Hello Sailor!

[Owen Walton]

Both Annie's and my Mirages are now officially paddle sailers. Mick from Flat Earth Sails (and a Klanner) made them up for us and I fitted them yesterday. My sail has slightly more area, with 3 battens holding out a bigger roach; the mast lengths are the same. I took mine out for a test sail earlier today and was most impressed.

[Henry Van der Kolk]

Thanks for the info. Now enjoy..:-)

[David Bartley]

Owen,

I would have thought the pink would go better with the purple deck of your boat and the red better with the light blue of Annie's! :)

[Owen Walton]

Henry, I wanted pink, but was concerned that all you macho, alpha males would be reluctant to come paddle/sailing with me. Both sails are 1300 up the luff and 900 along the foot, but with a fair bit more roach on mine (the RED one) with that extra batten. The masts are the same length 1650 and are made from a thickish walled h/t aluminium alloy tube; (the "boom" is effectively the bottom batten). The stays (spectra or similar) are attached to the mast below the sail which has the advantage of being able to totally spill the wind in an urgent situation, even when running square; ie, the sail can go forward a full 180deg either side. Annie's mainsheet goes through a single centre mounted fairlead (like yours) whilst on mine I have installed a hawse (flexible traveller) to give clearance over the top of my deck mounted spare paddles. The mast/deck fitting is a Riley plastic/nylon tiller fitting (something like a mini windsurfer set-up) which allows a full 360 deg movement. I have strengthened under the deck for the mast using Selleys "Knead-it" putty, which I have been advised will suffice, plus mine also has a prototype deck plate fitted under the mast base fitting, (ugly but effective). As for bracing, I was thinking maybe Phil could make me up a pair of amas on outriggers.

[Henry Van der Kolk]

Nice sails. Is the pink one yours?
I guess if you thought bracing was important before, then this is where you realy learn.