Eruttan,

  I don't know if the masts can extend over the tow vehicle or not.  That could depend upon how each state defines what "trailer" means. 

  So if I'm allowed 65' total, and a 48' trailer, what does that mean?  If I have a 20' truck, does my entire "trailer" package end at the hitch, limiting me to 45' masts?  Can I have a 45' trailer/boat with 48' masts that extend over the truck bed?  Can I extend them 3' over the truck bed to 48'?  Or can we go crazy with 65' masts that are even with the front bumper long as we're under 13' high? 

  I originally wanted a supermaxi trailer, extending those masts as far as they could go. 

  Now that I've had to squeeze 42' house trusses down our road, with inches to spare on either side when turning the corner, I'm thinking that Rob's fancy origami with the fold-up bows, along with two-part masts, makes a lot of sense.  I could always leave the masts fully-assembled if I were in an area where their length wouldn't get in the way.

---

  As for reefing, it's an odd thing. 

  For lots of guys, it's like admitting failure.  They put off reefing until long after they should have and then regret it.  The best case is that you have less fun and the boat slows down (having up too much sail, and trying to manage it, is less efficient than a well-shaped reefed sail).  Then the scale dips down towards being miserable and wet, then beating up the boat, and then equipment failures and/or capsizing.

  I think I remember Wharram writing about mast height on a Tiki 38, saying something like "sure, you could have higher masts and more sail area, but then you'd have to reef under 15 knots".

  Okay.  And that's a problem why?

  If I wanted to be conservative while cruising in variable winds, I'd keep a reef in all the time.  But if you have one of those 2-knot days where another 200 sf of sail high up will be the difference between moving and bobbing, the taller masts would be wonderful.

  And since it's a harryproa, you can always completely dump your sails, go to neutral, and calmly reef without running into anything.  That makes it a lot safer to be carrying too much sail. 

  The standard method of flying a lot of extra sail area for those light-wind days is to put up a code zero or asymmetrical spinnaker.  But that makes tacking a production, can flip the boat in a gust, and at some points of sail you can't just dump the sheets.

  I'd /much/ rather have a schooner harryrpoa. 

  Plus, shunting a schooner has got to be easier than threading a screecher on a bowsprit in front of the forestay.  Particularly in very light winds, or if the wind picks up to the point where you need to bring that sail in, but have to tack first in order to avoid the shore, a shoal, or another boat.

  So, for the most part, reefing is a silly ego issue.  Just get over your manly self, reef, and have a better day.  Particularly if you're on a bidirectional proa with an unstayed rig.

  But with a stayed mast, there are extra reasons to consider not going to tall.

        - Mike

 

Mike, the masts could extend forward over the tow vehicle, right?

The measured length limit is total tow and trailer, so masts over the tow vehicle is a bit of a hack.

I did not think that would complacate anything, do you?

I know nothing about sailing, but agree, sails can be reefed, but not grown.

Any reason not to sail with a reefed sail?