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Topic: Main sheeting |
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Colin Snook |
Posted: 09-Sep-04 10:09 |
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Hi all,
I was browsing back over old topics and noticed Mike Lyons discussion on stern mainsheeting. At first i wasn't that bothered as main sheet has never seemed a problem to me but then i realised why. It is so 'heavy' I don't have the strength to keep uncleating it and adjusting it upwind so I just cleat it right in and leave it there feathering into the wind. It has to be a real 'emergency gust' to get me to uncleat that thing. Reading another post it suggested 'point like hell' is the best strategy so maybe i am doing the right thing and it seems to work ok at club level anyway, but now i wouldn't mind trying something different. So i guess the point of this post is to ask what is the current view on stern mainsheeting (legality, effectiveness and rigging).
cheers
Colin |
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Mike Perry |
Posted: 09-Sep-04 12:31 |
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Colin, speaking in relation to ISO Class rules stern sheeting of the mainsheet is not permitted.
It sounds like you're enjoying you're ISO but need to refine upwind technique; try to get on one of the training weekends - very instructive, great fun and get to meet other ISO sailors.
Can't recommend cleating the mainsheet; it reduces your control over the boat and inevitably leads to involuntary swimming sessions. |
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Colin Snook |
Posted: 10-Sep-04 00:29 |
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Thanks for the reply Mike. Interesting to hear that you (and I presume others generally?) don't cleat it. Have been out for a cruise tonight and even in fairly light wind find this hard to get used to. Maybe it is just what I'm used to now. Might think about doing a training sess some time. Did some in the early days and they are good fun and very useful. I expect I have loads of bad habits now but I don't capsize going upwind.
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Spice312AndyPhelps |
Posted: 10-Sep-04 11:41 |
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Colin, I have always found my Spice mainsheet to be very heavy - on the recent training weekend Pete Lindley spotted that the mainsheet ratchet block wasn't working - this makes a huge difference. I have now put on a switchable ratchet block rather than an automatic one and have reduce the mainsheet from 5:1 to 3:1. May be worth checking. Andy |
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Pete Lindley |
Posted: 10-Sep-04 13:43 |
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Are your strops too short Colin?
If so you will find trying to get the mainsheet block to block will mean you are pulling the boom down instead of in. The kicker does the up and down and the mainsheet does the in and out - unless in light winds then the mainshett does 2" of down and the kicker stops the boom going up!
Sounding like a training course in your area then Colin.
Anybody else up for some South Coast training?
Or Colin, you could get your boat over to Emsworth Slipper and get Mike Lillywhite / Andy Gould to check it out for you!
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paolomoncia |
Posted: 10-Sep-04 13:49 |
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Another cause for the mainsheet to be very heavy may be short strops. When you pull the main in, you are actually doing also the kicker's job pulling it lower, that adds extra load to the mainsheet. I guess you can easily find out going to one of the training sessions, or joining the fleet and racing (which I can't do from Italy).
I guess Pete will agree on this last point!
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Pete Lindley |
Posted: 10-Sep-04 15:52 |
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You must have been typing slowly Paolo! (We'll let you off as you are typing in English!)
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Adam Wallace |
Posted: 10-Sep-04 18:26 |
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What are good lengths for the strops?
Previously they had just been tied off at what I presume is an intermediate point and the rope has frayed at the deck attachement so I'm going to replace the rope and set up the adjustable mod at the same time.
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SpellerMike |
Posted: 10-Sep-04 19:47 |
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I'm amazed you crew allows you to cleat the main... Lower the cleat, there's plenty of adjustment... you'll struggle to cleat it then and have to play it.. Right Pete?? |
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Colin Snook |
Posted: 11-Sep-04 12:04 |
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Yeah i wondered about the strops when I wrote it but I checked them the other night and they seemed ok to me (for those conditions). I must sort out some adjustment mechanism though as I only really bother to adjust them when they are way out e.g. if I rake the mast back to depower. Has anyone come up with a way to adjust both sides with one rope/cleat?
I really think I just have got into the habit of doing it this way and now I keep the boat flat more successfully by concentrating on steering alone. But I will try your suggestion, Mike, of lowering the cleat for a while and see how I get on.
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Pete Lindley |
Posted: 11-Sep-04 18:02 |
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Lower the cleat on the jameer - correct Mr Speller (Ex ISO National Champ helm a couple of time over for those who didn't know). Mine is set so that when the mainsheet is pulle at the lowest possible angle (over the gunwhale / wing) it just cleats. The other variables are strops, kicker and technique (as well as the cleat height). If I am hiking it doesn't pull into the cleat, then a helpful foot will pop it into the cleat as necessary.
See you on a training weekend, I'll sort the probs out for you - let me know where you would like the venue to be (Calshot??)
As for the strops, pop to an ISO race meeting and see the variety people use.
[Edited by Pete Lindley on 11-Sep-04 18:03] |
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paolomoncia |
Posted: 13-Sep-04 09:07 |
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I have tried a system for adjusting both sides with a single cleat. Basically, the strops (all rope, no metal) pass in the lower part of the main block and then are joined. You adjust both by pulling on this part. To keep a single cleat in the middle, I tied two short ropes on the bottom (where the main strops are tied), they join just in the middle below the main block, so I can pull the strops down to this central point. Not too bad, only make sure all the ropes don't get in the way when you grab the gennaker halyard! |
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Colin Snook |
Posted: 15-Sep-04 22:01 |
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Re adjusting cleat height - how is yours set (my arm is set to the centre hole and I have a small wedge)
re: Training week - How about somewhere in Langstone or Chichester Harbour , poss. even at LSC... I could see if the other 4 LSC ISO's are interested. (I say try because I never see them sail these days)
paolo - thanks for the description of your system. I may give it a try - or some variation of it. I like the idea of getting rid of the wire bits anyway (cleaner). |
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Pete Lindley |
Posted: 16-Sep-04 15:14 |
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Check out the new class rule Colin - you are allowed to get rid of the wire bits.
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