Bruce T. Shark

Not sure how light it is, but you might try the fiber optic trick and either blow it or suck it out.  I used this running new wires thru ducts on my boat, and sending messengers down the boom.

Sculp-

 

There is truth in what you say. However, my view has just been tainted by another racer with a P30-

 

He has a ratcheting, mechanical, backstay adjuster, so he just kept the single backstay. The simplicity was pretty enticing. He managed to avoid the hydraulic adjuster. Ugh...the choices!

 

Ajax, two comments on the backstay project.  Firstly, keep in mind that the loads on the corners will be a lot less than the straight version, and as has been noted the corners are stronger than the middle of the transom.  Secondly, as a backing plate you can use a slab of hardwood - easy to shape, slap some epoxy on and glue it up.  G-10 is overkill on this and if you are worried about rot I'll have to ask why you think it would be getting wet up in there...

Ajax; Go with the bascading backstay arrangement.  I had a adjustable harken turnbuckle (looked like a periscope) to tighten the backstay up, the cascade is faster, easier and you keep the weight out of the back of the boat during mark roundings.

Stardancer is in!  Bruce will be running loose in Eastport on Thurs night!

Which 36.7?

There is only one, we are it...as for getting fed to the sharks...nope..I am a party shark!  I will be making more appreances this year...

Based on what i was taught during my rules class (the former US Sailing Rules Chairman) is that in a European regatta a US competitor witnessed paper bags, empty water bottles, plastic food bags assorted wrappers (i.e. TRASH), being thrown overboard, rather than being saved for proper disposal on the beach.

If you think it this applies to you with rubber bands it does, if you think your competitors would hold you in lower regard, then it applies to you, if you have to ask yourself, if i throw this over can i be protested, dont.

We now have our smokers field stripping their cigarette butts and i have an ashtray for them if needed.

Nothing goes intentionally overboard on my boat.

I know my first time at sea i was shocked when i witnessed garbage bags being thrown overboard on a merchant ship, then realized we were not going to keep it with 800 people on the ship, Navy did to...though the Navy is now saving all plastic for shore disposal.

There is no other way to read the rule imho.  What is commonly being done now violates rule 55. I can't see how they can re-write the rule to say it is OK to put yarn or rubber bands in the water.  I can't see how they can remove the rule.  All that has to happen is for someone to protest a boat and win the protest and nobody will be able to do what has been done for 100 years.  You can't go back.

 

I assume someone will make a launch only spinnaker sock or a variation that comes back on deck and doesn't put anything in the water that will solve the problem.

 

Allen