Before I opened up that sail bag and tried to rig a sail on a kayak for the first time, I would at least RTFM so I rigged it correctly. There is little chance that you can rig it right by intuition. If you know nothing about sailing, you will at least need to read a slim book on dinghy sailing. Otherwise, you won't get going or, if you do, you won't be able to stop. The best preparation is a one-day course in dinghy sailing or to go out with a friend on his sailing dinghy. If you nevertheless want to try it blind, pick a warm day with winds of less than 10 mph with the water over 60 degrees and stay close to shore. Ken Cooperstein *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Thanks for all the feedback everybody. I already have a copy of your book Ralph. I purchased it when I bought the Klepper and read those sections that jump-started me on my first uses of it. I need to go back and re-read sections pertaining to sailing -- actually re-read the whole book . It sounds like the second thing I need to do is identify what's in the sail bag and then proceed accordingly. Rob. > Richard G. Mitchell, Jr. wrote: > > > > > Slight modification is in order here. If the jib and full S-4 main are set on a stayed mast with the gaff up this is true enough. But the combination of the S-1 main and jib is both efficient and very docile.< > > The smaller main you are referring to is called the M-1 drift sail and I > don't think it necessarily comes with the full S-4 rig but is a separate > item. If the fellow has the smaller main (M-1) he should be okay. > > > As Ralph observes elsewhere the jib itself is an entirely suitable working sail. For beginners, leave the leeboards and the big sail at home and use the smaller main and jib for expeditions sailing. Or carry the big main when light winds might be expected and use it only under those conditions. It is a small package. The most critical advice for beginners with the S-4 system is to get a proper control board and label it "jib in" jib out" "mail halyard" "jib halyard". < > > That is good advice. I mention the control board in the book but don't > have an illustration of one there (it was cut in the editing). But I do > have it in an old issue of the newsletter, if the fellow wants it. > > ralph > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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