The birdwing mast is my nickname for a storable, sickle-shaped, sailboat mast. In the U.S. patent I have for the design, it is described as utilizing an aerodynamically efficient cross-section along its length. There is no limit in the patent for the sickle shape— meaning that a birdwing mast can be any sickle shape ever created in the past or even any created in the future. If you do an image search for “sickles,” you’ll begin to get an idea of the range of possibilities for a birdwing mast. There are hundreds of them.
Why the sickle shape? I knew I wanted the mast to be curved to better conform to the gunwale of my little fishing skiff(when mast was down)so that my fishing buddy of 20 years would stop complaining about the old straight mast being in his way. (After a few beers he’d become especially effective with his complaining, so I decided it would be easier to design a curved mast than to train a new fishing buddy.) This first new mast was 100% successful as it curved completely out of his way…and peace while fishing was once again restored.
Even though I was a novice sailor at the time, I’d taken enough physics courses to realize early on that the curvature would probably be fine for windward work, but that the mast would definitely have to rotate to be effective for downwind work. And then I had one of those eureka moments late one night while staring at my boat—a sickle shape! If there was a little straight section at the bottom of the mast, that would allow the mast to rotate in its step and I could keep the peace-restoring curvature without giving up any performance. In fact, later I realized this swept-back curved and rotating shape could improve aerodynamics for setting sail when compared to a conventional straight mast.
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A HEAD FOR RUBATO
I dislike port-a-potties. I'm not too fond of poop in any form, really, being non-scatological by nature.
THE ARTFUL SAILOR
Ain' nothin' new about using sails as nautical billboards. The ancients painted all sorts of signs and symbols on their sails.
Twin Keels
OUT WIHUEIRIJE with Howard Rice
Cedar Key 2022 Windy Boat Meet
Cartop Cruising
A New Trailer
THE BIGHTS
PLAN STUDY: Fancy Free
If you're looking for a simple and inexpensive cruising sailboat with traditional character, our FANCY FREE should fill the bill. The sharpie-dory hull with flat-bottom, hard-chine form is ideal for the amateur.
BOAT REVIEW: Rhodes 22 Revisited)
Overlooked by the masses, admired by ownersâthere are good reasons the Rhodes 22 has been in production for over a quarter century.
Another Favorite Mod
The always creative Tom Luque sent us details on one of his favorite modifications
BLOODY TUESDAY
âAlthough the author if indeed he even used his real name) calls this story fiction, we arent so sure. You be the judge. Eds
CRUISING ISLE ROYALE
I sleâ Royale on Lake Superior is one of my favorite places to cruise. Established as a National Park in 1931, Isle Royale is located about 20 miles off the North Shore of Lake Superior near the Minnesota/Canadian border.