Simplifying my rigging

Joe · Aug 15, 2010

Well you're definitely right that you are over you head with this boat. The international 14 is a serious racing dingy. Huge sail area with spinnaker, double trapezing, planing hull... like a skiff. If you've ever seen the movie "WIND".... there is a great scene with Matthew Modene and Jennifer Grey racing her International 14 in spectacular fashion. High speeds, enormous spinnakers, big crashes.

Are you ready for this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSrqNECIDlc

Here's the new I 14 design in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0Q1PxekCsY

my recommendation is that you find someone to examine the boat for you and make recommendations. At least try contacting the previous owner and ask for his help. Maybe a local sailing school might have someone to give you some hardcore advice.

The problem is that you have such limited experience it would be fruitless to try to analyize your set up and then communicate effectively on how you may modify it... but hey, someone here might give it a shot..... Good luck!

Ross · Aug 15, 2010

In some regards boats are like cameras, they can come with many features that are very useful but can also be set as simple, little or no adjustment needed. Isolate the jib sheet and the main sheet and center all of the other adjustments and cleat the lines. Then you will have a boat like the one you learned to sail on. Later you can learn about all of the other features that are available.

CalebD · Aug 15, 2010

Hi Matt,
Looks like you have yourself a nice Intl. 14' racing dinghy there. I can understand that you may be a bit mystified at how all the rigging is supposed to go (I've been there and done that with my 19' Lightning that was rigged for racing).
A lot of answers to your questions can probably be found at the Intl. 14 Class website: http://www.international14.org/
Check out as many pictures that show the boat rigged and under sail. They probably have their own email list where you can ask other Intl. 14 owners specific questions but it would be best if you can do some research for yourself.
What I got just from looking at the http://www.international14.org/ page is that your boat is set up with a trapeze for hiking out over the edge of the boat. There's lots of extra rigging needed to do this. The trapeze system usually would require one or 2 extra lines coming from near the top of the mast that you clip onto a harness. Some of the rigging in your pics is for the trapeze set up. For sailing in light winds you should not have to worry about this (I hope). Just note that the weight and location of your crew will be important for keeping this boat flatter, especially in higher winds.
There was a boom vang on my Lightning as well. It took me until the 2nd season of using it to figure out the rigging of it. It sailed pretty well without it but it is a good sail control to have for flattening out the main in higher winds.
My Lightning also had 2 ways of routing the jib sheets. When heading up wind the sheets should be routed inside the shrouds. When heading off or downwind the jib pulls better with the sheets routed outside the shrouds.
The jib sheets do not need the ratchet blocks in you photos. Those ratchet blocks are for rigging the spinnaker (which I'm sure your boat has) and is the point of entry for the sheet and guy when using the spinnaker.
Your Intl. 14 has mid boom sheeting for the main sail as the traveler track is in the middle of the cockpit. If you just want to sail leisurely then set the traveler car in the middle of the boat and ignore it. Releasing or lowering the traveler allows you to dump a little wind from the main sail and keep the boat flatter. If you use the traveler you will have to adjust it after each tack. Leaving it in the middle means there is one less thing to adjust each time you tack.

In summary, what you have is a racing machine for a sailboat that has nearly all the sail control features a bigger racing boat would have. I would suggest that you try to figure out how to rig your boat as simply as possible and just go for a sail. As you get more familiar with the boat and it's rigging you may just find that you like having a traveler, vang, fair lead track settings, cunninghams and whatever else I am forgetting. I have no doubt that your boat will get up on a plane and shoot along at well over hull speed (nearly 10 knots) which is a real thrill.
If all of this 'extra' rigging is just more then you can handle then a boat like the 14' O'Day Daysailor might have been a better choice for a beginning boat as it lacks most of the controls your boat has.
Give it a try. I hope you will like it.

Don12364 · Aug 15, 2010

Would be a pity to modify a Classic boat.

Matt,
All those twiddly bits really are needed to sail the boat properly. Although you may not see the reason for them right now, when your sailing skills have grown, you could you regret it if you had modified the boat. Also the re-sale value would be much reduced. Could you get someone to show you how they operate? e.g. the PO or anyone who sails a competitive dinghy of another class.Also keelboats Etchells and Stars are similarly set up with everything adjustable.

BTW the Hamble river is my local river and the Warming Pan is the first race of the year - usually in March and the water is freezing! Those guys come past my moored boat at 20Kt plus - despite the speed limit in the river of 6Kt!

For info the 14's are a long established class with a tremendous history going back to the 1930's. Worth looking up. Look for the Int'l 14 Class Assoc.
http://gbr.international14.org/

Joe · Aug 15, 2010

Um, what is the hull speed of a 14 foot planing dinghy anyway?

Don12364 · Aug 15, 2010

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Don12364 · Aug 16, 2010

Intl 14 single handed is unthinkable!
Suggest you beg, borrow or steal (but not buy) a main and jib from a smaller dinghy.
Being smaller sails they will 'fit'.
Ask at your local dinghy club.

Keen racing sailors usually have heaps of these.

capejt · Aug 16, 2010

Ooooooh Boy!

Take it from someone who spent five years racing these boats, you're in WAY, WAY over your head.
Based on your stated experience and intended use of the boat, you're the 90 year old lady who just bought an Indy racer to go to church on Sunday.
My advie, before you start making modifications, START OVER. Sell or trade this boat for something more your speed. This boat is pure racing machine. NOT a daysailor by any stretch of the imagination.
Look for something more like an old O'Day daysailer.
Attempting a project like this is not only going to be expensive, and IMO foolish, it could actually be dangerous. This is a VERY over powered boat and should be left to the experienced sailor

Alex Dare · Aug 16, 2010

I-14

There really is no way to single hand an I-14 let alone w/o using the trapeze. Unless you have very good crew and really know what you're doing this will not be a fun experience. These are very cool boats but.....

