|
There are four possible ways to setup a removable inner stay (staysail stay) on a Flicka:
1) Flying Staysail with Wire Luff Rope.,
2) Large Pelican hook,
3) Turnbuckle with Dual Folding Handles, and
4) Multi-Part Tackle.
As mentioned above, the simplest approach to installing a removable inner stay is to have a 7X19 wire "bolt" rope sewn into the luff (front) of the staysail. The wire luff rope is finished at both ends with a wire thimble. To set the staysail, the tack end of the wire luff rope is attached to the stemhead with a snap shackle and the staysail halyard is clipped into the wire thimble at the head of the wire luff rope. The sail is then hoisted and the wire luff rope, hence the staysail, tensioned by the staysail halyard winch. This can also be accomplished by using the jib winch, providing the jib is not set. An alternative approach to tension the luff wire is to use a small four-part tackle between the staysail luff rope tack and the stemhead. We use this approach to tension African Moon's staysail after it is hoisted. African Moon has a fixed inner stay. The disadvantage is the sail is more difficult to roll and stow because of the 7X19 wire luff rope.
If a separate removable inner stay is preferred, the attachment of a LARGE pelican hook to the bottom of the staysail stay turnbuckle can be employed. In this arrangement, a large "J" hook is attached to the eye of the lower turnbuckle screw with a clevis pin. A bronze ring is slipped over the turnbuckle and handle of the "J" hook to hold it closed. Although I have seen this type of turnbuckle with pelican hook on a French navy frigate, I have not found a source in this country, hence the "J" hook may have to be fabricated or cast. The disadvantage to this arrangement is, once the stay is released, the stay and its associated large turnbuckle-pelican hook must be stowed near the mast or along a shroud.
A similar approach to rigging the staysail can be accomplished with a turnbuckle fitted with two folding handles. These are available in most ship's stores. The turnbuckle is attached to the stemhead with a quick release clevis pin. The handles are then unfolded and used to tension the stay. Once tensioned, the handles are folded against the turnbuckle. The disadvantage to this rig, is the same as the pelican hook. In addition, it requires a longer time to set the staysail stay.
The last approach is to use a simple four to eight part tackle to tension the inner stay. The mechanical advantage used will depend on the tension of the stay and one's strength. Two snap shackles are employed to connect the multi-part tackle to the inner stay and stemhead. Once the stay is attached, it is tensioned by taking up on the running part of the tackle. A round turn and two half-hitches are used to secure the bitter end of the running part of the tackle. This approach is not as fast to setup as a pelican hook but has the advantage, the made-up multi-part tackle can be removed from the stay and only the stay needs to made secured alongside the mast or a shroud.
Regardless of which approach is taken, the hoist of the sail should be checked to ensure that the stay can be tensioned before adding any of the rigs mentioned above. It also may be necessary to fit either intermediate aft shrouds to the mast or rig running backstays to stop the mast from pumping. Warning - the author is not a professional rigger or sailmaker, consult with a professional rigger and sailmaker before undertaking any changes to the standing rigging of a boat.
|
|
