NEW SCHOONER-YACHT

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 147, 24 June 1933, Page 10

NEW SCHOONER-YACHT

DETAILS OF HER RIG. FIRST SAIL TO-MORROW. The interest evinced, not only by yachtsmen but by very many who have only a casual acquaintance with the lis and sails of a modern Bermudan or staysail schooner, in the 80-ton craft which is having the finishing touches added alongside the Central wharf at the present time is most marked. So great a diversity of opinion is expressed, even by yachtsmen, on the' actual sails to be carried and the method of hoisting and sheeting them that a description of the sail plan is given here, lite yacht will carry five sails. From for'ard they are jib topsail, fore staysail, main staysail, main topmast staysail and mainsail. The jib topsail is set on the foremast head stay above the fore staysail. The staysail takes the place of a jib in other boats, but without a bowsprit it is correct to call it the staysail, as it sets on the fore stay. Aft of the forem!%t is the main staysail, which sots on the stay running from well up the main mast to the lower after side of the foremast. This sail is sheeted on deck. Above this sail, in the triangle formed by the fore and main mastheads, is set the main topmast , staysail, as it was termed on 'the scows. • The sail is largely used by the licet j of smart schooners which fish oil", the ' banks of Newfoundland, and is some-) times termed a fisherman's staysail. J This sail is sheeted through brass sheeves > fixed to the main mast about half way up i from the deck. The sheets will work I across the stay, and the Ice sheet set up j through the sheeve on the lee side of the mast. i

This rif; has been evolved in the United States principally for off-shore sailing, and has the merit of requiring less attention and a smaller crew than the usual jjalF rig. There is already an example ol the staysail schooner rig on the harbour. The email schooner built last season by Pcrcy Vos for Mr. Woollacott, of Devonport, carries this rig, and he expresses his appreciation of it for liandinees and being more effective on the wind. Off the wind it is not nearly so good as the galf sail, and until we get used to it the gaff sails look better. The riggers have finished their work, and sails are now being bont. In place of the usual white duck sailcloth the schooner's sails are made of canvas, which is of a light brown shade. It is expected that the yacht will be under way for the first time under canvas to-morrow morning.