Fisherman

jmunson2 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-08-2008

Namaste!

Anyone here know how/when to fly a fisherman? We've got one of those as well, but I'm having trouble locating any written resources on how to fly it.

Thanks!

Peace, Love, and Light,

/s/ Jon C. Munson II

sander06 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008

You might ask on an old classic sailboat forum or a very old sailor about when to fly your fisherman sail. These aren't normally found aboard most boats nowadays!!

jmunson2 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008

Aye, there's the rub!

Valiente · #4 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008

By "fisherman", do you mean the "leg of mutton" sail flown between the mizzen and main mast tops?

If you have a ketch, I think a mizzen staysail or even the rarely seen mizzen spinnaker makes more sense.

SteveCox · #5 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008

Fisherman are usually found on schooners I believe. On a ketch the mizzen staysail is flown from the head of the mizzen mast and the tack at the base of the main mast. The other option is the main backstaysail also known as a mizzen mule that is flown from the head of the mainmast with the tack (I guess:-) at the base of the mizzen mast and sheeted to the mizzen head. Of course this doesn't help the OP with his question but I'll try. The few times I have seen one was on a ~80' schooner here. It was a square sail flown between the main and fore masts and used in light air up to 10 knots or so. I don't recall how far off or on the wind it flew but there wasn't a whole lot of adjustment to it so I think it is primarily a reaching sail. You'll have to find some old books to get more info it's definitely not a modern sail.

Delirious · #6 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008

When returning with a full hold of cod. ;-)