Thanks for the good wishes. I tried (admittedly, not very hard) to make a Gallant rig for the original harry. Main problem was the high tension required to keep the leading edge looking good in high wind, the additional weight and the draggy mast when reefed or moored. Not sure Aphrodite or the Ilan sail have got this sorted as there are no reports of their performance in heavy air. The Sol2 rig gets round this with a wing mast. The sail is sort of like a single surface Gallant rig as each batten is controllable.
360's can be done conventionally. There is nothing stopping a harryproa being sailed with the normal ww hull to leeward, as long as you are careful. Best not to, obviously, and with the proa ability to stop and reverse and to sail backwards as well as forwards, rule infringements should be a rare event.
rob
I also wish Rob all The Best,so he can finish the boat asap...but I'm still badder with the rig/sail choice for the new age harryproa...
It is absolutely not a new concept(Stowable semi-rigid wing sail system),and you guys have been on it many times before,but I can't stop thinking about it...and,if somebody will come up with the right idea,how to actually improve it and make it work...that will be great!!
Here are some links,I guess it's been called the Gallant rig...
http://www.svaphrodite.bostekanesth esia.com/
and
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/ 6431100/descript ion.html
I will build a harryproa one day,but the sail/rig choice and the steering system still must to improve...
...and just one other thing,if one want to race a proa with "the others",how do you do "the 360(or the 1 tack,1 jibe),in case you foul someone?
Aloha