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Around the World of Sailing
14 March 2001
This weeks Main Stories
Theme Article: Rig Inspection
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/0314/0314_ms.htm
This month's theme series topic is commissioning. This week
we look at inspecting your boats rig before you begin sailing season
2001.
The modern sailboat rig is typically pretty reliable. For
this reason often times it is stepped in the spring, used throughout
the season and then put to bed at season's end with little thought.
However, when a problem with a rig occurs it could result in
dismasting so a little inspection and maintenance can save an
eventually huge problem.
The starting point is to familiarize yourself with the rig its
characteristics and materials. Know how it's tuned, what materials are
used and how they last, how the climate affects the materials. What
types of terminals and shackles are used. If you see a piece that is
unfamiliar to you, it will be hard to maintain. Take time to learn
its features and purposes.
Once you know what you have, you can tackle a short
maintenance and inspection program. First, remember the cleaner the
better. Even though my home waters are in fresh water a good washing
down of blocks, bearings and swivels is a good spring policy. This
should be done much more frequently in salt water.
Along with cleanliness lubrication is also a good item. In
general aim to use a dry coat lubricant like Mclube Sailkote. Shoot
some of this on your mainsail traveler track and genoa track. If you
have halyards with shackles open them up and lubricate them so they
will open easily and close securely. Serious racers often coat
literally their entire boat with this substance, so be creative in
using it!
You should at least inspect your rig at deck level. Are all
cotter pins present? Do your winches turn freely? Are cleats securely
fastened to the deck? Do cam cleats work freely? If you have rope
stoppers, do they hold?
If you chose to go aloft look at where the spreaders and cap
shrouds meet? Is the junction secure? Is it properly covered to .
prevent wear? Do you wire shrouds have broken strands? Look at where
the forestay and backstay connect? Is anything amiss at these crucial
points?
Once you've inspected the rig make sure it is tuned properly.
You want to avoid extremes in tuning. Rigging that is too loose will
take on severe shock loads and fatigue. Over tightened rigging will
have to work closer to its limit and will fail sooner.
This article is not meant to scare you into thinking your mast
is immediate danger of falling over. However, every summer we see
several boats that are dismasted. A good spring program of cleaning,
inspection lubrication and tuning should cut down on problems and give
you piece of mind when you sail.
Racing News: The Race
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/0314/0314_ms.htm
Team Adventure has become the latest Race Class catamaran to cross
the equator. Team Adventure did so in style clocking 600 miles in
24 hours while transiting hemispheres.
They have less than 3000 miles to sail to the finish in Marseilles
France, via the Straits of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean. Their ETA
is 22-24 March.
Warta Polpharma has 4300 miles left to sail. Team Legato still has
over 6000 miles to say. Tony Bullimore's cat may end up classified
as a non-finisher. To be officially considered a finisher Team Legato
must finish by April 1. Bullimore and team are right on the edge of
either making or not making this limit. Seems there will be drama to
the end in this contest.
Links:
412 miles for Warta Polpharma
http://www.therace.org/asp/une1.asp?NewsId=3284&LangId
Bullimore on the edge
http://www.now.com/feature.now?fid=1365868&cid=997704
Team Adventure through the Doldrums
http://www.teamadventure.org/pages/Cam%20Grams/Cam_gram_031301.htm
Plans for Team Adventure
http://www.teamadventure.org/pages/Larry_gram_0308bh.htm
Racing News: Swedish Match Tour
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/0314/0314_ms.htm
Two days of round robin racing have been completed at the Steinlager
Line 7 regatta. This is the first event for the Swedish Match tour in 2001.
This year the Swedish Match tour serves as training for many America's Cup
campaigns. Five America's teams are represented several with multiple teams.
Sailed in Auckland, New Zealand, the first two days have seen
skippers from Team New Zealand on top. Cameron Appleton and Bertrand
Pace are 8-3, while Dean Barker is 7-4. Top non Team New Zealand
skipper is Prada's Rod Davis at 6-4. Next is Chris Dickson sailing
for Oracle Racing at 6-5.
Only the top 4 boats move onto the semifinals. The round robin
elimination phase is approximately half way. There is still time
for change in the standings.
Link:
http://world.sports.com/sailing/news/2001/03/14/sLON01OTg0NTY5NDM5Nw.html
Racing News: Star Bacardi Cup
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/atwos/2001/0314/0314_ms.htm
The 74th sailing of the Star Class Bacardi Cup regatta came down to the
final race. This race was won by the team of Peter Bromby and Martin
Siese of Bermuda. This last race bullet clinched the regatta win.
This was Bromby's 13th attempt, but Siese's first race as a Star crew!
After a DNF in the first race the winning team was never lower than 5th
and won 2 races. 2nd was the Australian team of Beashel and Giles
10 points back. 3rd was Paul Cayard with Hal Haenel. 2000 Gold
Medallists Mark Reynolds and Magnus Liljerdahl finished 9th after an
admittedly inconsistent regatta.
Link: http://www.starclass.org/