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

[George Dinwiddie]

Great suggestions, John.  I think that the important thing is not 
whether or not internal halyards are allowed.  It's that

  1. Changes in the interpretations of the rules should be open and 
transparent--not just kept among a select circle.

  2. Any changes in the class rules, or of interpretations of the class 
rules, should take the long view for the good of the class.

  - George

John Birch wrote:
> 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.

-- 
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
   When I remember bygone days                         George Dinwiddie
   I think how evening follows morn;            gdinwiddie at alberg30.org
   So many I loved were not yet dead,           http://www.Alberg30.org
   So many I love were not yet born.
                'The Middle' by Ogden Nash
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