What did/didn't Work this season

[JumbleDuck]

I'm not sure what problem the milipede is trying to solve that isn't just as easily solved with standard sail ties.

Having ties of the right length in the right place makes it very quick and easy. The end result is the same, but don't knock a millipede till you've tried one.

 

[Kukri]

Having ties of the right length in the right place makes it very quick and easy. The end result is the same, but don't knock a millipede till you've tried one.

+1. I would never have made one up but having inherited one I had to use it and I would not now be without it.

 

[Stemar]

Pleased that things are turning round for you.

Was the boom tent a bespoke affair or a DIY job ? I don't think my funds will allow something expensive at the moment. Thought about buying a nice rectangle of Sumbrella fabric that would match the sail cover. Rigged below the boom to stop the weather and drips when banged up aboard due to the wonderful UK wind and rain.

Millipedes and simple bungee/ball sail ties were banend from my boat after I had witnessed someone being hit in the eye by one. The doctor told him he was within 1mm of losing his eye. Fortunately it was only an internal bleeding with no permanent effect.

Having ties of the right length in the right place makes it very quick and easy. The end result is the same, but don't knock a millipede till you've tried one.

+1

It's way quicker to use and there's nothing to drop/blow overboard, especially if it's a bit bumpy.

As with everything else, each to his or her own. I think the most lethal alternative I've seen is elastic sail ties with hard plastic balls on the end.

 

[flaming]

Having ties of the right length in the right place makes it very quick and easy. The end result is the same, but don't knock a millipede till you've tried one.

I have sailed on a few boats that had them. Wasn't a massive deal, but I wasn't sold on the advantages over the simple sail tie.

For cruising I wouldn't look past a stackpack though.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Stackpacks are great. But you need to get them right. By far and away the best way to do this is to put bungee in the system so that the lines never have excessive slack, and then run the upper end as far out along the spreaders as you can. In that way hoisting without catching the lines becomes child's play.

For me this season what worked was our heavy air speed and boat handling.
What didn't work as well was our light air speed.

So it was nice that our biggest event this year, Cowes, was windy!

I have seen a few yachts with the lazy jack anchor points being far along the spreaders.

My concern is the stress on the spreaders. I suppose though, if you get the tensions right,
with the sail both up and down, it would only be momentarily .

Any thoughts ?

 

[Poignard]

I have seen a few yachts with the lazy jack anchor points being far along the spreaders.

My concern is the stress on the spreaders. I suppose though, if you get the tensions right,
with the sail both up and down, it would only be momentarily .

Any thoughts ?

I considered having them suspended from the spreaders but I worried that if I ever forgot to take the weight of the boom on the topping-lift when lowering the main I would be hanging the boom and main from the spreaders.

However, that was probably a needless worry as I have since stood on my spreaders and I weigh a lot more than my boom and main.

 

[matt1]

How do you get on berthing?
I nearly changed my 311 for a 38ft Hanse this year but I looked up at that mainsail & chickened out.If things go wrong I was worried about handling it.
Then I wondered how I might get on in all the different berths I go in. I also go through about 20 different locks every year. All single handed.
Do you find the extra size difficult in those situations.

The sail handling is much easier because all the lines are led right to where the helms are. On the 31 they were on the coachroof meaning I had to juggle the tiller whilst reaching fwd to winch or raise sails. Plus I have electric winches which make it ridiculously easy. Add in the wheel pilot and at a touch of a button (again, close to the helm) I can easily trim. In fact tbh I don't really even use the winches electrically because being able to instantly engage the pilot is like having a 2nd person on board. Because she is so well mannered and stands up to her canvas well I never have to rush to put in a reef, so have plenty of time. I'm also a convert to the German mainsheet system on the coachroof and gybing the big main is again easier and safer.

In terms on coming in and out of berths, it's not the size as much as the windage that is the big difference. Modern boats having that much more freeboard but with a bowthruster you arguably have more tools at your disposal.

 

[dom]

I have seen a few yachts with the lazy jack anchor points being far along the spreaders.

