Paradox, still officially christened “Paradox of Plym” by one of her previous owners living in Plymouth, is a 1988 Freedom 39, a 39-foot schooner rigged with 2 junk sails.
Her 2 masts are self-standing, requiring no shrouds nor stays.
Paradox on the Irish coast
Initially carrying triangular sails mounted on wishbones, a particularity of Freedom sailboats, she was then rigged with Bermudan-type sails, with luff tracks on the masts. The last owner before me then had her 2 current junk sails made for her.
I acquired Paradox in September 2022. The boat had had several owners before me, and had several Atlantic crossings to her credit. I bought her from Brian and Maddy Kerslake, whom I salute here, a charming couple that I unfortunately have not yet been able to meet. The boat was then in the Mediterranean, near Barcelona, and after bringing her back to France, we decided to have her transported to the Atlantic coast by truck.
Paradox is now stationed in Soubise, a port on the Charente near Rochefort, where she is dry-docked on her cradles when not sailing.
Paradox’s sails in all their glory !
After our first sailings, finding the boat under-canvassed, I was able to increase the surface area of each sail by about 12% by adding an additional panel.
This was made possible by the simplicity of junk sail design, and required very little equipment, an old sewing machine and very basic sewing skills.
Not forgetting of course the valuable information available on the website of the junk rig association, the Junk Rig Association (the JRA: https://www.junkrigassociation.org) and the work of the Norwegian Arne Kverneland.
The result was satisfactory, allowing us better speed, especially in light winds.
But I can’t believe, how the list of things to do to make this boat (almost) perfect, never ceases to grow !