michaelpsutton2 Posted October 8, 2014 Share #1 Posted October 8, 2014 (edited) If you were working on a Royal Navy Vessel in the closing decades of the 17th century, what shape would you give the mizzen sail? Lee says triangular and cut square with the leech and the foot at 90˚ I have seen a number of illustration and modern plans that show the mizzen as a four sided trapezoid almost as though a rectangular bonnet had been added to the foot. It is not a question of appearance. Which is historically correct? I do not know of any English sail plans between Mathew Bakes galleons in the late 1500's and a rigging plan for the 1719 Establishment. Even St Anthony Deane in his Doctrine of Naval Architecture only show the spars not the sails. Edited October 8, 2014 by michaelpsutton2 Quote Drown you may, but go you must and your reward shall be a man's pay or a hero's grave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
druxey Posted October 12, 2014 Share #2 Posted October 12, 2014 (edited) I don't know the definitive answer to your question. However, the lower plan is a little suspect as reef points came in about the end of the 17th century. I'd go with Van de Velde: he was around at the time! His lateen mizens are definitely triangular. Bonnets went out of fashion as reefing came in. Edited October 12, 2014 by druxey Quote Be sure to sign up for an epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series http://trafalgar.tv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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