Elvestrom Sail

[MarkTheBike]

Hi all

Any one seen this (or seen one out on the water - the backdrop looks like Calshot)...?

http://www.ybw.com/expert-advice/new-elvstrom-sail-blue-water-runner-downwind-cruising-51762?utm_campaign=20170502_YBW-X_NWL_EO&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ET

Although I'm not in the market for a new sail, it looks like it could be quite useful for single-handing.

[dawntreader]

Looks very good Mark. Wonder if my current GX10 could be adapted to take this?

[Craig]

Seems to work like a twizzle rig without the poles.

Wonder if it is likely to collapse like a spinnaker and wrap around the forestay!!!

Craig
"Shirley Valentine"
Gold Coast
Australia

[MarkTheBike]

Seems to work like a twizzle rig without the poles.

OK, I've got to ask - what's a twizzle rig, Craig? I feel I should know, having owned a cutter-rigged gaff yawl some decades ago (more bits of string than a kitten's toy!).

[Craig]

There are a few Utube clips about twizzle sails. They are basically two headsails goose-winged but instead of a couple of spinnaker poles holding them out, they are attached by poles to each other. They appear to be more stable downwind than poled out headsails.

I had never heard of them either until about 5 years ago when an English sailor, John from a boat called "Hoorah" gave a talk in Marmaris about sailing 3 oceans in 3 years. He used a Twizzle sail for the entire ocean crossings he did. ( Guernsey to Brazil, to Cape Town to Perth to Sri Lanka, back to Cape Town, then Brazil and home to Guernsey. )

John's boat was a Hallberg Rassy, 42 I think, and his talk centred on timing ocean crossings well ( Follow Jimmy Cornell's recommendations) and using the Twizzle for comfort and safety. The boat stays more upright using this style of rig.

I'm also interested in seeing the Elvstrom sail operational, particularly in larger ocean swells. I'm not sure how it would work compared to goose-winging 2 headsails or the twizzle sail. Your post has gt me thinking.

Craig
"Shirley Valentine"
Gold Coast
Australia

[MarkTheBike]

Hi Craig

Thanks for the info. I should have thought of youtube. At first sight, the Elvestrom looks to be somewhere between a jib and a spinny in terms of cloth weight so heavy weather would be for the very brave. In lighter winds, though, I imagine a couple of whisker poles (or a twizzle of course) would make it very controllable. Looking at the vid, I can't see how it could be used without some kind of bowsprit, which I don't have on Figaro. That would make it prohibitively expensive for me. Pity.