[bolger] Re: MJ turtling
Hi Gary - The adjustable parrell is a line that runs up to the spar - and has
an adjustable loop at the end - ( the line run back thru another loop) so
that when you snug the line down you draw the spar in close to the mast - at
any height. It's a nifty system tho it adds one more line. I saw it in
woodenboat a couple years ago. When you are using the full sail - you tie it
off and ignore it until such time as you reef. It's great for reefing because
unlike some systems it does hold the spar in close, and did. Steve
an adjustable loop at the end - ( the line run back thru another loop) so
that when you snug the line down you draw the spar in close to the mast - at
any height. It's a nifty system tho it adds one more line. I saw it in
woodenboat a couple years ago. When you are using the full sail - you tie it
off and ignore it until such time as you reef. It's great for reefing because
unlike some systems it does hold the spar in close, and did. Steve
I tried posting this earlier, but apparently messed up. So here goes
again...
And I've read most but not all of the MJ knockdown postings, so
apologies if I missed something.
Some random thoughts about Steve's experience:
-- Steven mentioned he has an "ajustable" parrel; I'm not sure what the
adjustable part is. My question is how closely was the yard held to the
mast? If the yard can kite away from the mast, even a little bit, the
heeling force is dramatically increased. If the parrel broke, even a
moderate wind could knock down a boat. These seems like an unlikely
cause, but worth mentioning.
-- The ballast sand would seem to have been stored in the water ballast
tanks. Is there a chance it could has shifted slightly to leeward in
the tanks during the knockdown, perhaps slightly decreasing the
righting moment?
-- As someone else who sails on Florida lakes, I can testify winds are
fluky, prone to suddent gusts and changes in direction, especially this
time of year. (I recall a friend sailing on an inland waterway on a
gusty day and describing doing a 360 turn, with the sails luffing the
entire time because the wind was so shifty...) Any boat can be knocked
down. Steve showed admirable foresight have having lifejackets already
on and being ready for the unexpected.
-- I've had two thoughts about the turning turtle -- feel free to
denigrate at will. One is that with the main luffing and the shallow,
nine foot water, that the end of the boom stuck in the bottom. The
second is with a lot of the sail and spars in the water, they could
have caused the turtling. It seems unlikely that the wind blowing on
the bottom would cause the boat to invert. But it would cause the boat
to move sideways. The sails/spars would act like a sea anchor and lever
the boat over. This would not be unique to an MJ, but a problem with
any design; I think it's what happened to a Hobie I was riding on that
flipped and then turtled (Yes, a Hobie isn't ballaster, but the same
principle applies). Most boats that get knocked down seem to have their
sails strapped in, and less likely to get in the water.
again...
And I've read most but not all of the MJ knockdown postings, so
apologies if I missed something.
Some random thoughts about Steve's experience:
-- Steven mentioned he has an "ajustable" parrel; I'm not sure what the
adjustable part is. My question is how closely was the yard held to the
mast? If the yard can kite away from the mast, even a little bit, the
heeling force is dramatically increased. If the parrel broke, even a
moderate wind could knock down a boat. These seems like an unlikely
cause, but worth mentioning.
-- The ballast sand would seem to have been stored in the water ballast
tanks. Is there a chance it could has shifted slightly to leeward in
the tanks during the knockdown, perhaps slightly decreasing the
righting moment?
-- As someone else who sails on Florida lakes, I can testify winds are
fluky, prone to suddent gusts and changes in direction, especially this
time of year. (I recall a friend sailing on an inland waterway on a
gusty day and describing doing a 360 turn, with the sails luffing the
entire time because the wind was so shifty...) Any boat can be knocked
down. Steve showed admirable foresight have having lifejackets already
on and being ready for the unexpected.
-- I've had two thoughts about the turning turtle -- feel free to
denigrate at will. One is that with the main luffing and the shallow,
nine foot water, that the end of the boom stuck in the bottom. The
second is with a lot of the sail and spars in the water, they could
have caused the turtling. It seems unlikely that the wind blowing on
the bottom would cause the boat to invert. But it would cause the boat
to move sideways. The sails/spars would act like a sea anchor and lever
the boat over. This would not be unique to an MJ, but a problem with
any design; I think it's what happened to a Hobie I was riding on that
flipped and then turtled (Yes, a Hobie isn't ballaster, but the same
principle applies). Most boats that get knocked down seem to have their
sails strapped in, and less likely to get in the water.