We just completed a wonderful passage from Fort Myers, FL to Apalachicola, FL with 15 to 20 knots of South East Wind. This was the first time we had such glorious of a weather with us. We loved it.
It also showed that we still have a lot to learn about sailing ID ("Impossible Dream"). We carried full Genoa(130%), reefed the main when weather was above 20 and full mizzen. I realized later in the trip that we probably carried too much sail for the conditions but the thrill of clocking 7 to 8 knots felt good. When I walk up in the middle of the second night and felt the all hull shacking, we decided to roll the Genoa and continued with Main on first reef and Mizzen. Speed dropped to 5 to 6 knot but the boat was easier to handle and "Manual" our ST4000+ wheel pilot had no problem handling the boat. Before that, controlling the boat in running condition was difficult leading to unwanted and violent jibe. Being afraid of broaching the boat, we did not want to install preventer. Here are some of our observations and I would appreciate your genuine comments.
1) Boomvang: This has been an idea for a long time but this trip did reinforce the impression that this might be required. It was apparent that the boom was lifting too much and created a twist in the main. When on a broad reach, the net effect was to blanket the Genoa and it was difficult to keep it full. With the sea it was very difficult to keep a wing on wing. We had less than 20 Deg of margin and there was always a wave to push us one way or the other. Trimming the main produced no real effect has the top end would alway twist open. It seems that a boomvang would have helped keep the twist under control. What do you think? How are you handling such situation?
2) Main Topping lift: What do you do deal with this piece of...? The topping lift would constantly get tangled with the back stay. This is already an issue when I have to set sail. After a long time at the dock, the topping lift is all wrapped around the back stay. During broad reach or Running , the problem was aggravated by the lack of boomvang and the upward movement of the boom during the jibe. We tried to move the connection point back to the mast but then the control line running along the boom kept getting tangled on every piece of hardware on the boom or the deck. And sure enough, when it came time to take a reef, in the middle of the night, the boom fell on the deck because I forgot to reset the topping lift. What is your experience? Do you have a method to control the topping lift?
3) Boom to Mast spindle cotter pin: Soon after we set sail and while still in protected bay, I noticed that the spindle connecting the boom to the mast had walked it's way out partially. The previous sail, 3 weeks earlier from Charleston SC to Saint Augustine FL had been a beating run motor sailing through with main in 10 to 15 knots of wind. One of the cotter pin was sheared. The other was in good shape. I replaced the failed one. Three days later, after too many jibe, I noticed the previously good cotter pin sheared and the pin walking off again. There is no washer between the pin and the boom casting and the casting shows heavy wear around the area of the pin. Have you experienced similar failure and how to you reduce wear and cotter pin failure?
It also showed that we still have a lot to learn about sailing ID ("Impossible Dream"). We carried full Genoa(130%), reefed the main when weather was above 20 and full mizzen. I realized later in the trip that we probably carried too much sail for the conditions but the thrill of clocking 7 to 8 knots felt good. When I walk up in the middle of the second night and felt the all hull shacking, we decided to roll the Genoa and continued with Main on first reef and Mizzen. Speed dropped to 5 to 6 knot but the boat was easier to handle and "Manual" our ST4000+ wheel pilot had no problem handling the boat. Before that, controlling the boat in running condition was difficult leading to unwanted and violent jibe. Being afraid of broaching the boat, we did not want to install preventer. Here are some of our observations and I would appreciate your genuine comments.
1) Boomvang: This has been an idea for a long time but this trip did reinforce the impression that this might be required. It was apparent that the boom was lifting too much and created a twist in the main. When on a broad reach, the net effect was to blanket the Genoa and it was difficult to keep it full. With the sea it was very difficult to keep a wing on wing. We had less than 20 Deg of margin and there was always a wave to push us one way or the other. Trimming the main produced no real effect has the top end would alway twist open. It seems that a boomvang would have helped keep the twist under control. What do you think? How are you handling such situation?
2) Main Topping lift: What do you do deal with this piece of...? The topping lift would constantly get tangled with the back stay. This is already an issue when I have to set sail. After a long time at the dock, the topping lift is all wrapped around the back stay. During broad reach or Running , the problem was aggravated by the lack of boomvang and the upward movement of the boom during the jibe. We tried to move the connection point back to the mast but then the control line running along the boom kept getting tangled on every piece of hardware on the boom or the deck. And sure enough, when it came time to take a reef, in the middle of the night, the boom fell on the deck because I forgot to reset the topping lift. What is your experience? Do you have a method to control the topping lift?
3) Boom to Mast spindle cotter pin: Soon after we set sail and while still in protected bay, I noticed that the spindle connecting the boom to the mast had walked it's way out partially. The previous sail, 3 weeks earlier from Charleston SC to Saint Augustine FL had been a beating run motor sailing through with main in 10 to 15 knots of wind. One of the cotter pin was sheared. The other was in good shape. I replaced the failed one. Three days later, after too many jibe, I noticed the previously good cotter pin sheared and the pin walking off again. There is no washer between the pin and the boom casting and the casting shows heavy wear around the area of the pin. Have you experienced similar failure and how to you reduce wear and cotter pin failure?