Re: [Paddlewise] Umbrella sailrig?

This isn't rumours.  Check Folbot forum - looks like this place has the
highest concentration of connoisseurs of this dangerous yet popular activity
:-) : http://www.folbot.com --> users forum --> folbot yacht club, or Search
under "umbrella".  6ft diameter (28 sq.ft) might be too large for a monohull
sailing of 22-24" wide kayak, except for very light winds.  I wouldn't go
over 12-15 sq.ft (judging by 32 sq.ft sail that I'm using sometimes with an
outrigger).  Not sure about such an expensive place as West Marine for that
kind of stuff, but golf umrellas about 4 ft wide from Wallmart etc - why
not...
Guys in AU and NZ have a good grasp of a monohull kayak sailing with
Tasmanian and other similar rigs - mostly using them hands-free, cleating
the lline on the deck and using paddle at the same time, to brace or to go
faster or closer to the wind.   Without an outrigger it can be an auxiliary
device only, but with an outrigger it will not be a kayak any more ;-)...
Check also Watertribe magazine - Steve Isaak writes there about his
experience with "Spirit" hands-free 8.5 sq.ft sail (I think, in the article
"Class1 sail rig".

> All of this sailing talk has got me thinking. I have heard of rumours of
people using a golf umbrella as a downwind sail - spinnaker style. Has
anybody ever tried this? It sounds simple and inexpensive. I noticed that
West Marine even makes a stainless reinforced umbrella (to be clamped on a
boat's stern rail) that may serve...
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