Brainpicker lll (for the lugnuts)

[goodbasil]

In his book, Sail and Oar by John Leather, p50, he writes:
The standing lugsail is more efficient to windward than
the balance lug but also suffers from the forward end of
the yard being to windward of the mast on one tack.
This may be cured by using light dipping lines on each
side of the sail, led from the fore end of the yard, slackly,
to make fast about half way along the boom. If the yard
is to leeward of the mast and the boat is to be put about,
the dipping line is pulled sharply as the helm is put over
before the boat is head to wind. The yard will then pass to
the other (leeward) side of the new tack. This may also
be done when gybing in light or moderate winds but
will usually not be possible in strong breezes.

My questions are;
Has anyone out there tried this?
Did it work well?
How large of a sail would it work on? 270 sq.' ? 340 sq.' ?

Thanks, Basil (the cat from hell)

[Tonyr]

Montgue whalers (27', RN standard issue boats until the 60's) used to dip the lug. One let go the main when head to wind during a tack, and dipped the lug quickly.

My experience with lugsails more recently (on much smaller boats) makes me believe that the fuss is not worth it. Little or no difference on one tack Vs another.

Tony.

[Canoeyawl]

I sailed a standing lug for years, it always sailed closer to the wind on the “bad tack”
The VMG was noticeably better.

This is empirical and contrary to written analysis but I attribute it to the mast effectively flattening the sail.