Have just returned from my third fully testing trials in my recent build.
Boat went well, but a note to BR17 builders , I found the mast to be too short, I increased the height by about 75mm but this , for my purposes, was still not enough. I have had a word with Matt and he is going to increase future boats by around 100mm.
The problem manifests itself in that I was unable to fit a fiddle block at the mast head for an intended bowsprit, and the aft end of the sprit boom on the mainsail was a bit low especially with a first reef.
The system I use to reef requires another dumb sheeve above that of the main halyard, this allows the reefing line to be attached to the reef point and carried up the yard when useing full sail , to reef simply drop the main to the reef 'sheeve' and tie reef lines at the foot.
I normally sail single handed ,this system worked a treat in winds of 4/5.
These changes were incorporated during the build.
I did however have a very good sail from Helford to Falmouth ,with full sails and full ballast tank ( a great system) in a steady wind at the upper end of 4-5, so maybe I'm a bit cautious !
Steve Jones
BR17 Nona Me
