Re: [Paddlewise] kayak sailing video

 Yup, I've had some scary moments with the Spirit Sail with the top falling over the side and scooping water while being taken down. Possible solutions below.
 
 Here are the strengths and weaknesses of the two systems as I see them (I've use them together and seperately for years.)
 
 Spirit Sail
 Easy to install (including a non-permanent suction cup fixture for borrowed/rental boats if you want.)
 Two sail sizes which can be changed at sea for "reefing." (Action Pacific makes different sizes, but they can't be changed at sea.)
 Once folded, very compact, can be stowed in your cockpit if desired. No windage or water collecting on your deck, sail not exposed to UV when not in use.
 In theory, since it's more amidships than the Pacific Action, it should allow you to sail further off the wind. In practise, I find that since the angle of the Pacific Action can be infinetly tuned, whereas the Spirit has only a few pre-defined angles, they're about the same.
 As noted, getting the sail down can be hairy. I've made two after-market mods to mine. Do so at your own risk - they may void your warrenty.
 
 1. I drilled a hole through the center of the V bracket (where the logo is), and ran a line through this to secure it to the boat, preventing losing it overboard. (It's nearly happend to me, and has happened to someone I know.) If you do this, have a knife on your PFD for cutting the line away in case you dropped the complete sail assembly into the water and were being tangled or pulled over by it.
 
 2. I wrapped some masking tape about an inch from the top of one arm of the V bracket to prevent splitting while I cut, hacksawed it off, rounded the top edge with a file, then removed the tape. This slightly shorter arm makes it much easier, faster, and therefore safer, to pop the battens off during take-down and hasn't effected the battens or support that I've detected. You could do both arms. I've just done one, and always put it on the same (port) side so I know to lift that batten off first.
 
 Pacific Action
 
 Goes up and comes down in seconds, letting you push the envelope of wind speeds and conditions more, because you can depower and stow much faster.
 Size not changable at sea.
 Wraps loosely on foredeck. Creates windage, collects water in waves, is exposed to UV at all times.
 
 If I was forced to choose between Spirit and Pacific Action for my single, I'd choose the Pacific Action. (For my double, I would, and have chosen the Spirit Sails. I've got a mounting bracket in front of each cockpit, so we put up small or large sails where needed for the wind and the angle off the wind we want.) Fortunately, I'm not forced to choose, and using both sails on my single gives me the best of both worlds and tremendous versatility.
 On your typical Pacific Northwest summer day, wind begins to pick up late morning / early afternoon. I put up the full size Spirit Sail and the Pacific Action sail as soon as the breeze starts. They work best together on a beam reach (wind coming roughly over one shoulder). This way one doesn't block the wind to the other, plus there's the additional force of the "slot effect" as the air is squeezed between them. As the wind gets stronger, I may reduce the Spirit Sail from the full size to the mid size. And as it reaches full force in the late afternoon, I'll sail under the Pacific Action alone, 'cos it can come down in seconds. 
 BTY, it's actually easier to take down the Spirit Sail when you have the Pacific Action up. Instead of going from fully powered to fully depowered, you go from full speed to roughly "engines half ahead." So you're not struggling against the same apparent wind to release the V-bracket. Plus once you've dropped the Spirit Sail, you still have forward speed, and therefore steerage way with the rudder - you can keep the boat from broaching while you're packing up the Spirit Sail. 
 One other thing I've done is put ribbon tell-tells on the front and back surfaces of all my sails. This helps trim them so you're getting "pull" as well as "push" from the wind. I've also put tell-tales on the lines of the Pacific Action sail so I can see the angle of the apparent wind. 
 Sorry if this is an over-long reply. You know how we old sailors yammer on once you get us started....
 
 Philip
 
    
 -----Original Message-----
 From: mhj_at_smus.ca
 To: kayakwriter_at_aim.com
 Sent: Fri, 22 Dec 2006 8:22 AM
 Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] kayak sailing video
 
  Hi Philip, I'd be interested in your comparisons of the two sail systems. I have a sprit sail which I use occasionally. This summer I used it on part of our Vancouver Island west coast trip. I did find it was tricky to put up/take down in a choppy sea with a stiff wind... 
 
 
   
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