Rodney Myrvaagnes wrote:

On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 01:52:23 -0400, "Matt O'Toole"
wrote:
Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 20 Apr 2005 14:25:05 -0400, "Matt O'Toole"
wrote:
A better way to approach this problem is to seal the mast itself,
running halyards, etc., externally.

=============================================

External halyards are a really bad idea. They are easier to maintain
but the extra clutter and windage is a huge negative.

They said the same thing 40 years ago about internal halyards. Now some state
of the art designers are saying it again. Calling the windage and clutter
penalty "huge" is overstating it a bit, I think.

We have a 24-year old boat with four internal halyards and an internal
ple lift. Never had a bit of trouble in that length of time. Any
penalty for external is too much. And there is plenty of penalty to be
had.

Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a

Ever notice the helical stairways on the outsides at the tops of
tall smokestacks? They are not stairs. They generate vortices that
reduce aerodynamic drag on flimsy chimneys in the wind.

Vortex generators on the leading edges of moths' wings generate
vortex "membranes", bubbles that make their flat wings
aerodynamically more efficient with the vortex air acting like a
curved wing's top skin.

An external halyard can be bungied away from a mast, or wrapped half
around it snug, but cannot be stopped from slapping around if inside.

The rythmic music of a gentle anchorage's lapping wavelets and
gently gonging halyards can serve as a counterpoise to the feared
racket of a rising wind's hammering shriek and slap, awakening the
sailor who's crew is absent to check his anchor.

There is no such thing as perfect silence, as the pounding of the
blood will arouse an unrested sleeper with worry in his head.
Nothing will stop a faithful soul from finding peaceful repose even
in a cement mixer rolling downhill.

We can control our own oblivion. Accept it or avoid it, we do it all
through reason.

Still, some golfers get the yips.

Terry K