Jethrow

No I don't think that's what I'm trying to say. I've been around sailing for a long time (50 years?) but for the juniors, you either play the ISAF/ WS game or you go elsewhere. I don't have any kids so I'm not pushing some agenda or anything but I don't think you can say "Look at all the kids sailing X class" when that is the only option available to them to progress through the ranks. Here in Australia we had some fabulous junior classes back in the day and they produced some really great sailors but also trained the kiddies to go further and sail into their later years. Then the Opti was promoted as the ONLY class to sail to go to the Olympics and it killed the other classes but also killed the non Olympic aspirants that just liked sailing and would move into other dinghies or their local yacht club fleets (it's getting a bit better now). My own club is very proud of the numbers of kids in their Opti program and they are having some really good success but for the hundred kids sailing in the opti fleet, how many are still around 5 years down the track. 10%, 5% maybe even less. I just find it sad...

Yeah I agree that the numbers are good but what were the other invited classes? What's the competition? It's a bit like the American world series baseball, the best players play and they talk about who's playing but they only play in that competition because any other competition is run out of town.

Hi All I'm making a new dolphin striker for the bowsprit on my cat. I want it as long as possible to provide support but as the boat is moored, the tip will get splashed or submerged by passing waves if it's long. I know that they use Dynex for fishing nets & lines, but in my mind being dunked & drying with the accumulated salt buildup would be different from the normal net usage. Anyone know if this will result in greater than normal chafing? I know people use dynex for this very application but does the salt buildup result in a shorter lifespan? I haven't done calculations yet but I'm thinking 6 - 8mm dynex on a 2.2m bowsprit with a dolphin striker length of max 800mm (to waterline) so about 20 degrees of angle at the end, flying a masthead assy at the tip and masthead zero at the midpoint, 1750kg boat.

908 notification emails (although I guess a fair few posts are from you), must fill up the inbox pretty good. I hope they're all filed and cross referenced!

Opps, knew it was soon...

There's a boat weighing happening at the RPAYC in two weekends. You'd need the proper spreader bars though, don't know if the cranes usually have them or not. I raced John Partrige's F-28 for him in '99, from memory we won the first rainy drifter race by a mile on handicap and never featured after that!

Are you talking about the full aero, jib endplate snuffer (not that I know the answer)?

Nice one Ras, that's gone into the rigging & rope folder! There was another lashing method I've seen done that involves half hitches but it goes through the middle of the cascade (between the strands) and it means that the lashing can't slowly rotate around the cascade and loosen. I'll see if I can find it.

Multi's don't go down

That can't possibly be Melbourne, too many palm trees!

Funnily enough, if you look through your starboard jackstay (in the pic), you can just see the tip of my mast, the originator of the question! Mine are a pain to keep tight too...

Yeah, I'm sure they're just pulltruded glass battens. It's Permex here in OZ, I think Sailbone did similar in Canada, take your pick

A boat at our club "modified " from a Beneteau First 40.7 to a Dehler 45 in the middle of the season and our club just didn't do anything. Funnily enough they won the PHS SOPS pointscore, stupidest thing I've ever seen.

Cool, I actually contacted Gordon earlier in the weekend, good to hear he's got some stuff down here.

Hi all, looking for the accumulated knowledge from 'round the world again. My front tramps are still sound but they look terrible because they have no edging and they are hard to keep tight. They are currently the tennis net style knotted rope tramps. I'm considering changing them and I'm torn between the Spectra and Polyester materials. I want to keep the open weave style so not looking at Ferrari or Chicopee materials. What are your experiences with longevity of each style? I've had the current ones for nearly 20 years so that's my comparison.