[alberg30] cutting edge UPDATE

[greg vandenberg]

UPDATE	...

	Seams there is some interest out in the boating world regarding, the in's and
out's of dealing with roller furling/reefing  performance loss. There doesn't
seam to be a lot of love for the cutter rig.  But ... a cutter rig sailed as a
sloop rig is starting to make a lot of Sense.  This might not be out of a
persons boat budget.
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Subject: Re: cutter rigs
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 07:38:19 EST
From: Williwaw28 at aol.com
To: fashionguy at ameritech.net

fashionguy at ameritech.net

>I'm trying to find out how the cape dory 30 is rigged when sailed as a
>cutter. I'm looking at a cover photo of a cape dory 30 in Good Old Boat
>magazine and i notice that it has no running backs to support a clubfooted
>staysail she carries 7/8s up the mast. perhaps you have seen the photo.  my
>interest is up because  i am a Alberg 30 owner looking for a solution to
the
>"roller furling going to windward blues".  Seam i can't get a great shape
out
>of my new UK 150  reefed to 90%  I was hoping to come up with a staysail
>arrangement but was suspect that running backs were mandatory until i
spotted
>another ALBERG design. please advise!

Greg,

I don't know to much about why the 30 cutter has no runners: I can only
assume that CA didn't feel it was necessary, considering the size of the
boat and the relatively small size of the stay sail (232 sq.ft.).
Although I can't tell for sure from the sail plan I have, it looks like
the stay is fairly closed the the mast head, about the height of a
fractional rigged head stay.  I haven't heard any reports of the mast
pumping or bending excessively when sailing with the stay sail and main.

Good luck

Kim
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Subject: Re: rollers,points,and counters
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 98 23:27:28 -0500
From: Jerry Powlas <jerry at goodoldboat.com>
To: "greg vandenberg" <fashionguy at ameritech.net>

Greg
You are absolutely correct in saying that we can't ignore roller furling,
it is too common and too popular.  We agree, and we plan to have another
round with this option.  We had intended more depth in the last round,
but one of our writers didn't come through.  Even with that, it would not
have been enough.

I didn't really understand your questions, but if you restate them I'd
consider printing your questions in either the next newsletter or next
magazine to "stir things up a little".

We have tried to get someone to write about cutter rigs, and were
surprised at the comments we got from some pretty authoritative people.
We are still trying.  Our best hope at the moment is the Pardeys.

Having said all that, I'll offer some private thoughts.  These may or may
not be repeated in print depending on who we can get to say it better.

I think the problems with cutter rigs comes on a beat.  The sails
backwind each other, and so the boat won't point.  This is not a problem
on a reach, but it is on a beat.  Some solutions we hear of are to sail
the cutter like a sloop, using either the yankee, or the staysail but not
both when on the wind.  This technique allows roller furling to set or
douse a sail quickly, but not have to deal with part furled sail shape.

A fellow we respect (Richard Henderson) says that if the yankee is on a
roller, the staysail should not be, because hanks are more reliable in a
blow.  Others we respect, like Nick Nickolson have given up and put
rollers on both sails to avoid going forward at all.  Some authorities do
not like the popular club for the staysail claiming that it makes the
foredeck a very dangerous place.  Is that why they call it a club?

Other solutions we have seen are to put a small high cut sail on the
forward stay, and put the "genny" on the inner stay.  Shannon does this.
It makes it a lot easier to tack, because the "genny"  just has to blow
though the slot between the mast and the inner stay.  The outer sail is
high cut and short on the foot, and so blows through between the stays
easier.

We asked Ted Brewer how to sail a cutter and he said remove the inner
forestay and wrap it around one of the shrouds and leave it there.  I
don't think he likes cutters although he has designed some.  Robert Perry
calls them clutter rigs.  I've read where Perry says that he designed
cutters with double ended hulls because they were popular, but  did't
think there were the end all arrangement.

Back to your roller furler, it does help to move the sheet lead each time
you change how much sail is furled,  otherwise the sail will be too open
at the upper leach.  Problem is once you start doing all that, it is not
so convenient.

Flesh out your questions, and send them back.  It will get a good dialog
going, and maybe we will shake the tree and some good ideas will fall out.

Jerry Powlas
Technical Editor, Good Old Boat Magazine
<http://www.goodoldboat.com> <mailto:jerry at goodoldboat.com>
612-420-8923, 612-420-8921 (fax)

Good Old Boat Magazine gives sailors entertaining and pertinent
information about the enjoyment and care of older sailboats.
-------------- next part --------------
Subject: Re: cutter rigs
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 07:38:19 EST
From: Williwaw28 at aol.com
To: fashionguy at ameritech.net

fashionguy at ameritech.net

>I'm trying to find out how the cape dory 30 is rigged when sailed as a
>cutter. I'm looking at a cover photo of a cape dory 30 in Good Old Boat
>magazine and i notice that it has no running backs to support a clubfooted
>staysail she carries 7/8s up the mast. perhaps you have seen the photo.  my
>interest is up because  i am a Alberg 30 owner looking for a solution to
the
>"roller furling going to windward blues".  Seam i can't get a great shape
out
>of my new UK 150  reefed to 90%  I was hoping to come up with a staysail
>arrangement but was suspect that running backs were mandatory until i
spotted
>another ALBERG design. please advise!

Greg,

I don't know to much about why the 30 cutter has no runners: I can only
assume that CA didn't feel it was necessary, considering the size of the
boat and the relatively small size of the stay sail (232 sq.ft.).
Although I can't tell for sure from the sail plan I have, it looks like
the stay is fairly closed the the mast head, about the height of a
fractional rigged head stay.  I haven't heard any reports of the mast
pumping or bending excessively when sailing with the stay sail and main.

Good luck

Kim
-------------- next part --------------
Subject: cutter rigs
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1998 18:34:14 -0500
From: greg vandenberg <fashionguy at ameritech.net>
Organization: vandenberg photographics
To: williwaw28 at aol.com

Kim... I'm trying to find out how the cape dory 30 is rigged when sailed as
a
cutter. I'm looking at a cover photo of a cape dory 30 in Good Old Boat
magazine and i notice that it has no running backs to support a clubfooted
staysail she carries 7/8s up the mast. perhaps you have seen the photo.  my
interest is up because  i am a Alberg 30 owner looking for a solution to the
"roller furling going to windward blues".  Seam i can't get a great shape
out
of my new UK 150  reefed to 90%  I was hoping to come up with a staysail
arrangement but was suspect that running backs were mandatory until i
spotted
another ALBERG design. please advise!

kindest regards,
greg vandenberg