Sailing
Published April 6, 2007 | 
Cast away, tide’s a runnin’
Hoist the sail, strong wind’s comin’.
Gonna try to sail away from the rest of my life.
-CCR
Now would you just look at what Geoff Murray did to his Rockpool!
You know how you can you tell a southern sea kayaker don’t you? Well, if they are from Tasmania, Australia or New Zealand you can tell by their great big . . . sails.
I hear the lads in Tasmania often brag that their sails are bigger than the Aussies. Of course the New Zealander’s laugh at the both of ‘em. 
Occasionally though, you have to send a woman down from the UK to show them she can do whatever they can do. . . AND without a sail!
Being American myself I can just sit here and cause trouble. All in good fun though!!
Photo by Geoff Murray used by permission. Thanks Geoff!
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7 Responses to Sailing
Interesting, a Marconi rig with a boom so it could sail within 45 degrees of the wind. But without a generous keel or side board it is only going to go side ways when headed into the wind. But those guys know that.
sounds good to me. . then of course you lost me at Marconi rig. .
Wasn’t he an Italian guy who sent the first radio signal?
I experimented with kayak sail rigs a couple years ago. I got some fun rides out of it, but a little out of control. And if you get caught with your sail up and the wind really starts blowing, you don’t have enough hands to take the sail down and hang on to your paddle and brace. At symposia I’ll occasionally see a kayak rigged up with a sail, leeboard, outriggers, and a rudder. When you get to that point it probably doesn’t function well as a kayak or a sailboat, IMHO.
Hi Silbs,
Don’t intend trying to sail into the wind, seems pretty good so far in a cross wind. what surprised me is the direction control I still have. Edging stills works
Geoff
Who makes this rig and where can I get one?
I think this rig is called a Sprit sail rather than a Marconi. The sail is the standard type used by Australian paddlers from Victoria and New South Wales. The Tasmanian rig is totally different and, I think unsuitable for a non-ruddered kayak. They are made by a fellow of the name of Mick McRobb.Very nicely made too.
Geoff
If I’m not mistaken, once a sail is added to a kayak the “rules” change and you are now a sailboat–at least here in US waters. (Lighting rules for one.)