The forecast was for sun and the odd shower. Showers don't normally last all afternoon and night... But I have got my new spray-hood extension, which got a thorough trial. It took some experimentation to get it to fit, and I think I will fit a tent hoop at mid point to hold it up a bit more tautly, but it really does make the cockpit fully usable during heavy rain.
It slides into the track on the boom gallows and I will store it there. Still needs a bit of practice at stowing it so that it does not foul the main sheet. Quay Sails of Poole made it for me.
I have screwed a length of three strand rope around the dinghy as a fender, and that seems to have worked well, although the screws are not as invisible as I had hoped. The moved rowlock positions work well.
Saturday morning was blowing F4-F5 and plenty more. Hurricane Bertha wasn't supposed to arrive until Sunday! I sailed off the anchorage double reefed and all seemed fine until the mizzen gybed over. It wasn't cleated yet and it blew in front of its mast. At that moment the main followed suit and gybed across into the mizzen, which I was desperately trying to push back, but too late. Nasty rip in the mizzen where the main boom went into it. The sail is now with Concept sails waiting to be stitched up. I sailed out into Studland Bay with just main and jib, which worked fine, but it was too windy for my liking. I turned back into the harbour and had lunch anchored in the lee of Brownsea
Hi Julian, Your cockpit tent looks good, I'm sure I'll eventually get something similar (even the same maybe!). However definitely recommend you implement the gallows strengthening!
ReplyDeletePeter
Hi Peter
DeleteI will strengthen the gallows, as the tent puts a pull on it. But that will be a winter job. Before that I am planning to put a fibreglass tent hoop across the midpoint of the tent, just to tighten it up. Another winter job will be repairing the cockpit starboard bench right at the stern. It is where I stand when getting onto the stern deck and I have noticed that it has cracked. Very thin plywood there, possibly too thin. I think Matt may have beefed up the spec on later models.
Hi again Peter
DeleteI noted on your blog you said Sea tern was getting heavy on the helm when you are beating to windward. I have found that if I am going to be doing a lot of beating, that life is easier if the mizzen is simply furled out of the way. It reduces the weather helm and she actual tacks rather better. Sailing down wind I do the opposite, I furl the jib and just use the main and mizzen. sounds a bit odd, but works very well. But with an asymmetric you probably wouldn't benefit form that.
Just had an email form Concept Sails to say my mizzen is repaired and ready for collection. Really good, high speed sail repairer if you are in Poole. There is a link to hem on the left.
ReplyDeleteHi Julian, yes, I'd seen your comment somewhere on the Forum about not using the mizzen for beating in stronger winds and was thinking that might be worth doing to reduce the weather helm - I'll give it a try. For broad-reach/running I think my best combination might be mizzen and asymmetric but I haven't tried it yet. The problem would be not having the shelter of the main for dropping the asymmetric in a hurry. By the way, the strengthened gallows really makes using the transom ladder easier - the one on Seatern slopes backwards and although I can use it OK wearing a swimming costume, if I had to use it in sailing gear being able to pull on the gallows would be a big help!
ReplyDeletePeter
The extending ladder I use actually slopes forwards a bit, which makes it much easier to use than the ones bolted parallel to the transom. But you are right, the urge to grab the gallows to heave yourself aboard is irresistible
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