Hi Paul
I wouldn't disagree with anything David has said. It is all very sound advice. I was never brave enough to go the whole hog with ballast and I am sure 100Kgs plus would have a beneficial effect, if you can carry the extra weight on the trailer.
David is absolutely right about the uselessness of a mizzen with a following wind. A longer boom with a high peeked setup would make for better sailing for all wind directions, but I like the ability to take down the main in stronger winds and bumble along in under foresails and mizzen.
David is also absolutely right about the balanced lug rig I have adopted. This modification is probably much further than most people would want to go with a Winklebrig, but the luxury of being able to move the centre of effort forwards or backwards underway without affecting the shape of the sail has been a relevation to me. It is also wonderful to be able to raise and drop the sail with one rope.
I am not sure why, but there is no problem with the balanced lug mainsail sharing wind with the jibs (something to do with 'slots' I think) but the jib sheets do sometimes snagg on the boom when going about in light airs which is a pain.
All in all, I recognise a extremely accomplished sailor behind David's writing and his seems very sound advice to me. I might even give the ballast another try!
I wouldn't disagree with anything David has said. It is all very sound advice. I was never brave enough to go the whole hog with ballast and I am sure 100Kgs plus would have a beneficial effect, if you can carry the extra weight on the trailer.
David is absolutely right about the uselessness of a mizzen with a following wind. A longer boom with a high peeked setup would make for better sailing for all wind directions, but I like the ability to take down the main in stronger winds and bumble along in under foresails and mizzen.
David is also absolutely right about the balanced lug rig I have adopted. This modification is probably much further than most people would want to go with a Winklebrig, but the luxury of being able to move the centre of effort forwards or backwards underway without affecting the shape of the sail has been a relevation to me. It is also wonderful to be able to raise and drop the sail with one rope.
I am not sure why, but there is no problem with the balanced lug mainsail sharing wind with the jibs (something to do with 'slots' I think) but the jib sheets do sometimes snagg on the boom when going about in light airs which is a pain.
All in all, I recognise a extremely accomplished sailor behind David's writing and his seems very sound advice to me. I might even give the ballast another try!