Add the Staysail or the Spinnaker?

[Jonathan M. Cohn]

My Core Sound 17 Mark 3 does not have the bowsprit. I would like to add a light wind sail and could use some advice from the group. I am hoping to do the Everglades Challenge and a light air sail means more sailing and less rowing of my 17.  Should I add A) the bowsprit, backstays, halyard, furling hardware and an asymmetric spinnaker OR the mizzen staysail halyard and the mizzen staysail?

 

The bowsprit option is sexier, more sail area, and perhaps the better technical choice. Its also more expensive and a much bigger project. The staysail is easier to add and keeps the boat simpler without stays. Alan previously told me he did not know of a 17 Mark 3 with the staysail. What do you think I should do?

[Steve W]

I have a Mizzen staysail for Skeene, my 20.3. It has successfully been deployed twice. The problem is that it's range of use is limited, and the time and complexity it takes to deploy, and douse discourage me. But those two times were pretty great and justify it's presence. I went from a bob and bake situation to real movement, even though I wasn't going in any direction I really wanted.

 

I would like the bowspit setup, but i haven't commited to it's complexity. 

 

 

 

[Reacher]

I never got much out of the staysail and no longer carry it. I found it more effective to reach higher without the staysail and jibe back and forth as necessary. 

[Paul356]

My two cents:

A.  I have a staysail for my CS 17 Mk I.  I've had it up in anger twice, once on the EC and once up north.

1.  We put it up in light air on the EC and it added a knot on a DDW.  My buddy didn't realize I had left the halyard unfastened and pulled it down when the wind came up.  We didn't end up restringing it and never had cause to use it again, so didn't restring.  I have since added some stopper knots.

2.  I was solo on a long downwind run in light air.  I was resolved to sail it.  I thought, why not.  I pulled it out, rigged it (lots of fuss, and Steve noted) and, lo and behold, my speed went up.  I even jibed it!  But I had plenty of time and plenty of room.

So, I would add it for the EC, but consider it a light air sail.

B.  I was expecting to do the EC again in 2027.  Seeing the success of some Core Sounds with spinakers in 2026, I went ahead and got a used Javelin chute on ebay, and a pole, and pole fitting just above the mast step on the main mast, and plan to put a double block (halyard and topping) lift high on the main mast, and  maybe a down haul. Two turning blocks low on the main.  I got a 7-foot pole from Forespar.  I figured this would definitely be a light air rig only.  There is plenty of downwind power in the two standard sails for anything beyond light air.  Based on some driveway sailing, it looks like the chute would set well to wind of the main mast.  Well, now it looks like my crew and I won't make the EC 2027 after all, so I don't know if I'll ever fly it.  But that was the plan. Maybe on a light air day this summer I'll get to try it out.

 

The photo is when I did a trial of the chute tacked in place with duct tape.  The mast seemed to show no ill effects.  Again, I stress, light air.