Well as reported the other week I was off for my first holiday in five years. Packed the 260 up on a Thursday night and got going first light on Friday. Destination? Busselton Western Australia for a weeks sailing and racing. Floating marina, Tavern with nice meals, hot and cold running water, fresh prawns and loads of Fosters, Victoria bitter and Bunderburg and cola. Racing?? Who cared? Not me but I must advise that on the last day of the regatta I decided to try my best. The result? You won't believe it but a first was the result. Really nice to sail in 5-15 knot breezes and crossing the finishing line after 35 miles of tacking to beat 36MK11's, S&S 34's and a whole bunch of "fast yachts". And its all due to Crazy Dave. His advice on mast tuning worked a treat. Thanks Dave.
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Godfather knows
Thanks Mark and I am glad you beat the big boats. I wish we could raise a magic wand and get you to Kerr Lake, North Carolina the first weekend of May as we are going to have a get together and thank you for letting me know how you did.
Thanks Mark and I am glad you beat the big boats. I wish we could raise a magic wand and get you to Kerr Lake, North Carolina the first weekend of May as we are going to have a get together and thank you for letting me know how you did.
Hello Pat
This wil be brief and only applies to the 260. Upon advice from the "Godfather" I followed the steps listed below. 1) Step the mast 2) Loosen all rigging 3) Remove the side stays 4) Adjust rake with forestay so that a spanner hangs at the end of the main halyard about 4-5 inches aft of the mast at the goose neck 5) Centre the mast (Port to Starboard)using uppers. 6) Tighten uppers really bloody tight. At this stage the mast may bow slightly towards the bow at the top 7) Tighten the lowers (this will bring the top of the mast aft again) to get the desired mast bend. With the main halyard held at the mast above the goose neck looking half way up the mast you should have a bow of about 3-4 inches 8) Having wound up the uppers and lowers evenly make sure that they are really bloody tight 9)Tighten up the reverse diagonals by hand only but put a fair bit of effort into it so they do in fact end up pretty tight 10) Now standing in the middle of the yacht facing forward reach over to the port side upper. Grab it with the end of your middle finger and without moving or allowing your hand to move try to bend your finger at right angles. If you can concider putting a bit more tension on. Make sure the lowers are just about as tight. 11) Now after you have done this to undo the forestay you will need a pair of pliers cos that forestay tension, well in my case, is now about double the original tension. The difference in sailing? Amazing. Oh and do not forget to re-attach the side stays to the mast. Take her for a sail. Whilst out carefully climb onto the cabin top, stand up on the windward side of the boom and face towards the bow. Now this is very very important! Carefully open a Victoria bitter, take a swig, and enjoy the absolute splender of sailing a finely tuned yacht. Good luck.
This wil be brief and only applies to the 260. Upon advice from the "Godfather" I followed the steps listed below. 1) Step the mast 2) Loosen all rigging 3) Remove the side stays 4) Adjust rake with forestay so that a spanner hangs at the end of the main halyard about 4-5 inches aft of the mast at the goose neck 5) Centre the mast (Port to Starboard)using uppers. 6) Tighten uppers really bloody tight. At this stage the mast may bow slightly towards the bow at the top 7) Tighten the lowers (this will bring the top of the mast aft again) to get the desired mast bend. With the main halyard held at the mast above the goose neck looking half way up the mast you should have a bow of about 3-4 inches 8) Having wound up the uppers and lowers evenly make sure that they are really bloody tight 9)Tighten up the reverse diagonals by hand only but put a fair bit of effort into it so they do in fact end up pretty tight 10) Now standing in the middle of the yacht facing forward reach over to the port side upper. Grab it with the end of your middle finger and without moving or allowing your hand to move try to bend your finger at right angles. If you can concider putting a bit more tension on. Make sure the lowers are just about as tight. 11) Now after you have done this to undo the forestay you will need a pair of pliers cos that forestay tension, well in my case, is now about double the original tension. The difference in sailing? Amazing. Oh and do not forget to re-attach the side stays to the mast. Take her for a sail. Whilst out carefully climb onto the cabin top, stand up on the windward side of the boom and face towards the bow. Now this is very very important! Carefully open a Victoria bitter, take a swig, and enjoy the absolute splender of sailing a finely tuned yacht. Good luck.
Yes the Godfather does know!
Thanks agian Dave. Your advice was spot on. Magic wand. Hell Dave I would give almost anything to get over there sometime and sail with you guys.
Thanks agian Dave. Your advice was spot on. Magic wand. Hell Dave I would give almost anything to get over there sometime and sail with you guys.
VB
Good on you Mate, I go "down-under" 4 or 5 times a year but it is always all work. I can understand a tinny of VB to help wash down a bit of Bundy OP but haven't run into a bloke that admits to drinking Fosters. Going down for help a client on your longweeked. Most of my trips are to help your softwood sawmills in NSW, VIC and/or up at ACT. Haven't found a client with a sailboat yet, but I'll keep looking. Cheers,
Good on you Mate, I go "down-under" 4 or 5 times a year but it is always all work. I can understand a tinny of VB to help wash down a bit of Bundy OP but haven't run into a bloke that admits to drinking Fosters. Going down for help a client on your longweeked. Most of my trips are to help your softwood sawmills in NSW, VIC and/or up at ACT. Haven't found a client with a sailboat yet, but I'll keep looking. Cheers,
Fast Boat - Suprises the hell out of everyone!!
Yeah, Mark, *5 *5 *5 Now I know my win was not a fluke. Just makes you want to take your boat home to bed...... Well Maybe. Hi Dave!! Jim S/V Java
Yeah, Mark, *5 *5 *5 Now I know my win was not a fluke. Just makes you want to take your boat home to bed...... Well Maybe. Hi Dave!! Jim S/V Java
Davor
We have a lot of wood mills over here in the West. Next time your over try to get across to Albany.
We have a lot of wood mills over here in the West. Next time your over try to get across to Albany.
So funny Jim
All week in the marina I guess about 10-15 people looked over the 260 but when I came in first on the last day I guess at one time there would have been 15-20 lining up to come on board. Most could not believe that a floating caravan could perform so well. And what was really nice was the wonderfull comments (not about my sailing ability) about the amazing amount of space down below. I mean as you would know there is twice the seating down below when compared to most 34-44 footers. Great to here from you Jim!
All week in the marina I guess about 10-15 people looked over the 260 but when I came in first on the last day I guess at one time there would have been 15-20 lining up to come on board. Most could not believe that a floating caravan could perform so well. And what was really nice was the wonderfull comments (not about my sailing ability) about the amazing amount of space down below. I mean as you would know there is twice the seating down below when compared to most 34-44 footers. Great to here from you Jim!
Albany, WA
I'm leaving tonight a quick trip to Colac VIC, Canberra ACT and Oberon NSW. No time for sailing or to go farther West. I'll give you an email if I ever get over to WA. Other than the ferries in Sydney, the only time I've been on the water down-under was on a 12 metre power boat in Double Bay (Eden, VIC) on a warm winter day last July. Cheers
I'm leaving tonight a quick trip to Colac VIC, Canberra ACT and Oberon NSW. No time for sailing or to go farther West. I'll give you an email if I ever get over to WA. Other than the ferries in Sydney, the only time I've been on the water down-under was on a 12 metre power boat in Double Bay (Eden, VIC) on a warm winter day last July. Cheers
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