A little more of ol'will's adventures or that horrible bang from the rigging

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William_H

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Out sailing yesterday club short race Sunday afternoon. Forecast was for a bit of wind. Ended up 21 gusting 27knots. Set off in the little boat with regular excellent crew. Got baby spinnaker up and she went really well. Around the corner onto a quartering wind little boat on the verge of planing just passing one of the big kids... When a horrible bang from the rigging. The backstay having been pulled on hard before starting race parted at the bottom. Thank heaven for fractional rig and cap stays chain plates well aft of mast. She just kept going. We pulled down spin as you can imagine. Managed to fit a bit of cord to reconnect back stay. (Willy and shoe laces are legendary) Carried on to the lee ward mark, no spin but boat still going fast, beam to quartering wind. No 3 jib and one reef.
Bash back home was horrible wet but not so cold. (got to 32 earlier in the day before the breeze) Takes about 20 minutes in the open water. Water over the top into the cabin etc. So nice to get home for a second place. Helmsman and crew did really well in tiny boat and relatively rough conditions. (Swan river estuary) olwill likes to sit back and let crew do everything these days. (keeps em keen)
Note to self must beef up that back stay. ol'will (race Friday evening then Sunday before a break for Christmas)
 
Parted at the swage? Or sheared the clevis pin? It does concentrate the mind when one of the bits of metal string holding up the mast goes on strike.
 
No ,no offence taken and thanks for the kind words. re weather Wednesday night 31 degrees at midnight down to 27 early morning from 40 during the day. But really no obvious sign of global warming here. I mean it has always been like this in summer.
Re failure point. I am embarrassed to say it was really a design fault on my part. Wire was something like 3mm 7x19 which parted at the entrance to the swage. This was a joining strap to the back stay also 3mm (now replaced with heavier strap) so a little concerned about whole back stay. But on this rig it is primarily an adjustment line rather than supporting mast. So next winter will look at it. Perhaps be a bit gentler cranking on the back stay. Another short race tonight then Sunday with a break for a few weeks.
Best wishes for Christmas to all ol'will (I would not dream of mentioning cricket)
 
William_H said:
No ,no offence taken and thanks for the kind words. re weather Wednesday night 31 degrees at midnight down to 27 early morning from 40 during the day. But really no obvious sign of global warming here. I mean it has always been like this in summer.
Re failure point. I am embarrassed to say it was really a design fault on my part. Wire was something like 3mm 7x19 which parted at the entrance to the swage. This was a joining strap to the back stay also 3mm (now replaced with heavier strap) so a little concerned about whole back stay. But on this rig it is primarily an adjustment line rather than supporting mast. So next winter will look at it. Perhaps be a bit gentler cranking on the back stay. Another short race tonight then Sunday with a break for a few weeks.
Best wishes for Christmas to all ol'will (I would not dream of mentioning cricket)
Click to expand...
A few years ago, on a visit to my son in Queensland, Australia were giving England a proper mauling at cricket. When they heard my pommie accent, everyone wanted to talk about cricket.
On a later visit the tables were turned and it was impossible to start a conversation about the game..
 
Hi Dan. A famous film of many years back called "They're a wierd mob" just about says it all. Cricket is not my game. Sailing is my game. Well up until last night.
Another horrible bang and the saddle on the top of the traveller connecting main sheet parted. (after many years) More desperate application of shoe laces and some very gentle sailing for the evening race. It happened right on the start line on port tack with a mob of big boats bearing down on starboard tack. Got going but for some reason she just did not want to go well. Ended up last and out of time limit with dying wind. I will check under neath this morning for weed or buckets attached to the keel. (and replace the saddle) ol'will
 
William_H said:
Out sailing yesterday club short race Sunday afternoon. Forecast was for a bit of wind. Ended up 21 gusting 27knots. Set off in the little boat with regular excellent crew. Got baby spinnaker up and she went really well. Around the corner onto a quartering wind little boat on the verge of planing just passing one of the big kids... When a horrible bang from the rigging. The backstay having been pulled on hard before starting race parted at the bottom.
Click to expand...
Backstay on hard & just left it as such ??? & why was it on hard on the run? surely you slackened it a bit down wind :unsure:
 
Daydream believer said:
Backstay on hard & just left it as such ??? & why was it on hard on the run? surely you slackened it a bit down wind :unsure:
Click to expand...
Perhaps you are right about slackening the back stay probably more just too busy hanging on. I presume you slacken back stay to move the rig forward to induce lee helm to counteract weather helm. (broach) Note to self slacken back stay on spin run.
Interesting the failure of the saddle on traveller was apparently mostly wear induced until final failure. 4mm sized saddle (hole size) so fairly light. All fixed now for more battles this afternoon. ol'will
 
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