Hate to say it but if I was in your shoes I would sell this boat and look for something you'll enjoy and be able to sail yourself.
If you are really committed to this boat leave all the rigging in place, much of it you'll have to use. You will have to find someone who knows these boats or at least races high performance dinghies like 505's ect. and can talk them into spending a lot of time with you (with you being crew). Very steep learning curve would be an understatement.

Blue Grace · Aug 16, 2010

I'm not sure I totally agree - I leaned to sail by stealing my father's National 12 when he was at work. I then progressed to the I 14.

However, I do agree that the I 14 is not for a single hander, when stuff happens it happens fast, and you need hands and weight to control the beast.

Learn to sail it by going out on light wind days, not more than 8 knots, and when you have become comfortable, edge up a little.

capejt said:
Take it from someone who spent five years racing these boats, you're in WAY, WAY over your head.
Based on your stated experience and intended use of the boat, you're the 90 year old lady who just bought an Indy racer to go to church on Sunday.
My advie, before you start making modifications, START OVER. Sell or trade this boat for something more your speed. This boat is pure racing machine. NOT a daysailor by any stretch of the imagination.
Look for something more like an old O'Day daysailer.
Attempting a project like this is not only going to be expensive, and IMO foolish, it could actually be dangerous. This is a VERY over powered boat and should be left to the experienced sailor

Ross · Aug 16, 2010

Is it posible to reef the sails? If he were to put in a double reef and set a small jib he could control the boat more easily.

hooyasailor · Aug 16, 2010

Hi! Matt, Sorry I'm so darn late getting you some answers for your "over your head" delema, but I just returned from an extended cruze on a Beneteau 52. we will not get into all that as you probablly are not interested in that sort,, being wrapped up in day sailing the way you are. OOOOH! nothing wrong with "day-sailing" mind you. But,,, hey, lets get into the problem at hand. IF you think you really are into this I-14 "over-your-head" I suppose I could help ya out. See, I got this really great Sunfist. It's about the same size as your 14 ft. boat but a whole lot simpler rigging. I have done some modifications to simplify its use, you know make it simpler to use, but nothing drastic. We could work up a little TRADE to take your pressure off. WHY,,, I'm supprised,,, some one hasn't already offered to lighten you of the load of that terrible International 14 before now! Any way,,, let's talk about it,,,. Matt, don't you let anybody talk you into changing the rigging OR getting rid of your boat. Take the time to do repairs to the minor cracks in the hull. Then clean her up real good and slap some teak oil on the wood. She'll make you proud when all are eyeing her and SOME may even attempt to barder her away from you. Just you keep sailing her, you'll learn soon enough how everything works and that's the best way of doing it, with getting experience. some times you may want to take along an experienced crew member or two,,, so to learn from them. If'n they start some tom-foolery about getting you into a simpler boat, more suited for your sailing ability,,, well just steer a course by the nearest land point, they can swim home.
Your on the right tract for learning, keep us posted how you're doing. I for one, would like to hear how you are progressing, when I'm not out sailing myself.
Warm breezes,
Hooyasailor (Tom)

RichH · Aug 16, 2010

The I-14 is indeed a very complex racing machine and if configured to the latest scantling will be a BEAR to handle for a 'novice' and will be a BEAR at first if you 'single-hand.
However, if you are patient and determined (and are 'athletic') such a boat will accelerate your sailing learning curve better than on just about anyother sailboat out there. I do say that the learning curve will be quite STEEP and you are going to get 'wet'.

Dont simplify if you can, as all these controls are for a purpose. Until you master the boat Id recommend that you gradually build your expertise by sailing at first only in LIGHT winds, gradually building your skill and then moving up to the higher wind ranges.
For overwhelming wind conditions you dont reef such a boat you flatten - severely.
To learn to sail such a boat 'properly' will require a lot of 'on-the-water-time'

Id recommend that you contact the I-14 class and get their advice for setting up the boat for a 'beginner' .... most classes usually actively encourage 'newbies' and will /usually take the time to help you. If there is an active Intl-14 fleet close to you, you might want to consider 'crewing' on a boat .... as thats the FASTEST way to learn to sail one.

http://www.international14.org/

Rick9671 · Aug 16, 2010

keep it sailing

Keep the 14! I would love to have one. When you learn to handle it, you will love it, as will your son. It is a real thrill to sail a high performance boat. You might try to get an owner's manual from the manufacturer. They are often available for download from the manufacturer's web site.

Whatever else you do, ENJOY your boat! (and track down a spinacker, they sometimes show up on e-bay)

shemandr · Aug 16, 2010

All this talk about planing has got me excited. Maybe I should look for one. Seriously, if you decide to try something more tame, I'm sure there are yacht clubs that would buy it.

Alex Dare · Aug 16, 2010

moth

For single handed fun I soo want one of these. We have several of them here in town. You can carry them on top of sub compact. Sort of a flying I-14 for one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKJMP8EmZjw&feature=related

Being a developmental class the I-14 attracts a fairly serious bunch so not a lot of local fleets all over the place. If you can find a dinghy club nearby with some 49ers, 505's...see if you can find someone who needs crew for the evening. Should at least give you a taste of what's in store.

Ross · Aug 18, 2010

two thing happen when you use smaller sails. First and foremost they catch less of the wind. Second the center of them is closer to the boat so you won't experience as much heelingReducing by a third to a half would not be too much to start with. That is one reason I suggested early on that if you could simply reef you would do well.

Simplifying my rigging

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