Staysail rigging

[wabass]

Hi, I'm setting sails on my Prince de Neufchatel and am unsure whether the main topmast staysail used a single tack or port/stbd arrangement. Anyone have an understanding of this rigging? Thanks in advance

[Stockholm tar]

Wabass,

 

I take it you mean the staysail sheets?

 

If so, then by 1812 I would have thought they were doubled.

[JerseyCity Frankie]

A good question and I think you DO mean the tacks and not the sheets. I have seen modern schooners do it with a single tack and I have seen them do it with two. The later have to tack up each time they go about and it adds a lot to the workload, but the alternative is resignation to poor sail shape half the time. My GUESS is that a big privateer with a large crew would not mind the extra labor and would want max sail performance and would use two tacks. But this is only my guess.

[Stockholm tar]

Doh! Apologies. If you do mean the tack then ignore my earlier post.

[michaelpsutton2]

On a vessel of this side I would rig a tack on either side of the fore boom. Double sheets as well. It has to be admitted though that very few contemporary paintings even show this sail set

Edited December 9, 2015 by michaelpsutton2

[JerseyCity Frankie]

I may have to amend what I wrote above, I was thinking of the Main Topsail. The Topmast Staysail could be another kettle of fish. I found this discussion though and it has an excellent diagram of the Neufchatel:  http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/7842-fitting-of-top-mast-in-a-raking-mast/

[wabass]

Thanks guys, it is hard to find references specific to tacks on this sail, the sheets are quite clear. I would think two would be  better especially with enough manpower, but I'm no expert. I am a maniac who insists on rigging sails though, and what better sail plan than PdN?