Second sail 2019 - Mana 24

Comment by john james on June 18, 2020 at 9:20am

Your main sale sets very nicely. Mine is atrocious. Yours and I notice lucky fish also incorporate a single block leading to a yoke on the gaff. Mine is different the halyard  attaches directly to the galf.-- Seems like I can never get the peak high enough and always end up with a giant crease all the way down to the foot. Very frustrating.

Comment by Rod McLaren on June 18, 2020 at 9:46am

Hi, John. I had the same problem when I first started sailing the Mana. I could never enough tension to raise the peak and get rid of the crease. Then someone on the Fb Forum made a suggestion that has worked very well. Raise the sail slightly higher than you want it to be with the main halyard; tighten up the peak halyard; then release the main halyard; pull down on the downhaul until the crease is gone. That works very well to get rid of the crease. Also, as the sail has been used more and is not so crisp, it often sets correctly without having to go through that procedure. Hopefully that will work for you. And let me add, I checked out your photos - beautiful boat you built. Nice job.

Comment by john james on June 19, 2020 at 3:09pm

Hello Rod thank you for your timely response to my problem I will try it. Unfortunately my condition is complicated by a minimal amount of halyard lift. When building the mast I didn't take into account the fact that my pod essentially sort of reduces the height of the mast 16 inches or something the height of the pod it was a terrible shock. If you're going to build a pod aft of the mast make a taller mast. Elementary!! Also the sales that budget boater provided me with her extremely stiff fabric which  probably complicates achieving a good shape. I can try your system with a reefed mainsail and see if I can get rid of that crease. Many thanks enjoy your Spinnaker

Comment by Rod McLaren on June 19, 2020 at 4:34pm

Hope it helps. As for the asymmetrical, I have been very happy with it. It really makes a difference in light winds. Next I will be trying out the mizzen staysail I sewed up this past winter. I have only limited  experience with the mizzen and NO experience with a staysail so it could be interesting. Cheers

Comment by Oliver Knittel on February 24, 2021 at 9:24am

Hello Rod,

I have seen som of your Videos and they are really nice. I like to know aubout your Résuméwith the mizzen staysail. I only found you using it.

Thank you for your Answer.
Oli

Comment by Rod McLaren on February 24, 2021 at 10:41am

Good morning, Oli. Glad you like the videos. What would you like to know about the mizzen staysail? 

Comment by Oliver Knittel on March 3, 2021 at 11:07am

Hello Rod,

I like to know if you like the setting of that Sail, if you would buy it a second time. How is the Handling? I tried to find out how the Handling and characteristics of this kind of Sails are, but I found nothing in the net. Thats why I ask you.

Thanks for answering

Oli

Comment by Rod McLaren on March 3, 2021 at 1:05pm

Good morning, Oli, You are not the only person who could find very little about the mizzen staysail. That was also my experience. Since posting the videos showing the mizzen staysail, there have been some viewers who have been helpful by offering advice on how to set it correctly. When I get back on the boat in the next sailing season, I have some different ways to set it properly, based on those suggestions from viewers.

You ask if I would buy it a second time. The answer is YES. Even though we set the sail incorrectly, it did improve our speed in light wind conditions. This winter, I purchased an inexpensive bicycle computer with GPS capabilities and with it I will be able to accurately compare speeds with and without the staysail, and in different configurations. I will be reporting my findings on my Youtube channel, although the videos may not get posted until after sailing season. 

And now with your interest, I may also try to explain the way I have rigged the sail, and how I have set it. I do wish I had someone close with more experience but that is not possible. We do the best we can. 

Thank you for your interest. If you decide to add a mizzen staysail to your inventory, do let me know. I would be very interested to learn from your experience.

Cheers

Comment by Donald Clark on March 3, 2021 at 3:01pm

I love your content it keeps getting better and it also keeps me motivated to get of my ____

And go sailing on days that the condition aren't ideal

Comment by Rod McLaren on March 3, 2021 at 4:52pm

Afternoon, Donald, thanks for your comment. Its interest like yours and Olli that keeps me motivated to add my two cents worth. The sailing community, and especially those members interested in Wharram design, is a great motivating force. I enjoy the support, the camaraderie, the shared advice and experience, and especially in the off-season or in times like the ones we are currently in. Where do you sail? And what boat(s)?

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