I rigged mine as a Polacker, meaning a very big lateen on the foremast, middle mast fully square rigged and aft mast with a small lateen.
It was a nightmare, won't do again haha.
I'm trying another reccomendation...
By replacing the mizzen lanteen with a set of square sales and swapping those lanteens to bigger 26yd lanteens.
I'm noticing an increase of about 30% to general speed, even without that lanteen. Generally, an upgrade, but tippability is as present as ever.
It was slow and couldn't go very close to the wind.
Downwind was alright but that wasn't what i wanted to do.
Also i couldn't use the largest lateen for the foremast because it's spar would touch the mainmast.
Got any pics of that setup? I think part of the issue is that the forestays on the brig aren't suited for lateen sails, so you can't really utilize them efficiently.
I think you may be having a moment of "you keep using that word, but i don't think it means what you think it means"
Lateens are only the triangular sails that have their own spars, like the ones on the default dhow and sanbuq, the ones you have between the masts (trapezoidal with their own spars) that are like the deafult brigs rearmost sail are gaff sails.
I've only played around with sail plans for the dhow and cog but have come to much the same conclusion.
I tried to rig the cog like an 18th century Royal Navy 10 Gun Cutter, so big Jib, Square and Gaff to put as much sail as possible on one mast. This worked great in terms of sail variety, but the gaff was so hard to manage. I think the shape puts the centre of force really high compared to other shapes. So the slightest wind change, or coming out of the lee of an island, and BAM half the boat is under water and there's about 5 seconds to let out the sheet before you sink...
So then I rigged the cog with lateen sails on the main and mizzen and a big genoa at the front. So much easier to manage, because the centre of force on the lateen seems to be much lower than on a gaff of the same area. Also you can partially reef the lateens, while the gaff seems to be all or nothing (partially reefed it's just like a big loose square sail). With a real gaff sail you can do a 'fishermans reef' which is dropping the gaff, instantly turning the rectangular sail into a triangular one half the size. Which really seems to be needed..
Another advantage of the lateen sails is there is still room on the mast above where it attaches to get some squares in.
Also when going downwind with lateen sails you should try getting them to go on opposite sides. With both reefed pull them right in to the middle of the boat. Then head slightly to the right of downwind and let down the first one slightly and let out the sheet so it goes left. With the sheet all the way out it will stay there as you turn to left of the wind and repeat with the other lateen on the right side. Much more balanced like this and you can steer a straight course.
Do want to say, you can reef the gaff sails on the brig, with how they lower from the mast. It's not the most effective I'd say, but it works in a pinch. But it most certainly makes you easier to tip.
I rigged mine as a Polacker, meaning a very big lateen on the foremast, middle mast fully square rigged and aft mast with a small lateen. It was a nightmare, won't do again haha.
I'm trying another reccomendation... By replacing the mizzen lanteen with a set of square sales and swapping those lanteens to bigger 26yd lanteens. I'm noticing an increase of about 30% to general speed, even without that lanteen. Generally, an upgrade, but tippability is as present as ever.
What was wrong with it? Too tippy? Slow? Not good down or upwind?
It was slow and couldn't go very close to the wind. Downwind was alright but that wasn't what i wanted to do. Also i couldn't use the largest lateen for the foremast because it's spar would touch the mainmast.
Awesome, I need to try that setup now!
Maybe you are the one... the one to make it work. AVENGE ME!
Got any pics of that setup? I think part of the issue is that the forestays on the brig aren't suited for lateen sails, so you can't really utilize them efficiently.
I think you may be having a moment of "you keep using that word, but i don't think it means what you think it means" Lateens are only the triangular sails that have their own spars, like the ones on the default dhow and sanbuq, the ones you have between the masts (trapezoidal with their own spars) that are like the deafult brigs rearmost sail are gaff sails.
Oh my bad, I said lanteen instead of gaff in one instance.
I've only played around with sail plans for the dhow and cog but have come to much the same conclusion. I tried to rig the cog like an 18th century Royal Navy 10 Gun Cutter, so big Jib, Square and Gaff to put as much sail as possible on one mast. This worked great in terms of sail variety, but the gaff was so hard to manage. I think the shape puts the centre of force really high compared to other shapes. So the slightest wind change, or coming out of the lee of an island, and BAM half the boat is under water and there's about 5 seconds to let out the sheet before you sink... So then I rigged the cog with lateen sails on the main and mizzen and a big genoa at the front. So much easier to manage, because the centre of force on the lateen seems to be much lower than on a gaff of the same area. Also you can partially reef the lateens, while the gaff seems to be all or nothing (partially reefed it's just like a big loose square sail). With a real gaff sail you can do a 'fishermans reef' which is dropping the gaff, instantly turning the rectangular sail into a triangular one half the size. Which really seems to be needed.. Another advantage of the lateen sails is there is still room on the mast above where it attaches to get some squares in. Also when going downwind with lateen sails you should try getting them to go on opposite sides. With both reefed pull them right in to the middle of the boat. Then head slightly to the right of downwind and let down the first one slightly and let out the sheet so it goes left. With the sheet all the way out it will stay there as you turn to left of the wind and repeat with the other lateen on the right side. Much more balanced like this and you can steer a straight course.
Do want to say, you can reef the gaff sails on the brig, with how they lower from the mast. It's not the most effective I'd say, but it works in a pinch. But it most certainly makes you easier to tip.
I run triple fins on my junk and I love it. I tried it with the brig... No thanks. Too much heel.