Rig loading with deck stepped mast on a Flicka

[Ian McColgin]

You're doing fine. There are plenty of boats with deck stepped boats where the step is supported on a usually arched deck beam rather than a compression post. If engineered properly, like the old Electra, a very early cruiser by Pearson with more hulls done in the daysailor Ensign version, it's plenty strong enough for the small rig.

In general a rig is tensioned to the point where the lee shrouds in a good breeze are just unloaded. Not slack but not bar taught. At that point, the total compression of the loaded shrouds and stays on the mast and step is the same as with a rig that's slack when no sail is up. So, having a slack rig does not rest things to any meaningful extent.

Sometimes in winter a rig, especially on an older wooden hull, might be detuned a little, but not slacked to the point of rattling about. If too loose, the rig will just shake the boat and stress the fastenings even sitting on the mooring.

G'luck

[William Hogan]

Thanks Ian - that's exactly what I suspected. I'll share this and any other comments with the Flicka 20 owners group so we can finally lay this issue to rest over there. I have some rigging tricks and configurations I've figured out for the Flicka that are simple, cheap, and make her much easier and safer to sail and tack down wind with that I'll share with all of you for comment and use - if you like them that is!

In the mean time, though you guys might enjoy some salty super slow motion footage I've shot of my Flicka "Nomad" and a Contessa 26 in fresh conditions on Santa Monica bay last week:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4obYYuC1m0&sns=em

Enjoy.

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
I'll just add that the "slack-tune-is-good" argument exists, somehow, in the face of exhaustively detailed and proven evidence to the contrary, and that this evidence is available, repeatable, and produces consistent results. On the other hand, it is possible to overtune a rig, with harmful consequences, and people might be reacting to episodes of that behavior. As with all other endeavors, there are many more ways to do things wrong than there are to do them right.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss