tophatyachts.com

Hi all,

Has anyone put an inner forestay on with the intention to use a storm jib / other small jib?

Is it possible to run it down to the anchor roller (near the current forestay) to save the hassle of fixing another point on the deck or will this take the storm sail too far forward, upsetting the balance?

Scott.

Hi Scott,

The real point is, where do you fix it on your mast?

Phillip
SEAKA

I'm trying to get a gale sail type thing made here if my sailmaker can do it.
http://www.atninc.com/gale_en.php

isn't a forestay overkill on a topper?

Fixing it to the top of the mast (solent stay style) might be OK but if you attach it lower I think you would need running back stays if you intend to use it in storm conditions. I have a storm sail for my furler and I think that I could get it up at sea in an emergency but it would be difficult. To date I have just rolled up the furler to storm sail size. Provided you are not beating against a big sea and the wind is below 35 knots it works OK. Unless you plan to cross oceans, I think with modern weather forecasting you can avoid getting caught in stronger winds than this with some careful planning.

Cheers,
Mark

Thanks, some good points here. I have a habit of planning for the worst case scenario, but generally come back a bit to get a reasonable balance! I had considered a running backstay initially, but then went against it because of the added hassles, but I believe you are probably right Mark.

As convenient as it is being able to furl the headsail in strong winds, I'm concerned that if there are any problems whereby I have to drop the sail (as unlikely as it is), I will have to unfurl the headsail which wouldn't be ideal, especially single handed. I guess though if I had crew, I could just send them up!

Rob - I'd be interested to hear how that goes. I've seen those somewhere else and had forgotten about them till you mentioned them. They seem a great compromise, though there'd be a fair bit of windage from the furled headsail, so with the storm sail attached the forces on both mast and deck fittings would be quite large (I'm guessing?). But, again, seems a reasonable compromise. And like Mark says, it's pretty easy to plan coastal trips based on weather forecasts these days, probably including a hop to LHI.

I also thought about a gale sail but my sail maker said they were not worthwhile. He had made several but only under sufferance. He thought they were not a good idea in a storm as they were difficult to raise and had too much windage. I thought they looked good in the promotional video, but a lot of things do.

Cheers,
Mark

I think the luff is really smart - being able to leave the headsail below...

There was one Toppie up this way that had an inner forestay... no longer around so sorry can't get pictures for you...

When I get a large world cruiser would definitely go with a cutter rig with ability to have storm sail on inner forestay... if only they made the tophats in a 35+ plus footer

On this there was a test carried out by the great English publication 'Practical Boat Owner' published in the January 2010 edition on storm jibs. It used a Contessa 26 in 45 knot winds and used a variety of wrap around sails including the gale sail and also removable inner forestay hank on storm jibs. The review came down strongly in favour of the removable inner forestay and hank on storm jib. I am aware that is also the set up that Alan Neubauer had on Deus Regit 11 in his 5 year trip going across to Canada to one of my favourite spots - Maple Bay - and to Mexico and back again. While he used sheet to tiller steering on the journey to Canada, on the way back he had a wind vane fitted, and carried the Montgomery 6 -8 dingy, which I also have and am very happy with. Cheers

oh! Karly they do make the toppie in a plus 35 footer - its called an Alberg 37! Cheers

Now Scott and All,

Who would want to make a sloop into a slutter for this is what this sort of rig is called.

I have found details on doing this, but have to transcribe the text from a photocopy, will post next week.

Phillip
SEAKA