should perhaps have put this under product reviews, but will leave it here instead for reference.

my 32 foot jeanneau sails at anchor moderately - not as much as the only other two boats i've anchored on overnight, but enough to be annoying.

bought a riding sail from sailrite and recently tried it out at anchor and what a difference! very effective. tested by taking it down and putting it back up a few times to do a side by side comparison. we really liked it, my wife even more so than me (sailing at anchor always interupted her sleep for some reason). i had read that there was a noise issue, but we didnt hear anything.

also only takes a few minutes to put up and take down.

i've read that the FinnDelta is better but for simplicity and cost we're pretty happy.

Heard of SailRite, but what's a FinnDelta?

If you could, send me directions on how to set this sail, that I too applied my sewing skills. My girl acts like a bull dog on a leash. Lashing her to port or stbd makes very little difference! She still hunts.


thx,

Here's a link to their kit for smaller boats with a how-to video attached: Anchor Riding Sail Kit (12.5 Sq Feet).
And here's a Sail magazine article on the topic http://sailmagazine.com/features/0107RidingSail.pdf

Banner Bay makes a riding sail. I haven't used it or even seen it, just want to share that there is another option. Due diligence is on you.

Banner Bay

You can pick up a small boat, hank on, jib very cheaply and it will do the same thing if you hank it to, and hoist it up the backstay or topping lift.

Better yet, buy a yawl, they come with a riding sail!

As T34C suggests, I cut an older jib down, reinforced the corners and added a few hanks. I found that sheeting it in off center works best and has improved dancing around by a bout 80%. Also size does matter,to small and it wont be as affective,if memory serves me I think mine is about 20 square ft.

Most small boat jibs aren't going to be strong enough to work as a riding sail if the wind picks up.

Wouldn't it be easier to just whip up a bridle and anchor off the back?

Jim

Sorry SD- I gotta disagree. The whole point is that the boat stays head to wind with the riding sail. This keeps the sail in line with the wind and doesn't allow it to have much force against it. Additionally, it is being "flown" backward from its design which keeps it from drawing or flogging.