[Public-list] A30 Staysail

Tue Aug 3 12:27:49 PDT 2004

Hi Roger - 

In spinnaker staysail mode "the weapon" is hoisted on our #2 genny halyard
because the intermediate one is busy doing its primary job...being the
spinnaker pole topping lift.

I would actually prefer that it hoist on the lower halyard as that would
bring its luff further from the chute, but that is not so easy to organize
without doubling the lift halyards.  Big boats do this but it seems a little
awkward for us.  In the event, the masthead hoist seems to work just fine.

Gord KC426 Surprise

> Gord,
> 
> Is it correct that on Surprise the "weapon" actually goes to the masthead.
> What do you see as the advantages/disadvantages of masthead staysail vs. 3'
> above spreaders staysail.
> 
> Roger
> 
> Roger L. Kingsland, AIA
> Managing Partner
> Kingsland Scott Bauer Associates (KSBA)
> N40° 27' 49"  W79° 57' 59"
> 3441 Butler Street
> Pittsburgh, PA 15201
> www.ksba.com
> 
> 1(412) 252-1500 X101 - Office & Voice Mail
> 1(412) 779-5101 - Mobile (no voice mail)
> 1(412) 252-1510 - Fax
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gordon Laco" <mainstay at csolve.net>
> To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at alberg30.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2004 2:41 PM
> Subject: Re: [Public-list] A30 Staysail
> 
> 
>> 
>> Hi there -
>> 
>> Re staysail - as a professional rigger, my opinion is that given the
>> characteristics of our Alberg spars (heavy) a halyard for a staysail
> within
>> 3' of the spreaders can rely upon the after lower shrouds to stabilize
>> things.  If the staysail halyard block were to fitted any higher, I would
>> say that the mast needs runners - and to me that would mean that the
> project
>> is not worth doing.
>> 
>> Cheers - Gordon, KC426 Surprise
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> Three observations and a question
>>> 
>>> Observations
>>> 
>>> 1. there is an extended discussion of the staysail in the files on the
>>> website during the winter a couple of years ago. Phil, this is a good
>>> place to see what others have said about this in the past. I think the
>>> place to look is January or February of 2002.
>>> 
>>> 2. Sail magazine has an article this month on a solent sail. This sail
>>> attaches almost at the top of the mast thus avoiding the need for
>>> running back stays. From the article the solent sail does many of the
>>> same things a staysail does. In any case, you can hank on either of the
>>> two sail on the forestay. If others can share about the solent sail,
>>> that would be very interesting.
>>> 
>>> 3. It is my understanding - from an other Alberger in our marina  and
>>> from reading - that the anchor point for a staysail or a solent sail on
>>> the  A30 could be located at the anchor locker bulkhead. This approach
>>> uses the bulkead to transfer the load to the hull and avoids the wire.
>>> 
>>> Question:
>>> 
>>> Gordon, are you considering running back stays if you complete the
>>> staysail project?
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>>>> mainstay at csolve.net 8/1/2004 9:18:08 AM >>>
>>> Hi Phil -
>>> 
>>> We use a staysail - I have played around with it a lot and would be
>>> pleased
>>> to tell you our preferences...
>>> 
>>> Ours is a high clewed little number that we originally planned to set
>>> on the
>>> spinnaker pole topping lift whose block we placed on a fairly massive
>>> hound
>>> about 3' above the spreaders.  My plan was to have the lift double as
>>> a
>>> staysail halyard.  If we like the effect of the sail we intended to
>>> build a
>>> massive deck pad eye (with an underdeck wire lanyard and turnbuckle
>>> bringing
>>> the load to the stem).
>>> 
>>> We still may do that but in the meantime we have found that the sail
>>> works
>>> well as a spinnaker staysail.  We sheet it to the forward inside jib
>>> tracks;
>>> we hoist it on the #2 genny halyard and tack it to our jackline between
>>> the
>>> cleats forward.  Works great - my son and his buddy who do foredeck for
>>> us
>>> call it "the weapon" as in "secret weapon".  The two headsail halyards
>>> were
>>> a little tough to organize so I fell back on an old fashioned technique
>>> I
>>> have installed on clients' boats.  We shackled a single block with a
>>> becket
>>> on the existing block hanger, then hung a single block on the becket.
>>> That
>>> way we have out two blocks with the added advantage of having the
>>> unloaded
>>> halyard holding the upper or #1 block stable. Works great.
>>> 
>>> I think now that for extreme conditions the staysail would be a good
>>> thing
>>> but for now we use it for racing.
>>> 
>>> And may I gloat among friends?  We took a second in our annual Snake
>>> Island
>>> race last Wed. night - got squeaked out of first by a hair.   We seem
>>> to
>>> have to old girl really cranked up this year - we are deadly in light
>>> air/flat water conditions.  Still can't point like I would like to but
>>> that
>>> may come later.  The only thing we can think of that has made a big
>>> diff is
>>> A) really good foredeck work this year  B) I paid more attention to
>>> standing
>>> rig tuning (thanks for the info on this list)
>>> 
>>> Cheers - Gordon KC426 Surprise
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> The A30 sail plan shows a staysail with a halyard attached to the
>>> mast just
>>>> above the spreaders. Does anyone have experience with this sail? Is
>>> it used as
>>>> a smaller foresail during windy conditions or is it used in
>>> combination with
>>>> the jib?
>>>> 
>>>> It seems to me that this sail would be useful for reducing sail,
>>> especially
>>>> now that so many boats are equipped with roller furling genoas that
>>> never set
>>>> properly when reefed. Simply set the staysail and roll up the genoa
>>>> completely.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Phil Bartlett, Windward #428
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