Michael wrote:
Went to a seminar on singlehanding or single watchstanding safety.

Sounds to me like you got a bucket of BS from some dinosaurs.

... The
panel members have all solo circunavigated.

That's an accomplishment to be proud of, but does it have to be a pulpit
for preaching reliance on 1930s technology & outdated sailing concepts?


1) When securing the vang to the boom don't rely on just the under boom
fitting. Also pass a canvas or cloth strop from the end of the vang over the
boom, under the sail. This works unless you have a bolt rope.

In other words, it's useless unless you have slugs (antiquated) in which
case you'll probably rip the crap out of the sail if a heavy strain
comes on that strap & it tries to slide toward the gooseneck, which it
will... in any event, it will be just as likely to fold up the boom.

Better to put a proper fitting on the boom for the vang, be it a fitted
hard point or a bail with a compression post, and inspect it often
enough to reduce the chance of failure.


2) Instead of relying on the single length tether on your safety harness put
one in the cockpit (two if the foreward one won't reach aft to the wind vane
etc., one by the vang, one by the stays'l and one by the jib/forestay and
anchor area plus one by the mast.

I don't think this is necessarily a bad idea but having an extra tether
banging around & catching on things does not appeal to me. Why not have
just 1 the right length?


... (side note ) I learned to run a second line from the upper end of
the bow pulpit up to just about elbow height on the lower shroud and then
down to the pushpit.

That sounds great, one more obstruction on deck. If you are on a big
boat with wide, unobstructed decks, then that would be a good idea *if*
the rope was very strong, secured very strongly, and kept taut enough to
keep you secure. Otherwise it's just going to help you get hurt... just
my opinion of course...


3) Running Rigging - As a rule of thumb figure they will last 30,000 nm.

??? How do they factor UV exposure per nautical mile?

... Cut
them at least 10' longer than normal.

Do these guys also advocate having baggy wrinkle all over everything?
What cluttered boats they must sail.

Frankly it sounds like the same kind of nonsense the "Cruising Rally"
lecturers are full of. Except for the weather professionals, most of
these guys are just a bunch of blowhards who enjoy telling newbies what
great sailors they are. Maybe I have been too hard on the Crapton, at
least he was amusing sometimes.

Michael, at least your bunch aren't subsidized shills telling you to run
out and buy a lot of fancy gear.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King