woo hoo

[umop_apisdn]

Had a beautiful day sailing on Sat, despite light winds and being completely becalmed for about 45 minutes.

But even so, I didn't miss a single tack all day. woo hoo! Ok, I am easily amused, but still that is the first time for that, so I thought I would share.

Noel

[Dave R1]

Good for you. I have had days when it seemes I couldn't make a single tack on the first try so I understand your elation. Way to go.

[Barry Pyeatt]

I'm really tickled to hear that Noel. That is a huge improvement over where you were at with the rig when I first saw it. Congratulations! It is only going to get better. 8) Making the necessary changes to that boat will give it the life it deserves and didn't have for the original owner.

[umop_apisdn]

Thanks Barry.

Correcting the mast angle made the biggest difference, followed by tightening up the rudder box. Now most of what is left to do is for convenience or cosmetic in nature.

I've decided the next thing to do is the jib. A lapper, and a furler, and some hardware to make line management easier. I went out today an picked up some a couple fairleads and Splinlock PX Powercleats (you know, the ones that don't spin...). Not very "traditional" looking hardware, I know, but they will set and release very quickly, which will help when singlehanding.

I'm trying to decide where to put the fairlead/bullseye. A track to mount it in would be nice. :-) but funds don't really allow for that right now.

I am inclined to put on deck up by the foreward shroud, to help keep the jib sheet from getting tangled up on stuff. Would it give my jib a better shape if I put the fairlead farther aft?

Thanks,

Noel

[adla]

That is great - i am so jealous. It must feel great to get the boat where it does what you want it to do when you want it to do it!. Congrats!

a.

[Barry Pyeatt]

Noel,

This is an overhead drawing showing a practical layout for your leads. You might consider doing something similar.

This routes the Peak Halyard and the throat halyard to the right side of the cabin top with the Peak to the outside. The jib halyard is run to the left side of the cabin top.

In this drawing, seperate sheets are laid out for the jib/genoa with block locations on either side of the deck and aft of the shroud locations for a Genoa and just about at the forward shroud for a standard jib.

If you are using a clubfoot on your jib then i would run that lead to the outside of the jib halyard on the cabin top. This puts all the lines in close proximity to you when you are single handing it. And the two you need to reach most often on the outsides where they are easily reached quickly.

I would recommend cam cleats to secure all of these as they release easily but hold well otherwise. You can place fairleads at the front edges of the cabin rails to help keep things straight and neat. You will need turning blocks to route the halyards and sheets to the cabin top.

This keeps the side decks uncluttered and makes moving around when necessary a lot easier. Putting a couple clothes pin bags on velcro to hang on the outside of the main bulkhead keeps the lines neatly tucked away. They are inexpensive and many colors are available at Wal-Mart.

That was a great tip from our Host, Frank. 8) Here on Capt. Jake's "Fire

Escape". He has since re routed all his halyards to the cabin top and added a second "bag" to hold the lines on the right side.

[umop_apisdn]

Routing the halyards (and topping lift) to the cabin top is on my to-do list, right after I get the furler and lapper installed.

Thanks for the pointers on locating the blocks for the jib and genoa. For the genoa, with the block aft of the shrouds, do you run the sheets outside of the shrouds then?

Thanks,

Noel

[Barry Pyeatt]

YES!

[capt jake]

I actually have 4 bags there now. It was a GREAT idea!