Dyarchy and Dux.......

[steveR]

Most of us are probably familiar with the fore stay arrangement on Laurent Giles famous cutter Dyarchy. It was fixed on the mast and rove through a block at the bow and set to a traveler. Once set out at the end of the bowsprit, tension was achieved with the halyard.

In the present day many of us want the option of setting a smaller working sail on an independent stay vis a vis a cutter rig or a sloop/cutter. If this stay is removable then it must move aft to a reasonable stowage spot......

Here is where things get a bit funky. Connections and tension are usually achieved with a lever that breaks over center, or a turnbuckle with a wheel or handle set up. And the geometry is such that when the stay is moved aft the original attachment point is not an option to secure the stay. So the stay is usually lashed or jury rigged in some fashion. And the lever or turnbuckle tends to be in the way laying slack on deck.

Curious whether the forum might have some input on this question......

Would Dynex Dux work using a "Dyarchy" type arrangement??

Would we be able to achieve enough tension on the stay using a small halyard winch??

Enough tension to get a proper set in heavy weather??

Chafe is always an issue, I realize. And I would guess that the block would have to meet some diameter minimum for the Dux??

It seems to me a good solution. At the same time I am trying to figure if I am missing something, or maybe somebody has already done this with some amount of success??

Thanks in advance.

S

[tamishel]

I'm not sure if I understand you correctly, but I think what you're contemplating has been done like below:

Pic of 'screacher' furler on sprit
http://www.sigi.ca/hi5/pictures_f33_...-2323_IMG1.htm

various pics of rigging ideas
http://www.sigi.ca/hi5/hi5/ads_72.htm


I myself have Amsteel halyards with what I'll call a 'working' side and a 'standing' side. These are made together with two long thin eyes. Crew pulls the halyard's standing end down to the eye, and then there's a downhaul/cunningham at the mast with a hook that's put through the 'working' end eye of the halyard. Tension is then achieved at the mast via the downhaul.

pics of my rig:

Screacher downhaul
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/...e18_z.jpg?zz=1

Jib downhaul, showing the two eyes in the halyard and how it hooks:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2318/...588_z.jpg?zz=1

hope this helps

[steveR]

Thanks for the links. The pictures are helpful..............

The set up I am considering is more for heavy weather. Definitely not a screecher arrangement........etc.

There is a permanent stay sail stay (Dux) that pivots aft to stow and free up the fore triangle (sloop rig). Ideally the stay sail would remain hanked and bagged on deck, ready to go. The bottom of the stay reeves thru a block and terminates with an eye. The sail tacks to the eye and the halyard provides tension for both the luff and the stay......

Thats really the question. Is there enough tension in this type of set up to achieve a good set to the sail??. If there is any stretch in the halyard, both luff tension AND stay tension suffer. Would a small halyard winch be enough purchase?? Perhaps a 2:1 ratio on the halyard?? Not sure..........

As long as it is adequate from a practical sense. Dont want to make the change if this configuration is going to be a disaster in terms of windward ability in strong conditions.

Thanks again,

Cheers.............