In Part 2 of our series on bluewater sailing preparation, Vicky Ellis looks at chafe, rig problems and how to keep your crew on sideMake careful, regular rig checks to ensure all is as it should be and to spot potential problems before they become a major issue. Photo: Tor JohnsonThis is Part 2 of Vicky Ellis\u2019 guide to preparing your yacht for any eventuality. You can read Part 1 here.
\nIn this series we examine some of the more likely incidents that occur on long bluewater ocean passages, not necessarily the headline catastrophes. Here I\u2019m going to look at some of the issues that may occur with the rig, and how to keep your crew \u2013 your biggest asset \u2013 on side, happy and healthy.
\nChafe is the enemy
\nLosing your rig might be foremost in your mind, but before we get on to that, let\u2019s look at something you definitely will experience: chafe. Chafe is one of the biggest gremlins for bluewater cruisers. Keeping chafe at bay, checking for it and protecting against it with careful design, clever ideas and some anti-chafe protection will get you through a voyage unscathed. Without this, it will eat its way through halyards, sheets, sprayhoods and more in a matter of days, if not hours.
\nJerry Henwood (best known as \u2018Jerry the Rigger\u2019) explains that a halyard with a small amount of play will roll a tiny amount backwards and forwards on it\u2019s turning blocks with every wave and, in the course of a typical Atlantic crossing, could therefore move the equivalent of 8km while loaded. Shifting your halyards a centimetre or two a couple of times a day will help move the wear point on sheaves and jammers and prolong life.
\nPhoto: Tor Johnson
\nIf you can\u2019t bear the sail trim that this trick produces, then take some lengths of the thin yet tough anti-chafe Dyneema sleeve. It can be secured over the top of your lines in areas of wear.
\nThis rope chafe protection is especially good where guys go thorough pole beaks, for tack lines that may chafe on a swivel block, and reefing lines or halyards. If you can\u2019t get hold of the specially designed anti-chafe sleeve, the outer sheath of old sheets can be placed over the top of ropes. Just ensure that the edges of the outer cover are well stitched and whipped on to prevent the sleeve coming loose and jamming the line.
\nOther tips for prolonging the life of your lines are to end-for-end them every so often or to buy them extra long and trim some off when it looks worn. Other items I squirrel away before setting off are snatch blocks, big and small \u2013 and well made. They\u2019re an expensive collecting habit, but worth it.
\nArticle continues below\u2026<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tIs your yacht oceanproof? How to prepare your boat for (nearly) anything<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWell-prepared boats have dealt with half the battle when it comes to emergencies and challenges at sea. But beyond the\u2026<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tPip Hare\u2019s top tips for preventing chafe on lines, sails and hardware<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChafe on sails and ropes is something we should expect as part of the general wear and tear on passage,\u2026<\/p>\n
Preventers that run back to the cockpit, poled-out jib sheets and downwind rigs all get in the way of something and having snatch blocks and a stash of soft shackles or Spectra strops can allow you to make an easy re-routing plan to avoid chafe in the middle of a valuable line.
\nPoled-out headsails are the bread and butter of bluewater downwind rigs. It\u2019s a good idea to secure your pole independently of the headsail sheet using an uphaul\/topper, downhaul\/foreguy and guy\/aft guy. Running the headsail sheet through a snatch block attached to the outer end of the pole reduces chafe in the beak and means you can furl the sail quickly if a squall crops up, without worrying about moving the pole.
\nTo avoid the clanging sound of a snatch block hitting your pole, add a wrap of thick leather or rope around the end of the pole to absorb the clangs.
\nSacrificial sleeves of Dyneema or old line sheaths will help protect against chafe in areas of high wear
\nChafe also affects canvas and sails; it\u2019ll not take long to wear a hole if a mainsheet is rubbing on a bimini or sprayhood. I do chafe checks after every new sail set-up and on the whole boat twice a day at sea. I like to do a dawn and dusk check and get the rest of the crew involved, so that it\u2019s not a case of one pair of eyes looking for the problem or knowing what to spot.
\nMeanwhile, UV will degrade canvas covers, sails and plastic fittings (especially plastic jackstay buckles), craze hatches and degrade vanish. Keep a look out for its effect, as frustrating failures can occur as a result.
\nRig checks
\nNot only does a full rig check need to be done before setting off on passage, it needs to be done regularly at sea too. A good pair of binoculars is a great help if going aloft is difficult, and perhaps one day it\u2019ll be commonplace to put drones to this use. Capturing your rig in detail on camera is a great way to confirm any changes.
\nWhen it comes to learning about your rig and what to look for during a rig check, working alongside a professional is hugely informative, confidence-inspiring and something I\u2019d definitely recommend. You can also develop a checklist with them for your rig.
\nStart at the top of the rig and work your way down, then go on deck from bow to stern. Choose good weather and good light. A good bosun\u2019s chair or harness will keep you comfy for longer, enabling you to take a really good look. Use all your senses: look and feel particularly, and take off and replace all coverings. Clean rust away with a squirt of WD40 or similar and take a magnifying glass \u2013 a really handy tool to take up. Just make sure your tools are securely attached to you while aloft.
\nEnjoying the long days of downwind sailing. Note the preventer led from the boom end to the bow and back to the cockpit
\nIn general you\u2019re looking for signs of wear and tear, the beginnings of cracks, things missing, loose or broken, and wire\/rod problems. At the masthead, check everything you have up there such as lights, aerials, etc. Check the stays and shrouds where they join the mast, paying attention to cracks in tangs or lugs, weld cracks and problems around the swaged end fittings on the mast.
\nWhere wire rigging enters the swaging is where it\u2019s most susceptible to damage from stress concentrations and fatigue, which will cause the wires to de-strand, break off or become distorted. Use your fingers to feel up against the swaging terminus for sharp edges and your eyes to see bulging or breaks.
\nSlacken off the running rigging and lift up the halyards to check the sheaves are rotating freely, haven\u2019t worn a groove or become cracked. Left unchecked, this can quickly progress to a case of a jammed halyard which, if the sail is up, is a very an unwelcome problem at sea.
\nSpreaders have a tough job and are subject to pumping forces and loads in all directions, and as such are susceptible to fatigue failures too. Their alignment and angles need to be checked as they can change. It\u2019s not uncommon to find problems at their mast joints. Inspect the cap shroud where it passes against the spreader end for signs of movement, wear or damage. Feel the edges of the spreader. If rough and your sail will rest against it, consider some padded chafe protection.
\nSpreader end cap covers are great if your main will rest here downwind (or your spinnaker might!) but do make sure they\u2019re easily removable for checks and, as with all protective coverings, ensure they don\u2019t trap moisture. On your way down, feel in the mast track\/furler and spinnaker pole track for sharp edges, loose rivets or other problems. Check your radar (and reflector) brackets.
\nAt deck level, check each of your rig connection points and chainplates. Wire rig swaged terminals need checking, particularly as these upwards-facing terminals are more susceptible and, in particular, check for articulation issues. Bottlescrews can become bent and the threads damaged but you can only tell this when you slacken the rig off and undo them.
\nThe post How to prepare your yacht for anything: Preempting chafe, rig and crew problems appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In Part 2 of our series on bluewater sailing preparation, Vicky Ellis looks at chafe, rig problems and how to keep your crew on sideMake careful, regular rig checks to ensure all is as it should be and to spot … <\/p>\n