At long last I now have had the opportunity to rig and sail my new flying jib for my Bayraider 20 (WE).
The idea stemmed from my efforts in rigging and sailing my Asymmetric spinnaker, which were quite successful and I was very pleased with the results. However, it occurred to me that although the spinnaker was great fun, it did involve a degree of manpower in the form of a reasonably strong crew to tame the beast.
Like most, I imagine, I am a bit of a 'billy-no-crew' when it comes to sailing, with 'er in doors finding a myriad of excuses not to join in and when looking around at any of my acquaintances I find they all have their own boats (strange that!) and are also looking for crew ..!
A furling Asymmetric or even a snuffer all still required a degree of man handling so they were disregarded.
An article on the Association website gave me the idea of a furlable flying jib. (Thanks Graham).
The main criteria was that it had to be easily launched and recovered (furled) and that it had to be flown from the retractable CF spinnaker pole (for trailing purposes). I did not want to dispense with my Asymmetric for good, so there had to be a system where either could be flown relatively easily. And all set up so I could change from one to another within the boat whilst at sea.
Graham very kindly sent me all the information he had on his flying jib, which I believe was provided by Matt (?).
I then went to my sailmaker with all the information I had. We measured the boat and took sheeting angles, after some discussion I asked for something a bit larger than Graham's, and with some roach to give some curve (or belly) for additional power. The resulting sail was eventually modified from a Drascombe Lugger flying jib design. I also asked for a wire luff rope to aid furling and to give it additional strength.
Standard Barton furlers - same as on the standard jib - were purchased and fitted. The top furler is fitted to the spinnaker halyard using a carabiner clip so it can be easily undone and the Asymmetric substituted if required.
The drum furler was more complicated, at first it too was fitted with a snap on hook, but that proved too loose for effective furling. I eventually fitted it with a shackle secured to the spinnaker pole using the bobstay rope, and using an old part of a dinghy forestay attachment to prevent it from twisting when being furled/unfurled. I found too that the angles for the furling string were quite crucial to prevent the string from bunching up and jamming. I can shackle on a block to this for the Asymmetric tack.
I used the sheets that came with the Asymmetric and these are controlled using Barton K cleats (midi) leading back to behind the rowlock position - some work is required to get the exact positioning right as I found they didn't lie in a comfortable, easily managed position.
The furling string is led right back to the helm position, through a fairlead on the spinnaker pole over the bow and down the starboard side of the boat. Apart from getting the angle to the furling drum right, there has been no problems so far.
I was fortunate enough to have had a really good day to try this all out. Wind was SW F2 - 4. Bright and sunny. Sailing single handed and with the ballast tank empty. I was accompanied by Peter Cockerton sailing his own BR (ably crewed by his Pointer dog Scooby!) to bounce ideas off and take photographs (Peter, that is, not Scooby).
When clear of land and other sailors I pointed up into a close reach and unfurled the flying jib. Initially she failed to unfurl completely, the string in the drum had bunched and jammed, some refurling and unfurling cleared that and she opened up nicely. (This was later corrected by changing the angle of the string into the drum). I was very impressed with how the sail lay, (see photo's), easing off onto a broad reach she really came into her own - and flew! The additional power was very evident, and altogether a different sailing experience, It felt (which, of course, it was) pulling from the front. My boat certainly felt she had a new lease of life! I experimented with different points of sail and was pleasantly pleased with her at all angles to the wind.
Then it came to putting a tack in. BR owners will know that tacking a BR is just a matter of putting the helm over, suddenly I had to remember that I had (new) jib sheets to contend with! After a bit of embarrassing floundering around and flogging of the new sail, she settled onto the new tack and I sheeted in, everything quietened down and off we went again.
I practised tacking and gybing and found no problems at all, the sail slipped round the front of the standard jib very easily. (One of the pictures in fact shows me tacking).
I experimented with both jibs, then one or the other, or neither, which was very satisfying. As the wind increased up to about a F4 on a close reach, I found the boat behaved beautifully, in the stronger wind I could point up higher - and higher! It was amazing to see the standard jib and the main both start to luff but the flying jib continued pulling like a train!
The flying jib is of no use for pointing hard (close haul). For that just furl it in and use the standard jib, which is cut a lot flatter. But for a close reach and anything down from that she is a delight. I found that to make effective use of her it is necessary to sheet in the standard jib, I imagine it's to do with slot effects etc? Whether or not it was just my enthusiasm but I also felt the Main responded in a better way too? Those with more knowledge than me may be able to comment on this.
Of course, you must remember that you have additional power and therefore your sailing style has to be modified to take this into consideration - I did spend a lot of time with the gun'lls under water! More of my own volition (because it was fun!). At no time did my BR feel out of control. Sheeting out the Main gently bought her back on her legs again... and I've every confidence in further experiments in stronger wind.
Some issues I found were that the CF spinnaker pole is quite flexible - Of course this effects the tension on the luff of the flying jib, although she was tamed by the bob stay. I am considering a wire bob stay to firm it off even more. Lateral pull was evident, but I imagine this does help spill some wind when it gets blowy? I suppose a 'plank' bow sprit is the solution but as I said I wanted a retractable and easily launched 'bow sprit' and the spin pole as fitted is just the job.
The sheet cam cleats need to be changed to a better position. I struggled single handed to cleat them off, especially when the boat was heeling.
I definitely now need a tiller tamer of some description! (Any suggestions?). Trying to sort everything out and keep hold of the tiller was 'challenging' as they say these days!
All in all, considering I went into this quite blind as to the outcome I am very, very pleased. (Not to mention relieved!).
My BR behaves as if she was designed for this - but bearing in mind she IS designed to fly the Asymmetric, then it's no great surprise she can handle the flying jib. I would certainly recommend this modification to anyone who wants that little bit extra.
Oh, and by the way, I think it makes the BR look even more stunning with a 'cutter' style rig!
Sail Maker was Dan at
www.sailregister.com. Barton bits etc all off ebay.
Regards, and I hope you found some of this interesting.
Andy and 'Psalter' - both feeling as pleased as punch!
