[Public-List] Mast Heads for the Alberg Internal halyards and the racing rules ~ Parameter suggestions

[John Birch]

Michael, et al

May I make a suggestion for your consideration

I agree with what you have to say about taking time to review and 
grandfathering - very prudent

May I suggest, that the drag or less drag caused by halyards is not terribly 
significant whereas what is significant more so is driving away competitors.

As these boats age and masts fail for whatever reason and are replaced, 
section size, weight, wall thickness and stick rigidity are much more 
significant issues. Nobody manufactures A-30 sections anymore and the last 
sections were cut up years ago by Whitby to become Mizzen Booms for the 
Whitby 42 when people stopped buying new A-30's.

Therefore, any new mast will out of necessity be somewhat different.

May I suggest defining the limits and parameter range tolerance of 
acceptable replacement mast section replacement standards is a priority. 
Focus should be on material (aluminum), section size, weight, wall 
thickness, stick rigidity, taper "0", length, number of spreaders, length of 
spreaders, shroud diameter, attachment points and will require a reasonable 
tolerance range as there will likely be more than one supplier.

If not, in the extreme, one could put in a bendy carbon mast and 
undersectioned shrouds and gain a huge advantage.

Personally, I don't think internal shrouds really make that much difference 
and can be nulled even more with externals by going to a wire rope halyard.

Just suggestions

Best all

John

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <crufone at comcast.net>
To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2009 10:35 AM
Subject: Re: [Public-List] Mast Heads for the Alberg Internal halyards and 
the racing rules


>
>
> Hi Rachel,
>
>
>
> I am Michael but not the one you are thinking of. Michael Connolly here. 
> My understanding from what has been interpreted about the current rules is 
> that boats must be raced in the from that they were delivered from Whitby. 
> Some have confirmed that Whitby never made A30 masts with internal 
> halyards. In discussing the design of the new mast head with Stephen it is 
> clear to me that this head was designed for external halyards.
>
>
>
> My suggestion to the A30 racing rules committee is that they grandfather 
> boats with internal halyards for this season only and then take the proper 
> time to review and make a careful determination of what will be the final 
> decision and rule on halyards. Many issues must be taken into consid 
> eration and it would be best not to rus h into a decision, just because 
> the new racing season is upon us.
>
>
>
> My two cents,
>
>
>
> Michael Connolly #133 on Lake Michigan
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Rachel" <penokee at cheqnet.net>
> To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" 
> <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 9:47:14 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
> Subject: Re: [Public-List] Mast Heads for the Alberg
>
> Michael,
>
> I'm not a racer, so I don't have an interest one way or the other, but
> I do like clarity :)
>
> Did I read correctly in an earlier e-mail that *any* change to how the
> halyards are run is not legal for racing? I ask because it sounds as
> though the new masthead does change the way they are run (i.e. changing
> the main halyard from a sheave internal to the mast and below the
> masthead; to a sheave (or sheaves) that are integral to the masthead
> (thus higher and different).
>
> The reason I'm bringing this up is that if I did understand correctly,
> this might also be an issue to clarify in this "go 'round" of rules
> appealing/changing. Especially since a number of people already have
> this new masthead, and more are clearly buying it. Even if those
> people don't race now, they might change their minds, or the boats
> might be sold to new, racing-minded owners.
>
> Rachel
> #221
>
>> The Rules Committee is also charged with interpreting the rules for the
>> coming season. I will urge the committee to:
>>
>> 1) Declare whether for the 2009 racing season
>> a) internal halyards will be legal,
>> OR
>> b) internal halyards will be illegal
>>
>> 2) Recommend an addition to the bylaws Rule #7 either
>> a)All halyards used in racing must be completely external to the
>> mast.
>> OR
>> b)Internal halyards are permitted.
>>
>
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