Dart 15 Forums

Manuel wrote:

Hello from Spain, apologize for my pour English. I've recently bought a DART 15 and after reading the rigging manual I don?t know how to rig the jib, my boat does not have the jib accesory, but has a jib and of course the forestay. The fact is that i don,t know how much higher or lower the jib should be and if its possible any kind of adjustment of the jib luff while sailing, (like other boats for example snipe). Thank you

Bob replied:

Hi Manuel,
The jib is usually fitted with the fittings on P15 of the rigging manual (under Manuals on this web site). I guess from your note you do not have many of the parts (Old Sparks delivered before 1988 did not have the jib as standard equipment. You can buy the fittings from Windsport - see under suppliers. Most of the fittings are associated with furling the jib. You could lash the jib up without the furling gear if you wanted to try it out without the ability to furl the jib. All you would need is ia a halyard, a pulley mounted on the top eye of the forestay and the jib sheets & 2 pulleys with clam cleats attached. The height of the jib is not too critical - start off with the top about 170- 200mm below the hounds.
Regards
Bob

George Stephen replied:

Hi Manuel,

There is a good picture of the parts needed on the forestay in the Parts - Dart 15 Specials page of the Manuals section of this website. Note that since Laser Centre have now ceased all connection with the Dart 15/Sprint 15, parts are now obtainable in the UK from Windsport (as Bob said).

When you rig your jib, you should try to ensure that the jib luff tension is neither too tight or too loose. (Too tight and you will stretch the jib luff, too loose and the lack of jib luff tension will adversely affect performance on the beat and close reach).

To start with, it is best to
1 raise the mainsail
2 hook on and raise the jib, securing the halyard to the forestay eye or shackle, leaving the foot loose.
3 with the cat head to wind attach the mainsheet, tension it to the extent you expect to use on a beat, and cleat it
4 now tie the clew at the foot of the jib luff so that the jib luff is taut, but not noticeably taking the strain that was borne by the forestay
5 release the mainsheet and unhook it
6 furl the jib (assuming you have the furling kit)

NEVER FURL or UNFURL the jib when the mainsheet is under tension - you will cause the short rigging strop above the top swivel to fail (break) at an early stage in its life!

Experienced sailors get used to tying off their jibs without all the above steps, but are likely to repeat them whenever they have renewed their rigging.

Good luck, good sailing

George

Manuel replied:

Thank you very much. After reading tour replies i assume that during sailing i cannot tight nor lose the jib luff. If i am wrong please let me know.

Bob replied:

No the jib tension is fixed for the duration of a race. Between races sailors can often be seen precariously standing on the bow and retieing the jib downhaul (a bit of string on the bottom cringle(hole) of the jib) to adjust the luff tension.
Chhers
Bob