Subject: Re: Rare bird and schooners
From: Mike Crawford
Date: 2/6/2006, 11:12 AM
To: rob dalton


  Good point about the man overboard.  The time saved by simply stopping and reversing is incalculable.  I hadn't thought about the anchoring issue.  The reefing is another big item.  Not only do you not have to worry about doubling the apparent wind, you also don't have to worry about the boat snapping around and capsizing when you're working on the sails -- the lw hull will simply stay leeward.  Plus, if you get a schooner rig, there will be no flogging of the sails once you let the sheets out, which is better for both the sails and the crew.

  I see the benefit of the farrier system in theory, especially now that you've come up with the idea of a temporary system used just for assembly and disassembly.  At this point the difference for me would come down to cost and convenience: is it cheaper and easier to build the functionality into the trailer or into the folding system.

---

  You seem to have an interesting history, by the way.  You've spent years commercial fishing, are working on a PhD, teach music, and are about to go into either lecturing or researching shark fishing sustainability.  That's a unique combo.  I've assumed you're in Australia because you talk about the Bass Strait and the reef hotel, but your email address ends in .co.uk.  Are you in Oz?


       - Mike



rob dalton wrote:
I agree with all you've said. Another few advantages. manoeveability under sail for picking up man overboard and crossing bars, being able to place a sea anchor over the stern and let the stern becomethe bow. Much more comfortable than having to put the sea anchor over the bow. Double ender makes beaching and leaving much safer.
If over sailed downwind then the sheets can be eased fully and the sails can easily be reefed, rather than contemplating rounding up to feather and doubling apparrent wind
 
I reckon extra accommodation could be included in the Visionarry by flaring the middle part of the ww side of the lw hull Don't think it is compromising seaworthiness or windage but certainly increasing the trailing width as it can no longer tuck under.
 
 
If the lw hull was rotated at the same time as pulled out then less room is needed for the mast. That in essense is the Farrier system. If the Farrier system is connected to a sleeve over the beams, then the beams can be slid in after folding. If the struts are then removed then there is very little increase in sailing weight.
 
Robert

Mike