Storm Jib Attachment point

[Bob Carlisle]

I've just been reading an article: 'Fitting out (a Vega) for Ocean Voyages' puportedly written by Per Brohall.

This article suggests that a storm jib (set either flying or on a removeable stay) can be secured between a well padded eye-bolt astern of the foredeck cleat and the mast, attached at a point by the hounds/spreaders.

Spring Fever's storm sail currently rigs between such an eyebolt and the top of the mast, but I think it would be much improved with an attachment lower down as suggested in this article. However, I've always been advised previously that if you added an inner stay (to any masthead yacht, not just Vegas) you would need to fit additional backstays/running-stays to counteract the forward pull of this baby-stay?

Anybody like to comment? And if it is feasible, also suggest a suitable mast fitting to install the inner stay too - I can't believe that something with two or four tap-screws/rivets would be strong enough.

Bob Carlisle
Spring Fever 1776.
beef-up the backst document

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 

[bobnlesafloat]

To clarify - I would actually like to fix a mast fitting for this demountable forestay about 25 - 30cm above the spreader hounds, rather than exactly there.

Bob.

 

[africanmarco]

Hello Bob,

I'm also interested in this idea and am searching for solutions in my area (Europe).
Could you scan and send the article 'Fitting out (a Vega) for Ocean Voyages'?

Many thanks,
marco baldan

 

[tim_klynn]

Here's a link to some hardware:Staysail and inner forestay hardware and quick release fittings from Rigging Only
The t-ball fitting would probably be the most easily removed.
Something like style 1 would probably be the sturdiest and has attachement points for runners built in.
I'd probably look in to using Vectran or some other high tech line for runners.
You might be able to skip the inner forestay wire by using a Vectran type "wire" in the storm jib and a strong block at the mast.
Be aware that all this advice is given by a guy that just sails his Vega around in circles on what is essentially an inland pond. -Tim

 

[tim_klynn]

You've probably already seen this in the Vega Files:http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/kIwsTd...hdYygrU3h7_fRBf4O5fIBZ1LbQk/Per Brohall-1.pdf

 

[dougpol1]

Way beck when, in the 1960's I owned a couple boats that had running
back stays . The designers stated reason for designing them into the
boat was to keep the head stay tight. The tight head stay was tor the
use of the gib luff. These were boats with wooden masts. The mast had
no backstay and one was not need when running downwind. We never used
it for that purpose. With an aluminum mast especially as the light one
on a Vega I don't think I would attach a storm sail to it. I can't
remember how close the lower shrouds are to that fitting but if they are
much below it there is not even a lot of side thrust support there. A
stormsail on the headstay would seem to make more sense to me. It is
supported by shrouds in every direction.
I like my roller furling but If I were going to sea I am not so sure I
wouldn't replace it with a hanked on jib that could be replaced by a
storm jib when needed. I once had a 21ft boat with twin head stays so
they could both be used down wind or a storm jib could be put on one and
a jig or Genny on the other.
If it was necessary to get one down quick there was a downhaul leading
back to the cockpit and the sail could be pulled down and then pulled
tight along the deck with the jib sheet. A little later when there was
time the sail could be tied along the lifeline stations. Of course my
halyards also ran to the cockpit. I single handed the boat to Bermuda
and back from the Chesapeake bay and it was a great feeling to know I
could handle the jib from the cockpit. Doug

 

[pelagicasd]

Bob, When we had our storm sail built the sail-maker suggested that on a boat as small as a Vega you probably wouldn't need running backs. We did add them but our inner forestay is a lot higher than where you propose to add yours. With your being 25 to 35cm above the spreaders I would think that any strain on the mast would be adequately handled by the lowers. IMHO the risk of breaking the mast would be proportional to the amount of leverage on it. If you think of the lowers as the fulcrum it wouldn't be very much. I'd suggest asking a few sail-makers.
We never needed to use the storm jib. The one time we considered it we were able to heave to with just the main double reefed. We kind of crawled into the wind. to the best of my recollection winds were blowing at 40 with gusts to 50. Walt

To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
From: bobnlesafloat@...
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:06:20 +0000
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Storm Jib Attachment Point 2




To clarify - I would actually like to fix a mast fitting for this demountable forestay about 25 - 30cm above the spreader hounds, rather than exactly there.



Bob.