T&T: Stay sail dimensions

[Faure, Marin]

>Is it worth the effort and does anybody have the dimensions for the
sail and boom length or any schematics of the boat profile?

Stay or steady sails have some benefit but for the most part they are
not much more than a neat aesthetic accessory on the typical
trawler-type boat.  The greatest benefit, assuming the mast and boom are
aft of the boat's center of yaw, is to reduce the hunting one can
experience on a mooring buoy or at anchor.  In essence, the steady sail
is like putting feathers on the back of an arrow.  Since the wind and
waves are usually (but not always) coming from the same direction, the
steady sail will help keep the boat pointed into the wind and will
reduce the yawing tendency, which will thus reduce the rolling that
occurs as the boat slews off the wind in one direction and then the
other where it will take the waves on the forward quarter.

In theory, a steady sail will also reduce the rolling encountered when
traversing a beam sea.  The theory is that as the boat rolls back and
forth the sail will resist the roll to a degree in the same way its easy
to wave your arm from side to side over your head but there is more
resistance when you wave your arm while holding a big piece of plywood
in your hand broadside to the wind.   Also, the wind pushing sideways on
the upwind side of the steady sail will theoretically reduce the
rolling.

I know the "reduces yawing at a mooring" works, but I've heard more
people say a steady sail of the size that can be practically put on the
typical trawler does very little to nothing in terms of reducing the
roll encountered in a beam sea.

So my own opinion is that if you think they look cool, or if you have
encountered the problem of yawing back and forth on a mooring in higher
winds and waves with the attendant rolling, a steady sail could be worth
the effort and expense.  But other than those two reasons I would spend
the money and time on something that will have a greater effect on your
enjoyment or use of the boat.  Like fuel.

______________________________
C. Marin Faure
GB36-403 "La Perouse"
Bellingham, Washington