Getting a GBE to Cat 3

[Clipper 195]

http://s227.photobucket.com/user/Waione_photos/media/misc%2016/20161127_110059.jpg.html

[GregW 17]

 

 

"Was used in anger a number of times, most memorably a singlehanded blast back from kawau while as hung over as f&ck. Think it was 1 hour 15 mins from bee hive to north head? Actually, i must have a photo, a crew.org guy took some as i went past. I’ll try and find".

 

I remember that, I was parked in Torpedo Bay with a broken rudder waiting for the 40kt + westerly to ease, when you sailed past. Looked a good rig for those conditions. 

[Adrianp 35]

This is why you need an inner forestay with a deep reef! 

 

 

[ScottiE 173]

see - ali rigs are good - nice and flexi!

[Island Time 775]

This is why you need an inner forestay with a deep reef!

Je&^# Adrian, thats a bit scary!

[Clipper 195]

That was minutes (maybe seconds) before it snapped. 1 of 2 masts that came down that day due to deep reefed mains without inner forestays

[Freedom GBE 27]

Wont forget that day. Easy 25 knots on the start, fractional kite up. Wind got up, sending it through a small gap between the wharfs and a container ship. Couldnt slow down or go forward to drop untill behind the container terminals. Pumped and like so far ahead of the fleet. We didnt reef to second reef because we didnt have the inner forestay set up properly and had the lecture form the inspector. Bare headed, so overpowered, couldnt reach, only point upwind or smoke down wind to Narrowneck. Now blowing 40+ which wasnt in the forecast at all. Attitude passed as per pic above, we tacked rather than gybed and busted the top slides on the main. 

 

Race over, limp acrross to Okahu Bay under gib only. Couldnt go upwind.tried motoring but then the prop bushes burned out. Managed to reverse into Okahu Marina and waited for hours until the wind dropped.

 

I recomend a cat three inspection from Tim Clissold.

[Clipper 195]

I stayed on the mooring that day

[NZTiger 4]

That's a pretty convincing argument for the inner forestay. 

 

Just out of interest, if you dropped the main when trying to make progress in 40 knots and sail with the heavy weather jib only, would a GBE be controllable both upwind and downwind? and would you still get the inverted bend in the mast from the heavy weather jib pulling the crap out of the normal forestay? (assuming you didn't have an inner forestay)

[Clipper 195]

Mast supported by the sidestays, so no issues under jib only mast wise.

Downwind no issues.

Upwind would be damn near possible to point as bow keeps getting blown off and a tack would be impossible id say. Light boat, lots of windage, not much sail.

Ive done 14 knots in flat water with a storm jib only (broad reaching)