Re: Crab Claw (was Geniuses are among us)

Steven W. Barnes (oldsurfdude@worldnet.att.net)
Sat, 27 Mar 1999 16:50:51 -0800


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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Ron Force wrote:
>
> The November 1998 latitude 38 has a discussion of the modern crab claw
> (horizontal tacking) rig. The general thrust of the article was that it
> handled about like a mainsail-only bermuda rig--doesn't point as well,
> but is fairly powerful upwind. Downwind, it loses to a
> spinnaker-equipped sloop-- mostly because of the limited sail area.

How true! There's nothing like a large sail inventory on a sloop rig,
that actually makes the sail changes, to out sail anything out there.
But, if you are a casual sailor who likes to put up one jib and one main
on your sloop rig under your usual fair weather conditions, there are
perhaps, some better, or at least reasonable, alternative rigs. And
hey, Dudes, is there nothing better than sailing on mild seas in 15 knot
winds on a sunny day?

:)

Steve Barnes sailing a Capri-16, #74, no name yet,
and selling a WWP-14, Popeye, #561, in San Diego.
OLDSURFDUDE