In article ,
"Roger Long" wrote:

I think he was talking about retensioning the sheets after everything is
furled. I've seen people do this. With enough tension, there could be
pressure of the foils on the stay at the point where the sheets come off the
wrap.

Thinking about it since, I can't believe it would be an issue on a new rig.

If the backstay was slacker than it should have been, and the roller
furling slide break-point wasn't bolted tightly, the result could cause
the furling slide to v-bend at that point. Then, when unfurling/furling
often, caused the break to happen.

Basically, bad installation.

--
Molesworth

On Sun, 9 Nov 2008 13:10:09 -0800, "Capt. JG"
wrote:

... I just looked, and according to the reports the forestay separated
at the chainplate at the bow not 10 feet up... not sure where that came
from? That was the report Nov. 6th.

Also, he's sailing a cutter rig, so no major rigging failure.

The lower terminal is the favorite for failures.
Closer to the water. Positioned to trap moisture.
All the same, I rerigged a sailboat where the upper stays parted
near the masthead,

Brian W

"Brian Whatcott" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 9 Nov 2008 13:10:09 -0800, "Capt. JG"
wrote:

... I just looked, and according to the reports the forestay separated
at the chainplate at the bow not 10 feet up... not sure where that came
from? That was the report Nov. 6th.

Also, he's sailing a cutter rig, so no major rigging failure.

The lower terminal is the favorite for failures.
Closer to the water. Positioned to trap moisture.
All the same, I rerigged a sailboat where the upper stays parted
near the masthead,

Brian W



Seems about right. I guess the early (or distorted) reports were a mid-stay
failure.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

On Sun, 9 Nov 2008 15:10:11 -0500, "Roger Long"
wrote:

"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote

It's very easy to figure out why it broke ten foot above deck. Wind the
damned sail up and that's where the clue and sheets end up. Any rocking
and rolling of the boat creates a stress point right there. Stainless
steel work hardens and crystallizes when bent back and forth.

This quite a plausible proposition on the face of it. I don't put much
tension on my sheets when stowing and this is probably a good reason to
continue that practice. I rely on either multiple rolls and/or a sail tie.

I've never heard of a headstay failure at this point though. Has anyone
else?

I also wrap the sheets multiple times around, but don't put much
tension on them. I always use a sail tie when leaving the boat. I made
it into a habit.

I think there must have been some pre-existing damage to that section
of the forestay. The new furler is a clue that something may have
happened to the forestay during installation. I really can't imagine
that a sound forestay would break from mere flexing unless it was MANY
years old - like past replacement time anyway.

On 2008-11-09 15:10:11 -0500, "Roger Long" said:

"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote

It's very easy to figure out why it broke ten foot above deck. Wind the
damned sail up and that's where the clue and sheets end up. Any rocking
and rolling of the boat creates a stress point right there. Stainless
steel work hardens and crystallizes when bent back and forth.

This quite a plausible proposition on the face of it. I don't put much
tension on my sheets when stowing and this is probably a good reason to
continue that practice. I rely on either multiple rolls and/or a sail tie.

I've never heard of a headstay failure at this point though. Has anyone
else?

How often is he going to furl the genny with tensioned sheets on a
"race" around the world? Most likely, he's been using that sail a lot,
hasn't furled it much. If he's furled it, he'll have been using the
Yankee so not tensioned the Genny sheets.

IF it's 10' up, I suspect there is/was a joint there. (or MFG defect)

IF, as a magazine report says, it was at the chainplate, I suspect the
cotter pin keeper first, a high-percentage cause of masts going down.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-à-Deux -- Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote
where the clue and sheets end up

Neal hasn't a clew...

On Sun, 09 Nov 2008 08:29:17 -0800, Gordon wrote:


Zac's forestay snapped 10 foot above deck. Anyone care to venture why
it snapped at that point?
This was new rigging and inside a roller furling.
Gordon

Two plausible causes:
1) a kink pre- or post- installation was straightened out, but damaged
the lay.
2) a weak spot in manufacture of from in-situ corrosion.

Brian W

On Nov 9, 8:29*am, Gordon wrote:
* *Zac's forestay snapped 10 foot above deck. Anyone care to venture why
it snapped at that point?
* This was new rigging and inside a roller furling.
* *Gordon

cause he is trusting wire.
the boys doing a good job of it so far. if he fixes this little
problem he will do fine.
problem i have is he keeps going into port for fixes he could do at
sea.
so what a bit of rigging broke splice it and move on. would take at
worst a couple of hours.
sounds like the boy has a baby sitter.

"Two meter troll" wrote in message
...
On Nov 9, 8:29 am, Gordon wrote:
Zac's forestay snapped 10 foot above deck. Anyone care to venture why
it snapped at that point?
This was new rigging and inside a roller furling.
Gordon

cause he is trusting wire.
the boys doing a good job of it so far. if he fixes this little
problem he will do fine.
problem i have is he keeps going into port for fixes he could do at
sea.
so what a bit of rigging broke splice it and move on. would take at
worst a couple of hours.
sounds like the boy has a baby sitter.

Tell us how you would 'splice' 1x19 wire...

Edgar wrote:

"Two meter troll" wrote in message
...
On Nov 9, 8:29 am, Gordon wrote:

Zac's forestay snapped 10 foot above deck. Anyone care to venture why
it snapped at that point?
This was new rigging and inside a roller furling.
Gordon


cause he is trusting wire.
the boys doing a good job of it so far. if he fixes this little
problem he will do fine.
problem i have is he keeps going into port for fixes he could do at
sea.
so what a bit of rigging broke splice it and move on. would take at
worst a couple of hours.
sounds like the boy has a baby sitter.

Tell us how you would 'splice' 1x19 wire...




With a fid, of course.

Hold the short bottom end bewteen your toes, and the long upper part
of the stay in your teeth.

Then splice like crazy between the rolls!