Two Head Sail questions

[Richard Formica]

Hi,
Since there is snow on the ground I can only dream about sailing, however it got me to thinking about a problem I was having last year. I know there has been much discussion about tacking the yankee through the slot created between the the head stay and inner fore stay, but I could not find any discussion on the kind of knot used to attach the sheets to the jib. I have been using a bow line and it seems that it is the knot that always catches on the stay. Any suggestions-maybe a fishermans bend, or using rigging tape over the knot to smooth it out? Have any of you just had sheets spliced onto your jibs? Is this expensive?

Question two. There is very little discussion that I could find regarding assymetric spinakers. In general are people who have them happy? Does it improve the down wind performance of our boats as much as I imaging it will? I don't particularly care about speed per se, but I want to go more places just sailing.
thanks
rich



richard.formica@yale.edu

[Marino]

As to question 1: On my Ty, I ordered my genoa sheet in one long piece. Find the middle and make a lark's head through the clew. That shouldn't catch on anything.

If the lark's head doesn't hold well enough for some reason, another option is a buntline hitch.

Marino Curati
Ty #74 Snug
Cleveland



mcurati@earthlink.net

[Jeff Schmoyer]

May ask what a lark's head is? Is that just the simple practice of pulling the two bitter ends of the jib sheet through their own middle loop which in turn the sail's clew?

I've seen this done around the marina and I've always wondered if it is really secure. E.g. Can it withstand a good flogging aroudn when it's blowing seven bells of s---- as Tristan Jones used to say.

By the way, in case this is a silly or obvious question, I've got a good excuse to flaunt my ignorance.

Y'see, although I'm embarassed to admit this, I have been sailing for 10 years now and the only knots I've reliably been able to tie were 1) the bowline and 2) a proper figure 8 on a cleat.

So I have dedicated this year's "Winter Boat Project" to learning at least 20 good nautical knots inside & out, in the dark, upsidedown, whatever.

I've gone and gathered some bits of rope and small stuff, plus several books from B&N, and now I am driving my wife crazy by walking around the house hitching things together!

It's actually fun and kind of theraputic. And WOW, what I've been missing out on in terms of useful knots!

Jeff






Jeff.Schmoyer@IFF.com

[Anthony P. Jeske]

Rich:
I too, vote for the larkshead knot. It sure works for me. It's simple, MUCH less likely to give you a hard smack in the head if you're forward, and it's small size really reduces snagging. I have never had
one loosen from flogging. By the way, it's also called a girth hitch when it's used to fasten a saddle on a horse.
Fair Winds
Tony Jeske
CD-25D #141
Carpe Diem
San Diego



ajeske@ixpres.com

[Will W.]

I suggest the Eye Splice for sucureing the sheets. I had a lot of fun learning with an old piece of rope. The eyesplice is very strong, retaining 90% rope strength vs. 60% with a Bowline. It is also light and does not hang up on the rigging. The only real drawback is the difficulty in learning it in the first place and the fact that the sheets become permanently attatched. I personnally don't mind that they are forever attatched because I feel it is easier to deal with the headsail and sheet together both during set up and take down.

Will Wheatley
Suzi Q
CD25

May ask what a lark's head is? Is that just the simple practice of pulling the two bitter ends of the jib sheet through their own middle loop which in turn the sail's clew?

I've seen this done around the marina and I've always wondered if it is really secure. E.g. Can it withstand a good flogging aroudn when it's blowing seven bells of s---- as Tristan Jones used to say.

By the way, in case this is a silly or obvious question, I've got a good excuse to flaunt my ignorance.

Y'see, although I'm embarassed to admit this, I have been sailing for 10 years now and the only knots I've reliably been able to tie were 1) the bowline and 2) a proper figure 8 on a cleat.

So I have dedicated this year's "Winter Boat Project" to learning at least 20 good nautical knots inside & out, in the dark, upsidedown, whatever.

I've gone and gathered some bits of rope and small stuff, plus several books from B&N, and now I am driving my wife crazy by walking around the house hitching things together!

It's actually fun and kind of theraputic. And WOW, what I've been missing out on in terms of useful knots!

Jeff

willwheatley@starpower.net

[Leo MacDonald]

Hi Will,

Re; ". . Eye Splice for securing the sheets."

This will;

a.) Make it difficult to 'end-over-end' the sheets halfway thru the season.

And

b.) Gradually wear and thin the line right in the bight of the loop at max stretch area possible resulting in a complete failure at the most inopportune time. (Reference to jib halyard failure on the Ketch 'Heather Ann' during the CD Race 2001 to Block Isl.)

Fair Winds,
Leo
S/V 'Evening Light' CD33 #38



macdore@aol.com

[len]

richard

personally i prefer two separate jib sheets attached with bowlines - the occasionally easily solved knot hang-up is outweighed by the advantages: can't slip/can't jam, end over end each season makes them wear evenly, i've never heard of the knot failing and have heard many accounts of other knots/splices/shackles etc. failing (always under adverse conditions of course)

re asymmetrical spinnakers, see a recent thread - personally i love mine and use it often, single-handed, but it takes a bit to set it so
i only fly it when it will be up at least hours - it improves downwind performance in light air tremendously

len



md.frel@nwh.org

[Marino]

May ask what a lark's head is? Is that just the simple practice of pulling the two bitter ends of the jib sheet through their own middle loop which in turn the sail's clew?

You're right on. Just reverse your method. It's easier to poke the loop through the clew and pass the bitter ends through the loop.

As to the question of security. It's not the first choice to attach a sheet to a clew, but it will solve your problem and should be fine for the loads of that sail. I learned it from racing J24's where a snag means you lose the race. It absolutely won't shake out though because it's all one piece. You should break it loose and move it around every so often to prevent it from becoming frozen.

Learn the buntline too and see which you like better. The buntline is a traditional knot for attaching a line to a clew. The knot will be snug against the clew which might make it less likely to catch.

- Marino