- Adding a long bungy cord attached at the vangs position on the boom through a pulley at the bow and back to the vangs position on the boom again. This arrangement helps hold the boom out hard on the side rigging when running or broad leading before the wind. This arrangement is especially helpful in light weather.
- I have altered the mast step slightly at the base allowing a lot more rake in the mast. Raking the mast helps boat performance to windward. This is especially so in heavy weather when combining mast rake with a flat sail produced from mast bend induced by the boom vang.
- Tightening the rigging screws so that I am not sailing as I have been doing with a lot of slack in the leeward rigging. I will be able to adjust mast rake from the raked position to a vertical position using the fore stay adjustment now without the whole rig rattling around as it has been doing.
This Sunday I will be sailing in the Onerahi Yacht Clubs 6 hour endurance race - plenty of time to see if the repairs and adjustment I have completed will make a difference.
12 comments:
..the very best of luck.. that is a nice tidy repair! Did you fabricate it??
PS. 6 hours in a small boat is hard work on the rear end... take a cushion.. :o))
Good luck on Sunday. Does the endurance race consist of many laps around a closed course?
Thanks Steve, the mast plate reinforcement was done professionally. I was going to do it myself but glad I didn't 'Alloy Stainless and Marine' did a much better job than I would have made. - I won't have a cushion but I will be wearing some new, warmer sailing gear.
Thanks Dan. The race course is advised on the day - usually a trapezoid shaped course around the harbour close to the yacht club. Each lap completed is counted. Last time I sailed the rescue RIB delivered all contestants a large hamburger around lunch time - I will supplement that this year by taking a thermos of tea - 10 knots of breeze is forecast and I am looking forward to trying out all my rigging tweaks.
A great repair on the mast Alden, but not wishing to sound negative is it going to fit in with Zephyr Class Rules? The officious person could argue you have altered the characteristics of the original spar!...just thinking out loud really!!
Good question Paul and I shall have to read the rules (I have a copy) and get back to you on that one, although from memory it is legal to use a number of masts; these being:
- the original wooden masts that were used from 1960 onwards.
- the older stiffer 'Baverstock' spar which was used when aluminum masts were first introduced.
- my own mast which is also a stiffer section being a 'Bay of Islands Spars and Rigging' supplied mast.
- the new masts sold by the Zephyr Association (which is a more bendy, flexible mast).
So there seems to be a range of mast sections still in use. I would argue that the new piece on the mast is simply a legitimate repair and that if anything it is a disadvantage - more weight and provides a hard spot in the mast which may lead to mast failure (or the popping of the rivets on the new plate due to mast bend in this area).
Paul, I had a look at the rules.
Rule 3.1.2 states: "Aluminium masts shall be supplied by a manufacturer to a specification approved by the ZOA Committee."
The question here would be: Is this repair a major alteration to the manufacturers specification? Am I gaining an advantage here?
Rule 3.1.6 states: "The vertical axis for the gooseneck shall be no more than 35mm from the aft face of the mast."
The thickness of the repair plate is about 3mm which would alter this measurement - but that would depend on the definition of the words "aft face of the mast". Does the measurement begin from the mast proper or does the face of the repair plate now become the "aft face of the mast".
Three points:
- What advantage would be gained by having the vertical axis altered by 3mm?
- If my placing at next years Nationals rises from 60th to 1st place (fat chance) I have no doubt this repair would become a bone of contention, a perceived advantage and probably protested against.
What you point out of course is important because rules are rules, AND, a couple of years ago the winner of the Zephyr Nationals had his title stripped from him because although being a member of the ZOA he wasn't a current member of an approved Yacht Club as per the requirements of the NOA (Notice of Race). Personally I thought this was pretty tough - as membership had nothing to do with his sailing skills or his hard won race wins - BUT - rules are rules, and you have to play by them.
....... and, Paul, ..... (as they used to say (I think) on The Monty Python Show) "now for something completely different" - I think that perhaps, it's time, you, (being a former Zephyr Sailor) purchased a Zephyr (there are plenty for sale on NZTradeMe) and started racing again? As I say to most people who comment on Zephyr sailing; "Purchasing and sailing a Zephyr raises your IQ by 50 points and makes you immensely attractive to women, even if that woman is your wife and she's glad to have you out doing something that keeps you busy and out of her hair for the day".
I will expect updated search reports - no pressure.
Alden, like a first love I'll never forget my Zephyr days, but with the physique more suited to Finn's I don't think that will happen unfortunately.
Anyway I've lost the competitive urge and gain more enjoyment pottering these days, although having laid my soul bare I'll still faff and fiddle with strings to gain that extra micro knot to windward......:)
Fingers crossed for goose neck repair Nr 2. The shock cord "JC strop" is a popular fitment to Classic Moths as well. Even more effective with a free-standing rig. One can sail deep by the lee with elimination of the leeward shroud and with the shock cord giving the boom support against a wild gybe.
Fair enough Paul. With a Finn physique you would probably be quite frustrated with the Zephyr especially in lighter weather.
You are right, we never lose fiddling with the strings trying to get that extra bit of speed.
I love racing the Zephyr, but like you I also love very much just pottering around. I take the Zephyr racing reasonably seriously but I don't have any illusions regarding my abilities and when it all becomes too much for me physically I think it will be easy enough to give it away.
George, I used JC strop for the first time today and found it very useful.
I watched a Laser sailing deep by the lee today and was quite amazed at how far forward to windward the boom was! amazing - and it was hard to tell whether at the extreme limits that he was doing it whether it was slowing him down.
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