A “DAISY” STAYSAIL
One of the sails that came with my Catalina 27, Rainbow’s End, when I bought it is a “Daisy staysail.” I’ve never flown it because I don’t know what it is for, what conditions it can fly in, or how it is to be rigged. No one in my marina seems to know either. Can you shed some light on this?
Jon Ericson, Los Angeles, CA
Win Fowler Replies
A Daisy staysail, named for the old IOR 2-tonner Golden Daisy, is usually a lightweight, full-hoist, high-clewed staysail, intended to be set flying (i.e., not attached to a stay) under a spinnaker. The tack is set anywhere from the stem to a third of the way to the mast. In the right conditions, it can also work as a windseeker, keeping a boat moving when there is too little breeze to fill an overlapping genoa. I’d say the sail is worth experimenting with if you race, but probably not worth the stowage space otherwise.
