New mainsail and rig tuning
This morning the team from Elvstrom Sails UK (Tristan,Eddie and Ollie) arrived to fit the new replacement mainsail. (This is the sail that rolls away into the mast). On Luce Di Mare this is an innovative design by Elvstrom Sails in collaboration with Hallberg Rassy (my boat manufacturer) and Selden (the mast manufacturer). It enables a high performance, more powerful and better shaped sail to be created with a wide top board, which can be trimmed in a similar way to traditional mainsails that are common on most boats. They have called this a Fat Furl. As I understand it this the first time a wide top board sail has been developed that can roll away into a mast.
Before the Elvstrom team arrived I got up early and fitted the genoa sail. (this is the front head sail). It had been at Wilkinson sail loft for its annual cleaning and general check over during the winter. Ideally, fitting this is a 2 handed job, but I usually do it on my own, this time I annoyingly nicked and tore the luff cord cover (The luff cord is fed into the foil track which supports the luff (front) of the sail), I don’t think it matters, but to be sure, Ill send a photo to the sail loft for comment. I am hoping I can have it repaired next time I have the sail maintained and cleaned.
Anyway, the team from Elvstrom UK turned up at about 11am, having travelled from the south coast and immediately set about removing the mainsail and checking the mast and rigging. They found that the design mast bend was inverted by about 95mm. It should be 32mm. (A mast bend is usual and helps with sail shape, some boats have enormous mast bends. But with an in mast furling system the bend should be minimal to allow the mainsail to be furled away without creases and or jamming).They loosened all the steel wire cables that support the mast and re-tensioned them to achieve the design mast bend of 32mm as recommended by the mast designers. This required them to climb the mast to undertake the work in a very specific sequence. They appeared to very knowledgeable and thorough. I did ask why the rig was out of tune, Ollie said overtime the rigging usually stretches and needs adjusting. This was annoying as I have the rig checked yearly and it was never mentioned to me. After a couple of hours I made us all a couple sausage rolls each and humus with carrot and red pepper sticks for Tristan who is vegan.
After our late lunch they set about checking their work. They adjusted the mandrel inside the mast (the bottom of the sail is secured to this) and then fitted the new Fat Furl mainsail. It took a little bit of experimenting the best way to furl the sail and they found the right settings for the sail to furl it into the mast without creasing. For my own use, I noted they took the tension off the back stay which I always do, but instead of leaving the outhaul (this is a rope attached to the clew (rear) of the sail allowing it to be pulled out of the mast) under tension as I usually do whilst the sail is being furled, they left it controlled but loose and the sail furled away beautifully.
My only reservation is that the sail should be furled from the port side, but today the direction of the wind and because I was moored in a marina, meant it had to be furled from the starboard side. I am not sure if this will work as well when used in real time at sea when furling from the correct starboard side. I shall wait and see! Other than that I was very pleased with their efforts.
Last year my wind vain (This at the top of the mast and gives an accurate visual to the direction of the wind) I had replaced as it was damaged by roosting birds. However the contractor must have left it loose as it was not properly sited and served no use. I have been meaning to climb the mast to secure it. But as the Elvstrom UK guys were up the mast they kindly adjusted it and secured it for me. I was very grateful to them, as I wasn’t looking forward to a solo mast climb. Its hard work and more dangerous on your own.
Lastly, Ollie noticed the halyard (rope that pulls the mainsail up and allows it to be lowered) was unusually stretchy and needed to be renewed, which I shall arrange. And also some of the pully wheels to vang (this adjusts the angle of the boom) had serrated edges. They are going to investigate and source replacements for me.
The photos are of the Elvstrom team at work and new mainsail once fitted.
Tristan resetting wind vane
Tristan at work tuning the rig
The genoa sail I fitted this morning
The new Elvstrom Epex Fat Furl mainsail.