The problem is simply that I can't always handle the whole rig, mast and sail, at one time in order to move it the length of the boat. The solution is simple - move one piece at a time!
BTW, thanks to Craig O'Donnell and the Proa Page at his Cheap Pages http://www.thecheappages.com/proa/commodore.html for his excellent article with illustrations about Commodore Munroe and his proas.
The Commodore used a bridle on the yard, allowing it to travel vertically while at full hoist. His mast was fixed amidships and that geometry would have caused the heel of the yard to dip down into the water while shunting the sail. The bridle arrangement allows the yard to be lifted up as it passes amidship thus keeping it out of the water.
The permanently centered mast, however, IMHO is lousy - the sail sets down at too low of an angle. But here comes the good part: I discovered that after securing the yard at the new bow, I can then tilt the mast forward to where it should be, and thanks to the bridle arrangement, the whole sail slides up to the proper attitude!
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| Commodore Munroe's 1900 proa. The bridle can be seen at the top of the yard. |
The mast simply needs to be able to belayed at the centered position while the sail only is shunted. Then the mast can continue tilting toward the new bow. I can easily move just the sail or just the mast, one at a time!
The mast is controlled by a single continuous backstay line run through a block at either end of the boat. The line can be belayed when the mast is at center position.
In order to shunt: First bring the mast upright to its centered position and belay it. Then free the sail from the old bow, swing it the length of the boat and secure it at the new bow. Then tilt the mast the rest of the way forward.
It's all as simple and clutter free as it sounds I'll have pics as soon as possible.
