BayCruiser
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8: Further thoughts on setting and stowing the mainsail. Alternative boom gooseneck?

We had a wonderful sail on a Bayraider in September, right out into the estuary outside Swallowboats' workshop. It convinced us we had chosen the right boat and builder. We don't want to change the Bayraider's rig or hull any more than absolutely necessary to fit the cabin. The sailing performance is just outstanding.

The tricky part on the BayCruiser will be stowing the mainsail in an easy way that avoids having to climb over the cabin top. I am beginning to think the best way is the usual way, topping lifts to support the boom and the mainsail stowed on top of it, as you would in a gaff rig. The top mast would have to be shortened to fit between the masts for reefed sailing, so the main mast may have to be a bit longer, meaning it will have to be moved forward for trailing. So be it, if that is necessary to keep the sailing performance. The boom could be fitted to the mast via the mainsail track if it was extended further down the mast. This looks neat, but there may be a reason not to do it.

I think a rope downhaul for the mainsail tack could also be better than the current track arrangement, in that it could be tensioned or slackened from the cockpit. It could also be passed through the reef cringles easily.

(Nov. 2008: discussions with Matt Newland might well lead to some radical changes to the rig which will render most of my speculation to date historic, but I can still think about the interior...)

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