Lateen Sail

I decided to make my first attempt at a sail out of polytarp in order to allow me to experiment relatively cheaply until I can find the correct specification (or I just decide to buy a Sunfish sail from the USA - they're hard to come by in the UK !).  After considerable research to get the correct dimensions and then a useful discussion on the 'WoodenBoat' forum about design (Thanks, Todd B !), I eventually had both what I thought should be a workable design and technique.

First step was to mark out the basic dimensions and the offset curves for the head, foot and leech in order to try to put some shape into the sail in more or less the correct place:

The edges were then created, using double sided tape and thin cord:

until the basic shape was complete:

This was then reinforced with tabling and tarp tape at tack, clew and head:

together with eyelets mounted through tape reinforcement at all attachment points, until the sail was complete:

and then lashed to the spars:

At the tack, there is a multi-directional lashing (as per the Sunfish Rigging Guide) and a cunningham:

and an outhaul at the clew:

both leading to jam cleats on the boom ready to hand for the helm:

The sheet runs from a wire horse over the tiller (again, to Sunfish spec), through a couple of blocks on the boom and a pair of double-sided velcro supports:

down to a ratchet block mounted between the cockpit well and the daggerboard:

While I was getting excited with polytarp, I also made a cover from the remains of an old boat cover tarp:

Still to follow - a little bit about refurbishing a 1960's trailer (an ebay 'bargain').