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Helen
3 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Jul 2002 : 16:01:58
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I have a few questions about my recently purchased boat.
What is the wire 'hoop' at the top of the jib for? Is it supposed to be attached to anything? All it seems to do on my boat is to cause the gennaker halyard to wrap around the jib when furling.
I can get my gennaker up ok but I have never been able to get it down. It always jams in the mouth of the sock and then usually falls in the water. As such getting the gennaker down isn't worth the effort as my crew has to clamber to the bow to assist. I'm assuming I either need bigger muscles to pull it in or I'm doing something incredibly stupid.
My mainsail seems to be two inches too long. It is at the very top of the mast when hoisted but is not flat at the tack and simply seems to be too long. I've checked everything. Is it supposed to be like this as it looks awfull?
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KevinL
16 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2002 : 16:39:03
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Helen,
I believe you may be referring to the wire arm with a hoop that runs up and down the forstay - it attaches the jib to the forestay. However, some people actually remove the forestay and tie back near the mast once the jib is hoisted, so in that case I suppose it would not be used.
Yes, pulling the spinnaker / gennaker into the sock can be sticky and it does need a good pull. Make sure all the ropes run clanly and maybe try some teflon spray - all our Stratos spinnakers need a good pull - but carefully incase the sail is caught on anything. It gets caught under the bow if you don't lower it appropriately as you pull it in - this is simply crew technique.
About the sail, this sounds strange. If you can take a digital pic and e-mail it to me I'll have a better idea. All our sails fit!
Kevin L
RHKYC Senior Instructor
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DougRivers
63 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2002 : 17:26:42
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I bent the wire back and taped it out the way. I always take to forestay back to the mast.
Gennaker needs a good pull! I've lead it back to me as my crew couldn't manage (12yr old son).
Mainsail. Odd one. My luff is too short and I've taken to not connecting tack to boom to get it all the way up. Perhaps you should ring up Hyde Sails and get an official measurement from them and re-measure your sail? |
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BrianPearson
22 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2002 : 22:46:47
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the hoop, if that is what you are refering to, is to stop the halyard twisting as you furl the jib. It is normally left hooked onto the forestay which you can remove and tie back at the mast. I tie it to the mast foot area.
Rolling the jib and catching the jennicker halyard is a common problem. See messages. It seems to work ok if you just tighten the jennicker halyard before you roll the sail.
We often seem to end up with the gennicker in the water with inexperienced crew. Experienced one's must pull harder, plus they are more use to the point where it always seems "stuck", as the main body goes into the "mouth". Often the halyard snags and stops retrieval. Please persivere, it is a wonderfull sail, really brings the boat alive.
I have to tie as short a bowline as possible on my main halyard to raise the sail as high as possible. Still use the cummingham to tighten if not high enough.
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Helen
3 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2002 : 18:08:16
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Kevin
Thanks for the info. This has been a great help. I didn't know that the wire hoop was supposed to hook on to the forestay. It doesn't even mention it in the rigging instructions. I'm going to have another go at the mainsail tomorrow and if it still isn't right I will get a picture as you suggest. As for the gennaker I think I will practise on dry land and see if I can get it right.
Thanks |
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DavidShannon
45 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2002 : 19:03:36
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Helen,
Do you tie a bowline to your mainsail? Try using a round turn & 2 half hitches this will allow the sail to reach further up the track. I have never had one undo.
Regarding the gennaker and forestay hoop- here are my trial and error observations
A. Before dropping the sail ensure all slack has been pulled in on the downhaul i.e. your crew is already tugging the sail, then release the halyard. It still needs a BIG pull.
B. I used duct tape all round the mouth of the gennaker shute - there are a number of bolts etc that it can catch on. This looks a little ungainly - but check most racing dinghys - they do the same - it eases the passage into the shute.
C. The gennaker halyard was quite long - for racing I led it from the jammer through a single block and then it goes into the shute. This block is attached to bungee and I lead it down the deck to ensure that there is no slack in the halyard - downhaul continuous rope system. Yet the bungee allows this rope to be pulled with some give. Really it stops a tangle of rope at the foot of the mast.
C. The wire hoop - it is a pain! If I have to roll the jib whilst sailing it either rolls the halyard in - or creates friction and makes the job harder. I AM THINKING OF CUTTING IT OFF - DOES IT REALLY DO ANYTHING USEFULL? It slipped free of the forestay(which was brought back to the mast) one time and I was able to roll the jib no problems. The gennaker halyard still gets caught occasionally but the only solution seems to be to keep it under a little tension.
Happy sailing
David Shannon |
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Helen
3 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2002 : 23:03:34
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David
Some great advice I'm going to try all you suggest on Saturday. your thoughts on dropping the gennaker are the most sensible that I have seen yet.
Thanks |
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BrianPearson
22 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jul 2002 : 00:10:32
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Please be careful about removing the wire hoop. With it detatched, it is easy to roll up the gennicker because you are winding the halyard with it. All roller reefing systems on large yachts include a device to stop halyard twist.
Regards
Brian Pearson
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JimWhite
22 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2002 : 14:20:54
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main sail - I too have a problem here. As suggested a very short bow line helps a bit, but it's not the complete answer. Still 5-7 cm of slack to remove.
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