[Rhodes22-list] Single Handing

Sat Aug 23 01:44:18 EDT 2008

Mike,

A luff pad is simply a little extra bulk sewed into the luff of the jib.
Sometimes it's a foam strip sewn in or sometimes it's just sail cloth
doubled over itself.  It's almost the whole length of the luff, about 4"
wide at mid point half way up and tapering thinner at top and bottom.  The
idea is that when you reef in, the extra bulk wraps up the belly of the sail
more allowing for a flatter sail shape for higher winds.  It's especially
helpful for older sails that might be a bit blown out.  I added a luff pad a
few years ago and I like it a lot.

I've sailed Lake Superior and I'm glad you have respect "when the gales of
November come early" as chronicled in the epic Gordon Lightfoot song, "The
Rectum of Ella Fitzgerald."

Slim

On Fri, Aug 22, 2008 at 4:32 PM, Mike Cheung <mikecheung at att.net> wrote:

>
> I actually have no idea whether my genoa has a luff pad or not.  My guess,
> however, would be no.  They're not new sails; possibly a mistake on my part
> when spec'ing Muireann out with Stan.  I'm not sure that we'll have
> Muireann
> out a whole lot in the "gales of November" up here.  I have a pretty
> healthy
> respect for the Great Lakes in the late fall.
>
> The WB inflatable PFD/vests have good harnesses, though no "crotch" strap.
> The rig is snug enough that I don't think it would be pulled off in use
> though, which is what counts.  I haven't inflated one yet, so I don't know
> how well they float someone our size.  We're pretty little though (155# and
> 125# respectively), so I'd be pretty surprised if there wasn't enough lift
> in them.  The autoinflate vest should be a non-issue in terms of
> deployment;
> both the manual and auto vests have pretty hard to miss lanyards.
>
> I do end up backwinding the jib some when I tack because I wait until the
> boom passes the boat's centerline before "popping" the working sheet and
> moving over to the new windward side.
>
> Mike C. s/v Muireann 93/08 R22
>
>
> Robert Skinner wrote:
> >
> > Mike - the WM gear is certainly OK.  The real keys are
> > integral harness, comfort, effective and rapid deployability,
> > and buoyancy.
> >
> > As to tacking with a genoa - many, myself included, do
> > as you did - take in to jib size before coming about.  You
> > did not mention backwinding the jib to help bring the bow
> > over.  Might give that a try.  If you don't have a luff pad
> > on your 175, you might consider adding one this winter.
> > It helps maintain foresail shape when partially furled.
> > Could be helpful when the November winds blow.
> >
> > /Robert
> > -------------------------------------------------------------
> > Mike Cheung wrote:
> >> Not that this motivated me, but I did invest in two inflatable
> >> PFD/harness
> >> vests and "leashes" from West Marine (made by Stearns).  Maybe not
> >> Mustang,
> >> but they look pretty well made.  The local West Marine had them on
> >> clearance
> >> as they're "last years models" according to the sales clerk.  They only
> >> had
> >> one self inflater, got that for the Admiral, and I also got a manual
> >> inflation model for me.
> >>
> >> Was out single handing yesterday, first time for me in Muireann, and
> >> borrowed the Admirals self inflater and kept myself  "leashed" to the
> >> stern
> >> rail most of the time.   Hardest part about singlehanding was getting
> the
> >> darned trailer extension set in the out position!  Dang thing is heavy
> >> and
> >> if you're in position to reach the hole for the bolt you have no
> >> mechanical
> >> advantage at all.  Had a lovely afternoon sailing alone off Avon in Lake
> >> Erie.  Basically just went back and forth practicing tacking single
> >> handed
> >> and heaving to.   With the 175 set to jib size, like for heaving to,
> >> tacking
> >> was easy.  With it all the way out it was a little more dicey.
> >>
> >> For the NE Ohio Rhodies ... there's a very, very nice ramp at Miller
> Road
> >> and Lakeside in Avon Lake just west of Avon Point.  Not too steep, could
> >> possibly launch w/o the extension except the rear tires would be wet.
>  It
> >> has direct access to the lake from inside of a small breakwalled basin.
> >> Only two ramps, but it wasn't very busy the two times I've been there so
> >> far, though both have been weekdays.  Trailer parking lanes are long
> >> enough
> >> that I didn't have to retract the extension to park my Honda Pilot and
> >> the
> >> trailer.  There are real cleats on the dock so I could tie Muireann up
> >> properly while I parked the car and trailer.  The City of Avon Lake runs
> >> it
> >> and charges $5 to launch, but there are rest rooms, a rinse off shower,
> >> rinse water for the trailer and boat, and they even have ice, cold pop
> >> (machines), and bait available.  There's a small city owned beach
> >> adjacent
> >> to the facility so you could bring a decent size group to give boat
> rides
> >> to
> >> and they'd have something to do while you were out with others.   It's
> >> also
> >> adjacent to a power plant, so you can't miss it coming back in from the
> >> lake.
> >>
> >> Mike Cheung s/v Muireann 93/08 Rhodes 22
> >>
> >>
> >> Hank-5 wrote:
> >>
> >>> Here is why you should always wear your life jacket while single
> >>> handing!!!
> >>>
> >>> http://apnews.excite.com/article/20080819/D92LCL781.html
> >>>
> >>> Hank
> >>> __________________________________________________
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> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
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> >
> >
>
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>
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