Storm Jib fitting

[tony_brighton]

We're looking to fit a storm jib to our Bav34. My understanding is that the best solution would be a temporary wire inner forestay taken from a point by the spreaders via a pelican hook to a U-bolt on the foredeck, hoisting via the spinnaker halyard. Can anyone comment on this type of arrangement - pros and cons. Would especially value the opinion of someone with the same type of boat.

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[bedouin]

I'm not sure how your mast is rigged, but I would be surprised if you could get away with attaching a forestay to the mast that far below the top without some form of running backstay as well.

Have you considered any of the options that set the storm jib on or near the existing forestay?



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[Sybarite]

I fitted one on my Feeling 9m20 just behind the furling genoa from the stemhead fitting to the masthead. This is the simplest and probably the strongest. I don't have a pelican fitting because I don't think the cost is justified - just a very substantial bottle screw on a 30" wire strop. I have only used it once in 12 years in anger and then a 60 knot squall physically tore the metal on two of the hanks. Luckily I also had shackles.

John

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[tillergirl]

Can't comment on the backstay point are you sure you need an inner stay? I have a deck eye through bolted and a storm jib halyard to a block on the mast at about the same point you are talking about. I use a 4 to 1 tackle as a downhaul between tack and the eyebolt and hoist it without an inner stay. Of course, I'm not a modern boat (indeed the storm jib is the original 1964 heavy cotton jib) but the downhaul is the easiest way to get a good tension on the luff. It has worked in anger twice.

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[LadyInBed]

Have a look <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.coatesmarine.demon.co.uk/r18-99.htm> here </A>

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[tjc]

On my 30 footer I have a secondary stay fixed at the masthead and led to a point about two thirds of the way between the mast and the stem head the latter of which it is the closest to obviously. I have a pelican hook on a removable wire strop and the other end is shackled to an eye at the end of the removable forestay. It works well and is easy to deploy in a hurry.

I think that if it is needed then the less time spent on the bow the better!!

When not in use the removable wire strop is taken off and the remaining stay taken to a point just inboard and forward of the spreaders and lashed.

System works well although only used once in 5 years of ownership

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[quaelgeist2]

Certainly depending on your preferred cruising ground and length of trips, the easiest and for many sailors sufficient solution is a storm-jib sailed over the furled genoa.

Yes it is far from perfect and will not give you the pull to cross the Biscaye against a F10, but if you don't have to sail into gales and look at the typical use of stormsails, this design is giving you control for the odd moment.

Not sure about UK, but it is on offer prefabricated with, say, 4, 6, 8 sqm and eyelets to attach halyard and wire strop.

The most basic design is effectively a square with 4 eyelets and is folded over the furled in genoa (or what's left of it depending on the storm), the sheets run through both eyelets. Worked on many a boat.

The more sophisticated design consist of a strong single sail with a luff-bag, which is put around the genoa and then closed with a zipper along the luff. Also used by many a cruiser.

These systems require less planning and chnges to the rigg and are very easily put in use (or not as is the case 99.9% of the time).



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[oldsaltoz]

G'day Tony,

When you decide what system you might install, have a good look at the sheeting arrangement it will need. You may have to fit extra tracks to get the best angle of attack, bearing in mind the foot needs to be well off the deck (above bow rail level at least) not always easy if the new track area is not strong enough and not cheap.......




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[webcraft]

This is interesting . . .

Most reports I've read on this type of storm jib (fold / sleeve over furled headsail) say it's impossible to rig in real conditions.

Has anyone used one of these in earnest?

- Nick



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[tome]

Sheeting arrangements are generally overlooked, and one of the reasons a well-furled jib sets so badly. If you rig a barber hauler you can make a furling jib set reasonably well as a storm sail and if you have a snatch block you can rig it with minimum time on the foredeck, taking the fall back with you to the cockpit.

Think about the time spent on the foredeck fitting a sleeve-type storm sail. You need to secure the furled jib, remove the sheets (and halyard if you don't have a spare, which would mean dropping the jib) fit the storm sail etc etc. All this happening right up at the bow in deteriorating conditions. I don't know anyone who has done this in anger!

I plan to fit a removable inner forestay for blue water cruising at the end of this season. It will mean dropping the mast to fit an attachment close to the mast head, and a really strong deck attachment with a reinforcing strap going down the bulkhead abaft the anchor locker. It will also require alternative sheeting arrangements: either a pair of short tracks or permanent U bolts and blocks. The storm jib will be high cut (Yankee style) and it will be rigged with the sail bagged but hanked and ready to go if the weather starts to go crap.

Meantime it's the barber hauler and furling jib for me.

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[Neal]

doesn\'t the sail flog around...

uncontrollably when set flying like this? I'd imagine it could be a real handful to set and hand.

My only experience was when the wind gusted suddenly up to force 7 from a flat calm as we beat up Loch Sween in a gaff cutter. We had to get the jib topsail, which had been set flying, down in a real hurry. The sail went absolutely berserk as soon as the halyard was eased. Even with two experienced hands up foreward it was a real struggle, with great danger to finger nails (from grabbing handfuls of sail to tame it). and eyes (from the clew grommet whipping around violently).

This was in a flat sea.....

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[ccscott49]

Re: doesn\'t the sail flog around...

I intend to set two downwind sails, flying. A trick I saw somewhere, or it may be my own idea, not sure, was to have a grommet sewn into a little tag, sewn into the luff, half way up, this then had a small line tied to it, loosen the halyard whilst pulling in on this line, the sail collapses into itself, making it easy handle. leave the sheets and slaken off after the sail is down.

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[Neal]

Brail lines are certainly not new...

eg they've been used on the mainsails of Thames Barges for a while. James Wharram used them on some his rigs too.

The system you describe works well enough on a hanked jib. A Halcyon 27 I owned some years ago had just that set up.

I've never seen it on a jib set flying. I may well be wrong (certainly wouldn't be the first time), but I suspect that in a rising wind and perhaps big sea, co-ordinating the easing of the halyard with pulling in the brail line might not be terribly simple. Running off so the jib is in the lee of the main might calm things a bit.

I'm with you all the way on leaving the sheets tight when lowering a flying sail.

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