandalizing his rig as an option in heavy winds. I have a sprit rig on the General Arnold and expect to have to scandalize the main if I ever get into a blow like Joe describes (especially since I have no way of reefing my rig). While I plan to practice with it this spring (rather than waiting to find out during heavy winds), I'm wondering what to expect. I assume that when I strike the sprit pole and bring down the main peak, I secure the peak becket somewhere low on the mast. But will the wind get under the folded down portion of the mainsail and raise hell when tacking on that side? If anyone has performed this maneuver on a sprit rig, I'd appreciate any input.

[Bill Perkins]

I've done this many times on my Delaware Ducker . The sail sets surprisingly well and the boat still points well and tacks with certainty . I bring the peak of the sail down and forward ,around the mast and then with a short length of line tie it down to the boom some ways down the booms length . The point is the lead of the line continues in the direction of the spiral wrap of the sail . It takes a bit of trial and error to get it right ,all sail smooth .Here's the rig .You can envision the somewhat origami like fold I'm describing .http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid35/pac941d71cf2b80101c7e005723e07e64/fd2b5560.jpgThe line shown flying from the peak is the scandalizing line . Shown flying by the artist to avoid confusion , it stays tied to the peak grommet of the sail . In use the line ( dark blue parrachute cord ) is led tight along the sprit to a small cleat at the sprits lower end , just short of the mast .This particular sail lives on its spars and the scandalizing line is untouched for months , holding the peak of the sail firmly to the sprit . To reef : cast off the snotter and , holding the end of the sprit in one hand , uncleat the scandalizeing line with the other and HOLD .The sprit will shake loose and can be set in the boat .Pass the line around the mast and tie to the boom as I've described . It can all be done very quickly . With this rig the peak of the sail is always under your control .If it gets away from you it may be impossible to retreive in a small boat in strong wind .

[1stnewyorker]

Thanks Bill,

I haven't been sure what to expect when I try scandalizing the rig. I have these images of the wind getting under the folded portion of the sail and balooning out. The head of my sail--cut to 18th century style-- is much flatter than yours, and my main is loose footed. However I should be able to secure the peak to the base of the mast. I was starting to think that it was to be used as a last resort. I'm glad to hear it isn't as radical as I had imagined.

[ssor]

I have a spritsail on a canoe and have brought the peak down with mixed results. If I don't secure that loose flap of sail and the wind gets inside I have to be very agile to avoid a capsize.

[Thorne]

Leather takes a dimmer view of this process in his _Spritsails & Lugsails_ p52 :

"Small boat spristails are not easy to reef when set, as the sprit tends to swing about in a seaway. To reduce sail in a severe squall quickly, the sprit can be unshipped from the peak, allowing the peak and upper leach of the sail to blow away to leeward while the triangle from the masthead to the sheet and down the luff remains partially effective, with no need to trim the sheet. However, this usually so reduces the sails efficiency that the boat may become unmanageable.

A sizeable sprit rig is not ideal for singlehanded sailing, as to go forward and unship the sprit from the snotter by hand is not easy if the sprit is to leeward of the sail, and it may be difficult if it is to windward, as once the heel is out of the snotter it tends to drive down and could pierce the bottom of the boat in extreme conditions, when it is best to direct the heel overboard."

[J. Dillon]

I've got a sprit rig like yours , no boom. I do occasionally scandalize it by just easing off on the snotter which line is near at hand at the tiller. I also brail in the sail to slow down or quick reef when off the wind. Neither of the above is good for sailing to windward . For windward work a proper reef is the way to go,

For that you need a lower position for the snotter thumb cleat and reef points in the correct position related to the shortening of the sail.

JD

[Thorne]

I LIKE the scandalizing line setup -- very handy! Wonder why it isn't mentioned in any of my books, it should be in Leather's book if nowhere else, but it ain't. Will rig one on my sprit as soon as the sail is done (being cut down from a larger tanbark mainsail).

