Mid-Boom Sheeting 1/05/2003

While many racers prefer the load advantages from end-boom sheeting
relative to the mainsheet, end boom sheeting offers no real performance
advantages. Some racers advocate mid-boom sheeting on more modern
designs because vang adjustment, while still required, is less
critical. A boat snapping off a tack may find a proper set sooner than
a boat with end boom sheeting that also requires more dramatic vang
implementation. This may sound trivial, but serious races are all about
the 1/2 second advantages afforded by better designed gear. On the
other hand, a greater number of blocks may also slow sheeting times.
Thus far, the vast majority of hardcore race boats are fitted with
end-boom sheeting.
For the cruiser racer, the mid-boom sheeting is the clear winner. It
clears the cockpit and is far more friendly to guests and young
children.

RB
35s5
NY

"Capt. Rob" wrote
While many racers prefer ....
...... This may sound trivial, but serious races are all about
the 1/2 second advantages .....

Two important things happened back in the 1960's. Roe vs Wade legalized
abortion and birth control and intellegent people began limiting the number
of children they produced. This meant that relatively fewer intellegent
children were born. Simultaniously, LBJ's Aid to Dependent Children (ADC)
program began paying stupid folk, village idiots, and others with defective
genes, to have as many offspring like themselves as possible. The two
quickly produced a big "hump" on the low side of the IQ bell curve with the
effect that the whole US population has been "dumbing down" for almost 50
years. The results are plain to see - the resurgence of fundamental
religion, the triumphs of faith over reason and logic, the election and
reelection of politicians like Bush, and the popularity of racing things
like lawn mowers, stock cars and sail boats.

Oh dear.....!


Bad news, Ozzy. I didn't reveal the source of that text for a reason.
You don't agree with it? Please outline for everyone what aspect of the
comments on mid-boom sheeting are not accurate.
This is your big chance!

RB
35s5
NY

"Capt. Rob" wrote in message
For the cruiser racer, the mid-boom sheeting is the clear winner. It
clears the cockpit and is far more friendly to guests and young
children.

That's a design shortfall... not a safety feature.

CM

"Capt" Rob" wrote-
For the cruiser racer, the mid-boom sheeting is the clear winner.

No it isn't. It puts more strain on the rig and gives less
leverage to the trimmer.

Mid-boom sheeting is a holdover from the bad old days of the
IOR rule when racers all had tiny mainsails with very short,
downward-sloping (negative stive) booms. The mainsheet could
be over the companionway and still be at (or close to) the
end of the boom for good leverage.

.... It
clears the cockpit and is far more friendly to guests and young
children.


Capt.Mooron wrote:
That's a design shortfall... not a safety feature.


Oh yes, it *is* a safety feature if you assume that the
sailor in question will always be too clumsy to keep clear
of the mainsheet and too stupid to learn to handle it properly.

DSK

"DSK" wrote in message

Oh yes, it *is* a safety feature if you assume that the sailor in question
will always be too clumsy to keep clear of the mainsheet and too stupid to
learn to handle it properly.

I'll refer you to the "Boom Gallows".....

CM

DSK wrote:
"Capt" Rob" wrote-

For the cruiser racer, the mid-boom sheeting is the clear winner.


No it isn't. It puts more strain on the rig and gives less leverage to
the trimmer.

Mid-boom sheeting is a holdover from the bad old days of the IOR rule
when racers all had tiny mainsails with very short, downward-sloping
(negative stive) booms. The mainsheet could be over the companionway and
still be at (or close to) the end of the boom for good leverage.

.... It
clears the cockpit and is far more friendly to guests and young
children.



Capt.Mooron wrote:

That's a design shortfall... not a safety feature.


Oh yes, it *is* a safety feature if you assume that the sailor in
question will always be too clumsy to keep clear of the mainsheet and
too stupid to learn to handle it properly.

DSK

Of course we could just Hunterize the main sheet and have end boom to
over cockpit arch to get the best of everything?

Capt.Mooron wrote:
I'll refer you to the "Boom Gallows".....


Does that make this Boom Gallows Humor?

DSK

Gary wrote:
Of course we could just Hunterize the main sheet and have end boom to
over cockpit arch to get the best of everything?

Actually, I like that idea and have seen a couple of boats
(not Hunters) where the idea was well implemented.

DSK

"Gary" wrote in message

Of course we could just Hunterize the main sheet and have end boom to over
cockpit arch to get the best of everything?

Shame when design flaws delegate what should be a boom gallows to nothing
more than a flimsy, rakish, equipment arch. It's the "look fast - go
nowhere" theme of modern sailboat design.

CM

CM