N 6.0 masts:

kinda strange,

People talked about this on the old forum, I was concerned, so I post it over here, and nada.

c'mon guys

Todd,
the main reason you ease the jib instead of the main in a big puff is so you round up instead of bearing off. In heavy air or survival conditions, if you are going upwind and a big puff hits you need to release the jib.
If you ease the main, but not the jib, the boat will fall off wind. You counteract it with the rudders, but if the puff is big enough the rudders stall and you go swimming.

In windspeeds up to ~ 22 knots the crew grinds the mainsheet upwind and I keep the traveler.

Over 22 I keep the mainsheet crew holds the jib. I give the crew the mainsheet temporaraly to sheet in after a tack or after I eased it too much.
Mainly, I hang out in the back and wiggle the tiller.

eric

another reason for dumping the jib prior to the main in high winds is the high presure going around the back of the mast and main... if you keep the jib sheeted, all that pressure gets really screwy around the mast and can stress it pretty good fom what I've heard.
Another thought on the 'inversions' is simply dropping the mast one too many times the wrong direction My old mast had 2 or 3 spills and was never the same from the tang upward... but alas, it's since snapped in half (failed spreader arm) and the new mast is "awfully perty"

Ryan
N6.0 137/391/TBD

Eric,

Thanks for the reply. Interesting how you DIDN'T mention the 16/1 purchase downhaul, which really changes the power settings very quickly on these rigs.

No Eric, It clearly stated that mast damage could result. It had nothing to do with falling off the wind in a puff because you eased the main too much and the jib stayed pressured. (That's when the downhaul is optimal). This warning had nothing to do with boat handling, and staying on course.

Ryan,

Waht are you saying?, That If a mast is dropped on the ground too many times, it will invert?

Todd,
I operate the boat in one of 3 modes. first is full power mode in lighter winds ie only enough downhaul to obtain max draft and shape.
The second is in double trapeeze, but not overpowered mode. In this case the downhaul is played tokeep the boat flat. bigger puffs might require easing the traveler or mainsheet also.

The third mode is big wind mode. above about 15-18 knots steady, the downhaul is on hard and is never eased. I use a 16:1 downhaul and crank it on until the top of the sail is board flat and the leach flutters between the first and second batten. This is serious downhaul. Usualy female crews need to use both hands and pump with their legs when they pull in on it. A strong male crew can usualy downhaul harder then needed so I have them stop when the sail is flat and the leach flutters.

I would note that if you are going to use this much downhaul You are going to be buying mainsails alot more often if you sail in heavy air with any frequency.

It should also be noted that the jib downhaul should mirror that of the main, eased in light conditions, on hard in heavy air.

Sail fast, Take chances

Eric

Eric,

Thanks agian, BUT, this thread was really about the 6.0 masts.

People who have had this problem-inversion.
HOw to prevent it-such as max spreader rake
If it's happened-has it been corrected, or is the mast now a good flagpole?

Todd Bouton

Finally, I've received an e-mail from someone, who described how they bent their mast back from an inversion.

Any others still using a previously inverted mast?

oh but do tell! (or forward it to me)

Jake,
You've got mail!

For others, basicallly he said that it inverted, he loosened the dianmonds, and used a tree a a few people to ben the mast back. Increased rake and tension, so far OK. Not much use yet thoug h.