[Bill Perkins]

Thorne I enjoyed Mr. Leather's book , but it doesn't tell all about the rig in America . The Ducker was a gunning skiff and the methods of controlling the sail were especially well worked out .See the line that looks like a topping lift ? It functions as a brail for the whole rig .The line is led through the grommet at the throat of the sail . A bullet block tied to its end acts as a stopper-won't pass through the grommet . The line is led down to a fair lead under the boom , up the other side of the sail , through the bullet block and down to a cleat at the base of the mast . When you need to douse the sail you slacken the sheet and pull that one line . This brings sail ,mast ,and sprit tight up to the mast . No need to touch the snotter .Deployment is equally simple . This is great for shifting between rowing and sailing .If it's windy you jerk the brailed rig out mast and all and set it in the boat , sticking out over the stern .This bit of yestertech was preserved by the staff of the Philadelphia Maritime Museum when they took the lines off and documented the rigging details of the Ducker Green Briar .
I bought the plans from them years ago and so learned of the details .

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

I scandalized the 49 sf sail on my eleven foot flat bottomed skiff. It sailed awful - like a dog. Sluggish and unresponsive. This in quite a blow too - probably 27 knots. That was the first I tried it and I quickly slogged my way back to the pier, rerigged the sprit as it had been and then hiked out all morning! Having tacked back and forth and having reached the very upwind portion of the lake I turned to run. Suddenly it was so very quiet. The bow wave was pealing off the bow like I was in a destroyer. It got larger and larger rising up higher until I realized too late.... The bow wave came crashing into the cockpit. I WAS SUBMARINING!!!! Rounding up into the wind I started bailing like a madman laughing all the way. It was outstanding sailing and helped perserve my moniker for another season.

[1stnewyorker]

well, thanks for the responses. They're calling for 10-20 out of the west on Lake George tomorrow, so it's off to the 18th Century and a go at scandalizing my rig!

[Bill Perkins]

I got in my first sail of the season yesterday ! It was a glorious windy Spring day and I had a great thrash to wind ward out across the lake , through a pretty good wind chop . The nearby town of Cummings recorded max gusts of 25 mph and those in the middle of the long lake were certainly no less . I Had to really work to keep the boat on her feet ,and the mast was bending perilously. I pulled out in the lee of a little island when I got to the other side and stretched my back ; bailed the boat out ; and scandalized the sail .

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid204/p4aae9e26df2a57d3032430ca9ca64089/ef6afdf9.jpghttp://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid204/p627c816a56a4d7c481b12adcee6fb33f/ef6afdf6.jpg

The right hand pic shows the best side of the sail . It's flogging in the wind in the photo , but actually sets very well , and there's no big flap to catch air . Since a long Port tack would carry me back across the lake I set it up on Port side . The other side of the sail works well enough . It behaves fine close hauled , when there's a laminar wind flow across its surface . Unlike the favored side ,when you bear off a bit the flap is apt to catch some wind , but the sail still drives and handles predictably .

Back across the lake , another windward tack ,same conditions . I still had to hike out in the gusts but it was allot less work , less less spray in the face , and less danger to the mast . I think I went about as fast as I wasn't forced to spill wind during the biggest gusts .I've already broken one mast out of the boat , same lake , nearly identical conditions .It would be stupid to repeat the error ( almost did !) . All spars are SPF , and the rig is wonderfully light ,which I like . I saw one intrepid wind surfer out in mid lake , but no other boats of my Ducker's size .

Don't ever think this sail shortening system doesn't work , 'cause it do .To me the sprit rig seems best in boats designed to row so well that the sail need not be sized for very light air .In effect you've got one reef in already . I'm seldom forced to reduce sail .The brailed up rig also needs to be light enough for (me) to jerk out and set in the boat , most important when the wind is so strong the boat can't handle the windage of spars and sail .If I needed a bigger rig than could be plucked out , I'd use a standing lugsail I think ,reefed conventionally . My sail is 56sf. I could handle a little more , but it's a pleasure to have light gear .The spar dimentions and rigging are straight from Green Briar .
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid204/p6025cd763b58be8d656ee9e5f4a5d373/ef6a817e.jpg