premature evacuation? rigging?

[Liane]

OK, I'm having an issue with the jib (in the driveway).

The jib sheets rub against the tabernackle (the mast bracket thing) when I pretend to come about.  This does not seem good -- it's a tight rub, like would destroy line.

Also:  Pat, Paul or whomever uses a similar set up --

Is the topping lift line you use really just 1/8" rope?  You mentioned knotting it, so I'm assuming it can't be metal cable.  And it has to be 1/8" to fit in the tiny holes under the pulleys at the top of the mast.  It just seems so tiny and whimpy.

Finally, the jib sheets go to the cam cleats on the cabin deck near the hatch, right?  Not all the way back to the aft end of the cockpit (the stern?) -- I'm assuming that's for the giant jib I have (the genoa?).

Any quick response would be giantly appreciated -- sailing on Friday come hell or high water...  I think... I hope...  The Maiden Voyage.

THANKS!

Liane

[Pat McL]

Hi Liane,

Don't worry about the jib sheet rubbing against the mast when under weigh. The sheet used will be on the leeward side and as such will be well clear of the mast. The windward jibsheet will be slack. Only issue may be that the clew in passing the mast as you come about, will try to hang up on the halyard cleats attached to both sides of the mast. Cure for that is to tie off the coiled halyards to the cleats. Problem solved.

Topping lift is only used to support the boom when sail is lowered or not bent. Therefore doesn't have to be really heavy duty. Be sure when the sails are bent to spars, that the boom is supported by the sail, and the topping lift is slack.

Jib sheets go to the cabin cams. Do make sure that the windward side is slack, and not locked in. You may find that it helps when coming about to hold the sheet tight as you pass through the eye of the wind, and then haul in the lee jib sheet as you loosen the windward sheet.

This boat will want to sail itself. It will really talk to you, and show you how to sail her. Short of punching holes in the hull, I don't think you will get into trouble with her. One warning, though. It is a given that on your first launch the uh-oh crowd will be there to advise you and tell you how it should be done etc. This is how they are entertained. If you remember to hold onto your rig, and don't launch your car, &3@*&!!! them all ! Have fun!!!

I used to put two 4"x4" blocks of wood, one under and behind each wheel, blocking the car when launching. Drilled a hole in each one, and tied with a short line to the back of the car. When driving up the ramp, they dragged behind the car with the line. Tossed them in the trunk, although you could drag them down the road or something.  Gotta go, as my bluegrass band is arriving for rehearsal and they really need my banjo in the group--- Later, Dude--- Pat

[Paul]

Good idea to practice a dry run.  Especially if the wind is dead while you're practicing on the trailer:)

About those jib sheets.  running the jib sheets out and around the standing rigging ( the wires that help the mast stand upright).  As long as the lines are attached at the clew (back of the jib) and go directly around the outside of each stay, and through the jib sheet block, then you should be fine as Pat said.

Figure eight knot in the end of each jib sheet and the main sheet will prevent them from running out of the blocks.

Have a great time out there!

[dusty]

good luck liane!!!

usually when one comes about in a tack, the wind will carry the jib over. let the wind do this. it will usually carry the sheeting over the tabernacle. i have this same issue of the jib sheet getting hung there when i sail. sometimes i have to get my four year old to clear the sheet from the tabernacle, because occasionally it would hang there, as you're describing. i've seen this happen on a couple of other sailboats, and it's up to a crewmember to get up there and fix it. in a pinch, i've been able to leave the helm long enough to stretch up there real quick and clear it myself.

in my mind's eye i just envisioned i nice small, and empty, bottle of clorox. take a razor blade and cut the plastic into a shape that would fit over the fore-side of the tabernacle. the sheeting should slide right over this. surely there's got to be a way not to make this look like sanford & son's boat, thoughand have that jib sheet clear. hehe.

i've heard you say elsewhere that you used to sail a sunfish or something so i'm not worried about you, but if you want a bit of a refresher, david luckenbach (my sailing instructor) has a website with some vids on it. not a full gammut of training material, but some helpful pointers get reviewed: http://www.sailingtexas.com/Movies/sailingvideosindex.html

can't wait! wish we could all be there with a bottle of champagne. have fun!

[Paul]

Liane:

Question:  Is the sheet hanging up on the tabernacle or on the electrical plug cover just forward of the tabernacle?

Mine hangs on the electrical plug cover on occasion.  As all have suggested, if you tack just so (backwind the jib a bit) the wind will carry the jib over without a hitch.

