RAID41 Rig
Why a balanced lug rig?
The simple answer is Michael Storer loves the balanced lug rig and so do I. But why so?
Not chosen for looks or nostalgic appearances, but for the pure pleasure it gives when sailing.
We like how nice the rig is to sail with, “balanced” on all points, resulting in a nice neutral helm at all times. Think of a windsurfer with no rudder at all. Off the wind the rig is brought inboard to be in line with the skeg. The balanced lug rig when off-wind is well inboard, with area both sides of the mast and feels so neutral and in control. You just have to try one if you have never experienced this balance.
Very quick to rig. Pull and cleat the halyard, pull and cleat the boom downhaul and off you go. Sails are left bent onto the spars. No stress, no flapping, sailing in minutes.
Very quick to de-rig, Uncleat the halyard and let it drop into the boat. No resistance, it drops easily. That pleasant evening sail is no bother at all.
Short spars that fit the boat and can be built at home, and simple fittings.
The final reason is to do with constantly learning, a major reason for dinghy sailing in the first place. Although the rig is simple, has low centre of effort and suits new sailors, it is a constantly challenging rig to master completely. I have been racing a balanced lug rig for 8 years now, and have learnt more this year than ever. An apparently simple, yet fascinating rig.
If you would like to read more about the rig, read here and more about just how sophisticated the controls can be
Sail Material Options for RAID41
Polysail
RAID41’s was developed from Michael’s PD Racer in terms of structure and Goat Island Skiff and Beth in terms of lines plans. PD Racer has a rule allowing only poly sails to keep costs down and fun high. A lug rig polysail has been developed and is proving popular. Here is a drawing of the perfectly flat shape of the lug sail for the PDRacer.
pdracer lug outline drawing
Compare the flat shape to the flying shape here
Hence one of the sail choices for RAID41 is a polysail version. A number of builders are building RAID41 after building PD Racers and the polysails for that design. So they have good experience with making and using these sails. Although PDR can only have polysails it is felt that for Raids and club fleet racing other sailors might prefer Dacron sails. So no fixed materials for RAID41.
Material for the RAID polytarp sails would cost about £10 for the cheap blue polytarp or about £20 for the heavier and nicer polytarp. Eyelet kits including a tool would be £6, Thread about £2 and doublesided sail-maker’s tape £8
Home designed and produced Dacron Sails
Home designed and produced Dacron Sails
Professionally made sails are very nice and well worth the investment. However, with RAID41 build costs being so low, the cost of bought sails becomes a very large percentage of the total. If the making of a sail could be thought of as the same as a hull, then more builders would make their own sails. If each panel was drawn with xy co-ordinates, and instructions on assembly given, then building a sail would be the same as building a hull.
If we could sort out a nice design for RAID41, we could share that design after it has been proven in use. Three problems to solve.
1) learn about sail design and sail making
2) need some software to design the sail with and print out the panel shapes
3) find a low cost source for Dacron
1) After asking around the forums, the advice was to buy ” The Sailmaker’s Apprentice” by Emiliano Marino. Very good advice too. Not only is it a superb source of information, 4 sides gaff and lug sails are featured greatly in the book. Problem 1 solved.
2) Again, free source code for designing sails , especially for 4 sided sails, was available on the web. I would not have expected there to be lug sail software but there is here. You can download the free software and design your own sail here
3) eBay has come to the rescue again and has a supplier who sells roll ends of sailmaking cloth. At under £4 a metre, cloth costs are very low and make it worthwhile giving it a go.
So with all three problems solved I have been trialling different sail designs and have settled on a final effort which will be cut and sewn as a first prototype.
Here is a line drawing of the design …. and here is an example of the individual panel layouts, in this case the foot panel, produced by the software……
So, I just need to buy the material and give it a try. That’s the next installment…….
