Mules and Main Stays'ls

[Clyde A. Phillips]

There’s no law saying “stow the stays’l to use the genoa,” but the larger genoas will give more trouble if used with the stays’l, therefore I recommend moving the stays’l to the side deck.  Seems to me that the genny has sufficient area to make the stays’l useless if not totally in the way.  An old saying (at least among the two of us at the yard that sailed the Newporters) that may have been brought to our area by Ack is that you can cover a blanket with a handkerchief.  Put the wind over your stern and the mizzen will cover the main; it’s best to take in the mizzen and let the much larger main do the work.  This is a time when sailing wing and wing is called for, and that only requires the main and the jib.  We often would flatten the mizzen on the same tack as the main or (rarely) back it a wee to pick up some air from the other side of the boat.  Sailing downwind with both sails on the same tack causes the handkerchief to cover the blanket but jibe the mizzen to the other side and it will add a little wind to the main.  I would think the same thing happens with the stays’l and the ginny.  It would depend of the expected length of time you’ll be on that tack and course will help in the decision of which choice you use.

I’m of the “slot” school of sailing: set the main then the jib (of whatever size) and flatten the jib until it depresses the main just aft of the mast, then fill the jib a wee until the depression just disappears.  At this point the main is in its best shape to get the greatest horsepower available.  The theory is that the jib is gathering all the wind from the area between the jib’s luff and the mast and funnels that through an area somewhat smaller that is formed by the overlap area of both sails.  It is said that the wind goes faster in this condition, reducing air pressure on the leeward side of the main effectively increasing the pressure on the weather side and therefore the speed..  If the stays’l is in the mix it likely does more damage than good by breaking up the smooth flow of air over the main, causing a little separation of the air from the sail setting up a little turbulence.  That’s the fun of sailing: getting the most speed out of whatever combinations of sails you have available.  Rats!  I’ve worked myself into a dither and I want to go sailing.

I would not call the mule a fisherman.  The only thing they have in common is that they fly between the masts.  The mule aft of the main to the mizzen; the fisherman is forward the main, peaked to the mainhead,  the clew sheeted to the after lee rail and the luff running side by side to the foretopmast with its tack pendent running down the foremast on the lee side of the fores’l.  The mule is a three sided sail with its luff down and in a line that resembles a stay (a main backstay?  But you already have one) and sheeted to the mizzen head.  Oops!  They are also alike in that both are set flying (not hanked to a stay or otherwise attached to anything but running rigging) and have to be taken down and reset on each tack.  I agree with your old timer that one rubber band will almost always hang up, leaving you hanging.  We would stuff the mule into its bag while keeping its three corners at the top of the bag.  In setting the sail just fasten the right corner (lower aft corner) to the tang on the mizzen mast, and the halyard to the head and the sheet to the clew and haul away, joe.  Two joes really, one on the halyard (get that up fast and tight) and the other on the sheet, who just keeps up enough to catch a little wind to hold the sail under control until the halyard is tight.  All this handling must be done between the split tails of the main backstay (the mule is set between the masts parallel to and above the main backstay).  I have heard that the mule adds one knot of speed, so it certainly pulls like a mule.  Other than that I have no idea as to the source of its name.

[Clyde A. Phillips]

Be aware that some sails are not made for furlers.  They can't be stretched tight enough to furl properly.  A sail maker can put in a wire luff to correct that issue.  But that is something you'll find out with trial and error. 

My experience with furling gennies showed a loose (meaning not tight enough) halyard caused the jib to roll the headstay up in it, and when we got it tight enough to roll properly it became a victim of friction--too tight to turn.  If it ain't one thing it's another.  As time went on the drum and swivel manufacturers got it all figured out but it was fun in the interim.

My most interesting experience with furlers was the first jib I rigged.  Following the bosses instructions I put the rig on and we when out for a sea trial.  We sailed down the river a ways, turned around and found the wind strong and just right for a full speed ahead display for all the folks watching from shore.  Oh, I should tell you the owner of the boat was on board to watch this demonstration of his brand new sail.  Just as we pass the upper end of the yard there was what sounded like a gun going off along side your ears.  Something gave way aloft and the sail just beautifully floated out ahead of the boat and dropped in the water in front of us.  Things immediately got silent aboard the boat while jeers went up ashore, then there was the scurry to not run over the sail and bring it aboard.  Boss's job was aft, at the wheel, mine was at the bow pulling in a wet sail.  When all settled down the owner wasn't in the least upset and said not a word.  What failed was the 5/16" bronze shackle that held the halyard block to the masthead fitting.  Luckily it hung up in the tang aloft.  When I got it down it proved itself to be a bad casting.  Ack immediately change over to galvanized steel shackles for that point.  All's well that ends well.

[Eddie Offermann]

I found a free-furling system from Schaeffer that was similar to the depiction and ordered the model appropriate to the sail size (their smallest was on the edge so I went with their midsize. I'm hoping it'll come in next week and by next weekend, the mule will be on a furler!

[Clyde A. Phillips]

Finally, to the "# 1 Drum:"  You will also note on the main mast head (on my drawing of the mizzen stays'l) a # 1 swivel.  Both comprise a set  for roller furling (note I say furling, not reefing) a small sail.  I think the # 3 was used for the genny.  I can't remember the manufacturer, maybe South Coast who made our rubber shelled blocks and (I think) our halyard and sheet winches.  Anyway, the number is the size.

I'm sure I have forgotten something I think you need to know.  If so, I'll welcome all questions.

[Eddie Offermann]

Looking at your drawings, specifically this one - "#1 drum" - is that a furling drum, like on this photo of Leprechaun?