My concern is the stress on the spreaders. I suppose though, if you get the tensions right,
with the sail both up and down, it would only be momentarily .

Any thoughts ?

The answer to this is, it depends on the rig and other equipment. Always best to ask the manufacturer or competent rigger.

And remember that the stresses can accidentally be far higher than from the sail alone, especially on boats without a boom strut where the lazyjacks can in effect take all the strain of the topping lift (i.e. weight of boom + sail + any side to side inertia)

Edit: not a worry if spreaders are unsuitable -- just use bungy cord to widen the slot attached to spreader tips to widen the slot. That's what I do and hardly any strain at all.

 

[rszemeti]

Stackpacks are great. But you need to get them right. By far and away the best way to do this is to put bungee in the system so that the lines never have excessive slack, and then run the upper end as far out along the spreaders as you can. In that way hoisting without catching the lines becomes child's play.

We plan to put some sort of bungee in ours, the current situation involves a lot of messing around loosening and tensioning the lines and is a royal pain in the butt.

I'd not considered putting the upper end on the spreaders .. ours lead back to the mast ... out on the spreaders may help! Thankyou!

 

[steve yates]

Just thought it might be helpful to list our experiences during the 2019
sailing season of what worked and what didn't . Particularly new stuff added or replaced, plus new areas cruised . Apologies to overseas peeps who are
currently sailing.


The biggest plus for me was a stack pack. I'd seen them on other boats
but thought losing a bit of sail area, and possibly a flapping cover, would be an issue. I would now put it just behind furling headsails as the best upgrade in sail handling for me.

I used that imitation Chinese decking in the cockpit and the saloon. Dead easy to fit and visually a big improvement. An unexpected bonus is you can
more or less do without cushions in the cockpit and lovely to kneel on down below.

No new areas cruised but the wind on the East Coast was generally fine
but a little too much if I was picky .

Whats the chinese flooring stuff out of interest?

 

[flaming]

I have seen a few yachts with the lazy jack anchor points being far along the spreaders.

My concern is the stress on the spreaders. I suppose though, if you get the tensions right,
with the sail both up and down, it would only be momentarily .

Any thoughts ?

We had it coupled with a boom strut, so the lazy jacks were never holding more than the weight of the bag and sail (when dropped). Think they went about half way out along the spreaders.

 

[flaming]

I considered having them suspended from the spreaders but I worried that if I ever forgot to take the weight of the boom on the topping-lift when lowering the main I would be hanging the boom and main from the spreaders.

However, that was probably a needless worry as I have since stood on my spreaders and I weigh a lot more than my boom and main.

A solid kicker or boom strut is the Rolls Royce solution to that issue.

 

[Trop Cher]

I used that imitation Chinese decking in the cockpit and the saloon. Dead easy to fit and visually a big improvement. An unexpected bonus is you can
more or less do without cushions in the cockpit and lovely to kneel on down below.

.

I would be interested in some more information about this, perhaps you have a link. I will need to replace the teak in my cockpit soon and this sounds ideal.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

I would be interested in some more information about this, perhaps you have a link. I will need to replace the teak in my cockpit soon and this sounds ideal.

Put "eva foam decking" into ebay:encouragement:

 

[LittleSister]

The performance of the EVA foam doesn't match that of some of the premium products (e.g. see this comparison https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cogtLBMTiLc ), but its presumably much cheaper and will suit some us.

 

[wombat88]

One thing that didn't always work was the lock at Chichester Marina...

 

[Trop Cher]

Put "eva foam decking" into ebay:encouragement:

Thanks

 

[Trop Cher]

The performance of the EVA foam doesn't match that of some of the premium products (e.g. see this comparison https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cogtLBMTiLc ), but its presumably much cheaper and will suit some us.

Thanks

 

[davidpbo]

Trailing the boat up to the Clyde in May straight from home for 31/2 weeks before returning it to Windermere. Little rain, no midges, good winds few other people out sailing, no problem getting berths or buoys.

 

[roaringgirl]

Learn to tie knots instead?