William_H
Well-Known Member
Definitely no practical boating however..... have just returned from a holiday which took in 4 days mooching around the yachts that completed the Sydney to Hobart race. I was facinated by the technology of the big Maxi30 yachts. (That is 30 metres long)
There were 5 of these in the race of 80. The winner took about 2.5 days at an average 16 knots. It was a fairly sedate race this year.
One of the maxis, Skandia had the top of the mast from above the top shrouds snap off. About 4m of very big carbon fibre. The broken bit was impressive. They had dificulties getting the mainsail off and completed the race with jib only.
Anyway these big yachts seem to have an engine running continuously for hydraulic power for winches and keel canting.
The mast is carbon fibre with 5 spreaders. Held up by I think kevlar/dyneema high tech cord in lieu of rod or wire.
The mainnsail has a large roach so only running backstays at the back with 5 branches. tightened with 4 purchase pulleys to a winch.
The jibs are relatively small with no overlap. They are sheeted abeam the mast inside the shrouds. The sheeting point is on a sideways track (inboard to outboard) With the sheet going through an eye in the end of a rope like a barber hauler with adjustment in vertical direction. i was told all jibs have hanks or caribiner type attachment to a bare forestay. The jib loads are too much for bolt rope in a foil as used on smaller boats. ( not a single roller jib was to be seen)
I was intrigued by what appeared to be the snap shackle on the end of spin sheets and halyards. A person nearby showed me how the rope halyard or sheet has an eye splice. This goes into a tube about 10cms long 30 in dia. with a pin across that goes through the eye splice. At the other end of the tube a pin also goes through extending externally. a loop of rope is whipped onto one end and the other end of the loop of rope goes over the other end of the pin after being threaded through the sail eye. The loop of rope is held in place of the pin by a 2 turn wrap of canvas which velcroes together. (hook and pile) Very light weight and apparently strong enough.
Mainsheet is just one pulley on a traveler track near the stern. The rope ends go up to pulleys along the boom then down to the deck near the mast to go back to winches. This seemed common on smaller boats as well.
I discovered later while watching TV that the gracious gent who showed me the attachment device was in fact Mike Slade the owner of the British entrant. City Index Leopard. He had come in just 40 mins after the line honours winner.
The British were a real credit and thanks Mike. (from the guy and wife from East Fremantle Yacht Club).
It was intriguing that when we first approached Leopard it had a decided heel to it. Late while admiring the boat there was a machinery noise and it stood up level. Obviously the keel being centred.
There seemed to be no shackles of SS on the big boats. Attachments of pulleys seemed to be made by multiple turns of rope. A bit like sailing ships of long ago. Yes I realise this is no ordinary rope but for all that they were held together by string. ( A bit like my boat)
Leopard had two dagger boards abeam the mast which were apparently used for lateral stability. The leeward one being used.
We did a tourist type power boat cruise out to the the head of the Derwent river. We were in time to see a typical 40 ft racer Pappilion coming in 2 days after the big ones. I got great photos of 5 guys pulling the spin in under the boom as they hardened up. We found the boat and skipper later to offer photos. He told the story of how his best helmsman had only one arm. Some time into the race he fell and broke his remaining arm in 2 places. He wouldn't allow them to pull out for medical help and he survived another 3 days on pain killers until finishing the race. Thats determination.
Two other shorter ocean races finished about the same time giving a feast of boat watching. About 120 all told. They clear out the usual inhabitants of the dock so they are all moored together. The whole city comes alive with this race finish week.
Anyway sorry to boor you with waffle. If I have got the details wrong I would love to be put right. Happy New Year olewill
There were 5 of these in the race of 80. The winner took about 2.5 days at an average 16 knots. It was a fairly sedate race this year.
One of the maxis, Skandia had the top of the mast from above the top shrouds snap off. About 4m of very big carbon fibre. The broken bit was impressive. They had dificulties getting the mainsail off and completed the race with jib only.
Anyway these big yachts seem to have an engine running continuously for hydraulic power for winches and keel canting.
The mast is carbon fibre with 5 spreaders. Held up by I think kevlar/dyneema high tech cord in lieu of rod or wire.
The mainnsail has a large roach so only running backstays at the back with 5 branches. tightened with 4 purchase pulleys to a winch.
The jibs are relatively small with no overlap. They are sheeted abeam the mast inside the shrouds. The sheeting point is on a sideways track (inboard to outboard) With the sheet going through an eye in the end of a rope like a barber hauler with adjustment in vertical direction. i was told all jibs have hanks or caribiner type attachment to a bare forestay. The jib loads are too much for bolt rope in a foil as used on smaller boats. ( not a single roller jib was to be seen)
I was intrigued by what appeared to be the snap shackle on the end of spin sheets and halyards. A person nearby showed me how the rope halyard or sheet has an eye splice. This goes into a tube about 10cms long 30 in dia. with a pin across that goes through the eye splice. At the other end of the tube a pin also goes through extending externally. a loop of rope is whipped onto one end and the other end of the loop of rope goes over the other end of the pin after being threaded through the sail eye. The loop of rope is held in place of the pin by a 2 turn wrap of canvas which velcroes together. (hook and pile) Very light weight and apparently strong enough.
Mainsheet is just one pulley on a traveler track near the stern. The rope ends go up to pulleys along the boom then down to the deck near the mast to go back to winches. This seemed common on smaller boats as well.
I discovered later while watching TV that the gracious gent who showed me the attachment device was in fact Mike Slade the owner of the British entrant. City Index Leopard. He had come in just 40 mins after the line honours winner.
The British were a real credit and thanks Mike. (from the guy and wife from East Fremantle Yacht Club).
It was intriguing that when we first approached Leopard it had a decided heel to it. Late while admiring the boat there was a machinery noise and it stood up level. Obviously the keel being centred.
There seemed to be no shackles of SS on the big boats. Attachments of pulleys seemed to be made by multiple turns of rope. A bit like sailing ships of long ago. Yes I realise this is no ordinary rope but for all that they were held together by string. ( A bit like my boat)
Leopard had two dagger boards abeam the mast which were apparently used for lateral stability. The leeward one being used.
We did a tourist type power boat cruise out to the the head of the Derwent river. We were in time to see a typical 40 ft racer Pappilion coming in 2 days after the big ones. I got great photos of 5 guys pulling the spin in under the boom as they hardened up. We found the boat and skipper later to offer photos. He told the story of how his best helmsman had only one arm. Some time into the race he fell and broke his remaining arm in 2 places. He wouldn't allow them to pull out for medical help and he survived another 3 days on pain killers until finishing the race. Thats determination.
Two other shorter ocean races finished about the same time giving a feast of boat watching. About 120 all told. They clear out the usual inhabitants of the dock so they are all moored together. The whole city comes alive with this race finish week.
Anyway sorry to boor you with waffle. If I have got the details wrong I would love to be put right. Happy New Year olewill
