What is this sail??

[emmo]

Hi folks,
I have bought a Samson 32, on the hard after being refurbished, needing deck fittings laid out before hitting the water.
Today I laid out the sails to have a look see and I have a heady I do not know how to use. Insead of the clew being near deck height, it is about midway up the sail. Is This designed for my fore stay or my innsr stay and in what combination??
Emmo

[svHyLyte]

It could either be a storm jib or, if not heavey enough for that, a fore-staysail set to fly above a jib set on an inner stay. Normally one finds that arrangement on a yacht with a bow-sprit of some kind, however. The high-cut clue gets the sail away from the water and, as a fore-staysail, allows it to be sheeted further aft and behind the sheets for the jib.

Cheers,

s/v HyLyte

[Starbuck]

The forestay is the inner stay. The headstay is forward.

[Charlie]

What size is it in comparrison to J. It could also be a blast reacher. They have a high cut clew as well.

[emmo]

Thanks for your help, things are slowly falling into place

Emmo

[swagman]

Hi Emmo,
The other guideance is correct in that it could be built to use on the forestay or an inner forestay. Measuring it should allow you to decide yourself what it is for.

Such high cut sails are often termed 'yankee' sails in europe. I believe the term comes from such a cut being typically used on early US sailboats who needed such a high cut to prevent them being damaged by heavy seas taken over the foredeck in big seas experienced off the US east coast.

On the other hand, Genoas, the normal term for overlapping deck sweeping style sails, is said to have its name based on similar cut sails orginally seen in the relatively windless seas off the Italian port of same name.

I've no idea if a Gib (or Jib) foresail sees its name orginate from styles used areas around Gibraltar. But suspect others on the site with more knowledge than I can give more guidance.

Cheers
JOHN

[Jack Tar]

((((Yankee))))