Trapeze wire tensioners

[Charles]

Hi All

To make hooking on to the wire easier & more consistent I have attached aprox 1 ft of shock cord from the top trapeze wire shackle to 15 inches down the wire, fixed with a rolling hitch & plenty of insulating tape. Total cost well under £5.

This means I can set the trapeze ring to just be able to hook onto my harness with the wire slightly tensioned and it won't unhook unless I sweep it away.

To class race with these I think it would need an addition to section 10 of the Class Rules, which I will propose to the committee for the next AGM.

I just thought I'd mention this as I find it makes my life on the wire (or more accurately about-to-be-on-the-wire !) easier.

Can anyone think of a downside or reason not to propose this tweak ?

[Bob Carter]

Hi Charles, Looks like a good move. I hope it passes.

[Liam]

I can't see which rule you would be breaking. The Sport mode rules are very flexible anyway.

[Charles]

Hi Liam

It's not exactly breaking a rule, more that the alteration isn't in section 10 of the rules.

We can discuss at the Nationals.

Thanks.

[Charles]

My question over the legality of the bungee I added to the top of the trapeze wires is a little moot, as I did not trapeze during the Sport Nationals. I had a look at the fleet to see if there were different trapeze set ups being used.

Rob Forrester uses a “no change to the existing equipment set-up”, which the Dart18s also allow. This threads the bungee from the eye on the deck, through the bottom eye of the trapeze wire (or the shackle attaching the cleat) and to the trapeze ring. This raises the ring up to the end of the trapeze wire & can be pulled down to the length of the adjusting rope. This is a no equipment change option and I would suggest does not need any rules changes.

Our chairman, Paul Tanner, uses a set-up which is taken from faster cats. The bungee comes through the deck eye and is attached directly to 5mm rope of aprox 20cm and has a bobble on the end attached to the bungee. The rope goes through a block attached to the bottom of the cleat. The rope is then attached to a trapeze ring (which is a ring only, no elongated section). This is a negligible cost option using approximately the same bungee and rope, change of trapeze loop style (optional), 2 additional blocks and shackles. There is a slight weight reduction. I would suggest this does need a rule change to be class legal.

Steve Sawford and at least one other sailor are using dynema from the end of the trapeze wire to the trapeze loop. The dynema length can be adjusted though this is difficult during a race. Height adjustment on the racecourse is done by hooking on to the circular loop or the elongated section of the trapeze ring. There is a reduction of both cost and weight, while adjustment is limited. I would suggest this does need a rule change to be class legal.

These options do not provide any recognisable speed advantage.

I am interested to know the thoughts of members on these options and whether they should be allowed.

[Liam]

Nothing to see here. Carry on.