Question about running with twin headsails

[Captain Smollett]

Does anyone know if you HAVE to have twin headstays to run with twin headsails?

Or, is it possible to either offset the hanks so both sails can be hanked to one stay or just set one 'flying' (probably the windward one, I'd guess)?

Thanks.

[sailor]

it's possible with an offset, and with careful crew raising on two independent halyards.
Been on one boat with such setup and IMHO it was not worth the trouble.
They used it because they did not have a genoa (a drifter/screecher would be even better), but 4 working jibs.
On my own boat I would go big genny/drifter instead

[AdriftAtSea]

Most interesting sail I've seen was two identical jibs which were attached at the luff to be hoisted as a single unit.  They would use it as a single headsail with one set of sheets through both clews... or as twin headsails by using two sets of sheets.  It was a bizzare looking thing...

[skylark]

Yes, you can put them on the same forestay. You have to alternate hanks from each sail (or otherwise keep the hanks in order so the sails set correctly).  This is usually done in trade wind conditions with one or two poles to hold the sails in place.  You can also bring the sheets back to the tiller and use the pressure from the sails to self steer the boat.

[Captain Smollett]

Yes, you can put them on the same forestay. You have to alternate hanks from each sail (or otherwise keep the hanks in order so the sails set correctly). 

Thanks.   :)

This is usually done in trade wind conditions with one or two poles to hold the sails in place.  You can also bring the sheets back to the tiller and use the pressure from the sails to self steer the boat.

And that's EXACTLY why I was askin'.  I'd seen in several books (and videos) the use of twins thus used, and wondering if the boat had to be rigged with dual headstays to do it effectively and safely.

:) :)

[CapnK]

John -

I did it that way (alternating hanks) on Epiphany a couple of times, also tried a free-flying jib once. It's not super hard to do, but it does take longer than a normal sail set/douse.

Dan - I've seen old ads for a foresail like that, and heard about a year ago that there were still folks making them. Seems like that could be a good thing to have  for the trades, where you are mostly running, but occasionally might want/need to head up for a while...

[AdriftAtSea]

The only downside I see to it is for upwind work, the sails would probably chafe on each other a bit, and the "effective sail" would be heavier than optimal for the wind. 

[skylark]

Most interesting sail I've seen was two identical jibs which were attached at the luff to be hoisted as a single unit.  They would use it as a single headsail with one set of sheets through both clews... or as twin headsails by using two sets of sheets.  It was a bizzare looking thing...

This is a favored rig for ultra small sailboats, the record breaker shortest sailboat to cross the ocean types.  No main, just a jib.  The mast is set up on the aft end of the boat and there is only one shroud, the forestay. There are two sheets, one from each of the two jibsails.

Downwind they run wing and wing, otherwise the two jibs fold together and act as one.

http://www.dromresan.com/hundvakt/so-du-it.shtml