Joe,

 

When I had Wing Tip’s asymmetrical made at our local loft the sail maker
told be to use ¼” water shedding line for the sheets. I ignored her at went
with 3/8” line. After tying the sail a few times I concluded it wasn’t worth
the effort to rig it and fly it. After a couple of years “Why do I even have
this thinking” I started replaying in my mind the sail maker’s comments
about the line size and how it should float downwind. Then I looked at what
I didn’t like about rigging it for launch. 

 

Long story short I redesigned the downhaul to eliminate the ATN Tacker and
feed the line from a fairlead at the front (well just behind the forward
tube) of the pulpit. The line drops down to a block on the starboard forward
leg of the pulpit and then routes back to the cockpit using ball bearing
stanchion blocks that mirror of my furler control line. The ATN sock worked
great so it stayed. The sheets go to one common plastic shackle that I’ll
clip to the down haul when not in use. Then it’s just three shackles and
she’s ready to fly. 

 

It appears because I can let the tack fly free of the normal centerline tack
point I have extended the range of the sail. As I turn down wind and ease
the sheet and let the tack fly the tack crosses to windward and I wind up
being able to sail about 5° beyond dead down. I haven’t found it to be a
tactical advantage but she will sail in extremely light air especially if I
drop the mainsail out of the way. We even sailed around the Santana 20 fleet
huddled with flogging sails one evening wait for enough breeze to be able to
move and did it with enough style I saw two mouths drop open. They weren’t
expecting the largest boat on the lake to slide past them in no air.

 

I don’t know if I’d try tacking the sail flying from the jib halyard. If
you’ve got the room for a long run on a single tack give it a try and dowse
it before tacking. If you’ve got a second mate tacking the helm remind them
when a spinnaker is up it’s like a square rigger and there is no option to
luff into the wind. It’s a good way to shred the sail on the rigging and
take a knock down with no steerage way.

 

Phil Agur
<http://www.catalina27.org/public_pages/profile270.htm> s/v Wing Tip 
C270 LE #184            MMSI 366901790 



 

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Joe
McCary
Sent: Friday, August 27, 2010 6:06 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [IC27A] I am thinking of flying the Asym the first time this
weekend

 

  

I have an ASYM I bought (used) last season and am finally thinking of flying
it this weekend.  I have sheets but need to add the tack line/gear.  How
long should I make the line? I was thinking 45’-50’, is that too long? What
size line is best, the sheets look like 3/8”.  Also, I need a turning block
for the bow I know, and was thinking of using an aft.  And lastly, I have
not had the opportunity to take the mast down, so I was going to fly from
the Jib Halyard (fly inside the forestay) and thoughts?  The wind is
predicted to be 5-10 kts, so this is fairly light and not tlikley to give
major problems.  I will take the mast down and add a spinnaker crane (I
already have that) next spring.

 

Joe McCary
Aeolus II. #4795, West River, MD
www.aeoluswestriver.net 
joe at photoresponse dot com 



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