Beer (revolver) Lug Rig

by Lewis C
(Llanwrthwl, Rheadre, Wales)

I'm looking for any information I can get on some points that are basic to an ongoing ancient vessel design project, and hope that maybe someone reading this can help.

The Beer Lug Rig is close to a dipping lug, but it differs in that it is set up for another method of tacking.

When going about the sheet is hauled around the luff, followed by the sail, to the new leeward gunwale.

At the same time, the butt of the yard is hauled down to the vertical allowing the yard to revolve around the mast, following the sail, and is then allowed to swing back to its normal angle.

Can anyone say whether they've found this system used elsewhere other than the fishing village of Beer, in Dorset, UK?

And what would be the largest scale of sea-boat on which it would be practicable?

And what is the calculation (if it exists) for finding the load on a dipping lug's main sheet in, say, a stiff breeze ?

Regards,

Lewis

Comments for Beer (revolver) Lug Rig

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devon
by: Anonymous

Beer is in Devon!!! quite important if you live in Beer
Tacking a Beer Lugger (Devon)
by: Anonymous

Devon's Beer Lugger rig in reality is no different to a standard setup for a typical dipping lug.

The exception being that the halyard is secured at the base of the mast and not released during the tack, nor used as 'burton' in the Cornish way.

The process of tacking the sail is all a matter of timing, as the helm goes down to initiate the tack the head swings into the wind.

Just before passing through the eye of the wind, the sheet is released.

The sail is then hauled around the luff onto the opposite tack using the other sheet (lead around the luff) to become the new standing sheet.

During the process the sail is partially 'backed' which helps to swing the head, but only momentarily to avoid being caught aback.

The yard automatically swings around the fore part of the mast onto the new tack, occasionally it catches, this is remedied by hauling on a light line attached to the lower end of the yard.

Easy - so no 'revolvers' required - we can get shot of that term!

Location
by: Kate

Just thought you might like to know that the Beer lugger is based in Beer, Devon rather than Dorset.
Lug Tacking Video
by: Mike

Hi Lewis,

A few comments on the video below.

It seems to be a variation on the method you describe.

And I'm sure that it would work on a small, light, sail in light winds.

However, when tacking the bow is facing into the wind, the sail being hauled forward will form a pocket that is likely to fill.

The leeward sheet has to be dragged across the luff of the sail pulling the weight of the sail plus the weight of any wind in that ‘pocket’.

Once the sail is tacked the halliard will now be wrapped around the front of the mast, which could apply twist to the mast and possibly cause problems lowering it.

The "Cornish" method of tacking the sail around the front of the mast involved un-clipping the halliard and either bringing it aft around the mast then re-clipping it to the yard or having a second halliard set up and doing a quick swap.

Oh it’s bugger to tack is a lugger
Don't try it if you're in a rush
The yard can get caught in the rigging
As you drop it when you are a dipping
And if the wind comes abaft
You'll end up on your aft,
Oh it’s a bugger to tack is a lugger.
Tacking dipping lugsail, Beer lugger-style - YouTube
by: Mike


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