Has anyone looked into making a self tacking Jib for the 235?
The Jib clew comes such a little way past the mast (if at all) that it almost seems a pity not to have one.
The elements would be
- a boom pivoted at the foot of fore-stay (would the bowsprit be long enough?/ too long). The sheet would lead to the forestay and back along the boom through a block to the sail
- a horse (if that is the right word) mounted between the existing tracks to hold the boom down via a a block running on a circular section horse, or a car running on a track. Thames barges used a rope grommet I think on a steel bar.
Alternatives are possible:-
- No boom, but the horse geometry has to be more precise so that the jib has the same sheet tension as it tacks, and I am not sure how the sheet would work (still back to the fore-stay foot, or cleated through a mainsail type block on the horse?)
There are no doubt lots of reasons why this would not be practicable, but I would be interested to know of peoples speculations.