Junk Rigged Boats in Ireland 

A very interesting question - and the answer is that for some it's not what they want, or technically difficult etc. But in some ways a soft, collapsible wing sail with junk style reefing and sheeting is a natural next step, and you won't be surprised to hear it's been done. Take a look at this, for example: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-erRUZhLTF_s.html or this ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-FFKptl7oqT0.html Two examples of junk riggers who have gone in the direction you suggest - both of them long distance open ocean crossers, by the way.

@@longtime1 Wharram Wingsail looks so easy and efficient?! It just uses the top-raised Gaff boom, and the mast as the leading edge! Surely you can add a couple more batons below? This way it would be a double-sided junk rig that would be more balanced when tacking! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kodSsM0gzWQ.html

For me it's about simplicity (and aesthetics). If I have to make my own sail, I'd want it to be as simple and affordable to make and repair as possible. It's not like junk rigs are outdated. Many here in the West use a modernised variant of Hasler & McLeod's westernised junk rig. And the variants are still evolving as we speak, people keep experimenting and innovating and sharing their findings on JRA's forums.