I'm unfamiliar with sailing in your region.  So, I don't know how hard it typically blows there.  That said, it would be a good idea if you were familiar with the reefing method of the mainsail, just in case.  I find the 16 like 10-15 knots with main full and working jib, not Genoa.  Save the Genoa for below 10 knots.  Above 15 knots, or so, I reef the main, so she stands upright and moves smartly.

I will say, the last time I was in Seattle, we took a fairy boat ride across to the Olympic Peninsula.  That particular day would have a been a test of courage for me in our 16 if we were sailing, maybe in the 20-25 knot range.  Forehandedness is a term John Roussemainere uses regularly in his writings for a reason.

No matter what the conditions, though, I am sure this will be a grand adventure.  Best wishes.

Paul

[Liane]

HEY GUYS!

Thanks a **TON** for your explanations and ideas.   I think with this info I am ready to just go for it.

Dusty -- my boat already looks a little Sanford and Son, so the plastic bottle gaurd for the tabernacle fits right into my decor.  Someday my boat will look a little more like Kevin's or mgoller's, at least at night when I think about my ideal world.  For now, I am **SICK** of working on her and just dying to get in the water!

I will also try running the jib sheets outside the standing rigging (thanks Paul!), and see how that helps. 

Never thought about the possibility of launching my car down the ramp...kind of glad you mentioned that...

And the nay-sayers at the dock?  I'm a girl that has always liked to do "guy" stuff, so I'm used to people (guys) trying to tell me what to do.  I just try to extract the useful information and ignore the rest.  Sarcastic humor and a smile usually pulls me through, but I also have tools to throw if need be.

SO, as Paul mentioned, the Puget Sound, especially up by the Olympic Penninsula, is a little tricky.  Windy, and one of the strongest/largest tides in the world (no kidding).  So,  I'll be starting in a pretty sheltered bay, when the tide is coming IN, so if all else fails I'll drift to shore (provided I'm still afloat!).

And, I decided not to bring my almost 4 year old son with me on the first few voyages, until I figure out a little better what I'm doing.  He'll be a little bummed, but he'll be hangin' with his Nana (grandma). 

To be honest, I'm both wicked excited and totally nervous.  I've done a lot of scuba diving in the Sound and got cocky and was in a near-death scuba accident because I disregarded the bottom topography and thought my dive buddy checked the tide charts -- so I learned good lessons, and I have a profound respect (and underlying fear) of the Sound (and more so of the open ocean).  All the more reason to get out there! 

I really appreciate all of your advice.  I found a book at the library with a glossary of sailing terms, to help me decipher some of the comments -- I really appreciate all the time you spend responding, and explaining stuff and terms.  It totally helps, and keeps me motivated! 

Are any of you in the NW?

I will try and get some pics.  It's a different kind of beautiful here.  More like Northern Minnesota, with mountains and salt water.  But don't tell anyone. 

Thanks!

Liane (pirate name pending -- any suggestions?)

[K3v1n]

Good luck and have fun!

-Kevin

[sawyer]

Liane
Love to research stuff (Important Stuff)

Try these:

http://www.deadmentellnotales.com/onlinetexts/womenlist.shtml


http://members.tripod.com/cathreese/DefiantWomen/pirates/

I'll be reading a bit of this interesting stuff myself now. (While you are out sailing.)

Doug

[dusty]

well, now you've done it, doug!

she probably read these before the berth and took off for the wild blue yonder, to harrass the merchant ships and pleasure cruisers, stealing their valuables, capturing their, uh, men, for her own new found pirate pleasures.

we'll never see her again.

unless....... maybe we could all band together as a rag-tag fleet of fugitive com-pac ships and go meet her somewhere in the thousand islands of the phillipines, there to be led by piratesse liane, and do her plunderous bidding.

someone go buy her a parrot to take with us...

[Liane]

Hey guys!

I had no idea there were actual lady pirates!

Right on!

I don't plan to do any actual pillaging or plundering, but exploring is definately in my future.

THanks for the leads!

Liane

[dusty]

but pat, paul, k3v1n, sawyer, & me were going to sail to the phillipines to join your armada! and we.... we were going to bring you a parot!....

<sniff, sniff>....

it's just not fair.

sometimes i think the devil created the transistor - just to waste our lives and mess with our heads. i just want to escape.

it's not to late. really. it isn't. i mean, the phillipines are just where we hook up, we can still hit the bermuda triangle. and that's still just the beginning.

[Liane]

you never know what the future holds