Bud,
I've used a riding sail on my current and past two boats. It very effectively acts as a windvane to keep the bow pointed into the wind. It's not 100% effective, but it is MUCH better than without. I'm not so sure I agree with the statement that a furled genoa is the cause of the "sailing". Sailing at anchor is definitely caused by windage forward of the center of resistance (below the waterline), but I think the relatively high topsides of our boats (read roomy interior) is more the cause. Plus, as far as I know, Catalina doesn't make any ketches or yawls! I've used a riding sail with both single and split backstays, and I couldn't tell the difference between the two.

Bud,
That sounds fine. Every boat is a little different with the height and location of biminis, dodgers, split backstays, etc. If you want to keep the riding sail on the centerline, that's fine, but it is not necessary. Attaching it to one or the other of the split backstay also works well. The important point is to keep the sail flat and snug in all directions. You'll have to experiment with the height of the riding sail and the forward attachment point. Too high or too low and foot or leech will billow out. That billowing will cause the sail to flutter in the wind, and snap as the boat comes around. Very annoying!

Bud, I have used the large Sailrite riding sail kit for the previous 6 sailing seasons when anchoring in the North Channel with good results. I find it cuts in half the swinging angle.
I have an attachment on the port backstay, just abobe the bimini, and hoist it with the main halyard. The line from the tack of the sail I wind around the mast below the boomsuch to take all the looseness possible out of the line, other wise as Tom has pointed out, the sail will snap loudly as the boat from one side to the other.

Jack F Stewart
1993 C36 #1233 "Windancer"
Port Clinton, OH

I was just curious about those who used the sail if they had any problems with people anchored around them who DON'T have a steadying sail..... do you need extra anchoring room to prevent them swinging into you since you are not swinging as much?

Chuck, that may be true, but whether you have a riding sail or not, there's simply no way to know when boats will swing. Nothing says they'll all swing in the same direction at the same time.

Another alternate to riding sails is a bridle: run a line with a rolling hitch to your anchor rode and run it back to your winch, crank in some to get the boat cocked off the wind and the boat will lay to one side and not sail around. Source: Lin & Larry Pardey, [I]Cost Conscious Cruiser.[/I]

Or both riding sail AND bridle :-)

Anchoring by the stern will solve the sailing around as well, with the disadvantage the dodger acts as a giant air scoop! (Having said that, this can actually help when the winds are light and it's really hot)