Sailing a lateen sail
 

My 12' homebuilt MiniCup sailboat has a large Lateen sail which is
very simple compared to sails on a boat like a Laser but it has some
odd characteristics. It does not sail as close to the wind as a Laser
rig but allows a huge sail area. Close hauled, I can have the lower
spar pulled in all the way while the upper part of the sail is forming
the foil that pulls the boat. The lower part of the sail is then very
flat providing little power. Does anybody know how to make the Lateen
perform better. Close hauled, I actually hold onto the boom and pull
it down and toward me in light air, almost like sailing a windsurfer
while seated.
Anybody here experience with a lateen rig?

Sailing a lateen sail
 

"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
My 12' homebuilt MiniCup sailboat has a large Lateen sail which is
very simple compared to sails on a boat like a Laser but it has some
odd characteristics. It does not sail as close to the wind as a Laser
rig but allows a huge sail area. Close hauled, I can have the lower
spar pulled in all the way while the upper part of the sail is forming
the foil that pulls the boat. The lower part of the sail is then very
flat providing little power. Does anybody know how to make the Lateen
perform better. Close hauled, I actually hold onto the boom and pull
it down and toward me in light air, almost like sailing a windsurfer
while seated.
Anybody here experience with a lateen rig?


Would a boom vang work on a lateen sail?

Sailing a lateen sail
 

On Wed, 27 Oct 2010 07:54:46 -0700 (PDT), Frogwatch
wrote:

Anybody here experience with a lateen rig?

A long time ago on my first sailing vessel, a sailing canoe on Lake
Ontario to be precise. A lateen rig is not a very efficient
performer as you have observed, not even close to the efficiency of a
Laser. Trying to point too high is a mistake. Let it reach off a bit
and keep your speed up. The strength of the lateen rig is in its
simplicity.