Hi,
I bought a 1969 O'Day Tempest (23 feet) this spring and after sailing with the mainsail only, I just put up the jib for the first time a few days ago. My previous sailing was limited to tech dinghies with simple rigging at summer camp, so I'm just learning to operate a boat this size. I have a few questions on how it should be rigged and if I need to add hardware to my boat. The jib came with the boat, though the previous owner said he used the Genoa so I don't know if this jib is right for this boat. I've posted a few pictures which will help to understand my questions.
1) The jib has a cable that is 15" long and is attached to the tack of the jib (see pic). I've used it as kind of an extension by attaching it to the shackle and then the jib is 15" higher. I've used it because it was there. A benefit is that the jib is up higher and I can see everything in front of me. The negative is that the jib sheets are very high and so I can't use the blocks and cleats and other hardware on the sides of the boat. The sheets are just too high. I end up wrapping the jib sheet around the opposite rear cleat which I'm thinking isn't smart as I couldn't pop it off in a gust.
My questions are why is this cable on the tack of the jib and should I use it as an extension or does it have another purpose?
2) Hardware - The pic "cleat etc" shows the hardware on the sides of my boat. There is also a block further forward inside the stays that I didn't get a pic of. For the hardware in the pic, I assume I am to use it with the fore sails. The block that is pictured faces forward and is locked down and doesn't pivot in any direction so I assume I am to run a sheet through it and then forward around the winch like device. I don't think I can use this block by itself as it is below the side of the cockpit. I haven't used this hardware yet as the jib sheets are too high for the pulley, though they might work if I stop using the cable as an extension.
Questions:
Is this hardware used with the jib, Genoa and spinnaker or just one or two of them?
Should I have a different setup or add devices to what I have? I often will be sailing singlehanded, and have been reading Andrew Evans book, Singlehanded Sailing, which states that because sailing is done from the windward (high) side, a jib sheet should be run through a turning block to a winch on the opposite side of the boat. Is this the type of setup I should pursue?
Thanks in advance for any advice and suggestions. My boat goes fast and straight with a jib but as it is now, I don't think I have proper control of it.
Alan
I bought a 1969 O'Day Tempest (23 feet) this spring and after sailing with the mainsail only, I just put up the jib for the first time a few days ago. My previous sailing was limited to tech dinghies with simple rigging at summer camp, so I'm just learning to operate a boat this size. I have a few questions on how it should be rigged and if I need to add hardware to my boat. The jib came with the boat, though the previous owner said he used the Genoa so I don't know if this jib is right for this boat. I've posted a few pictures which will help to understand my questions.
1) The jib has a cable that is 15" long and is attached to the tack of the jib (see pic). I've used it as kind of an extension by attaching it to the shackle and then the jib is 15" higher. I've used it because it was there. A benefit is that the jib is up higher and I can see everything in front of me. The negative is that the jib sheets are very high and so I can't use the blocks and cleats and other hardware on the sides of the boat. The sheets are just too high. I end up wrapping the jib sheet around the opposite rear cleat which I'm thinking isn't smart as I couldn't pop it off in a gust.
My questions are why is this cable on the tack of the jib and should I use it as an extension or does it have another purpose?
2) Hardware - The pic "cleat etc" shows the hardware on the sides of my boat. There is also a block further forward inside the stays that I didn't get a pic of. For the hardware in the pic, I assume I am to use it with the fore sails. The block that is pictured faces forward and is locked down and doesn't pivot in any direction so I assume I am to run a sheet through it and then forward around the winch like device. I don't think I can use this block by itself as it is below the side of the cockpit. I haven't used this hardware yet as the jib sheets are too high for the pulley, though they might work if I stop using the cable as an extension.
Questions:
Is this hardware used with the jib, Genoa and spinnaker or just one or two of them?
Should I have a different setup or add devices to what I have? I often will be sailing singlehanded, and have been reading Andrew Evans book, Singlehanded Sailing, which states that because sailing is done from the windward (high) side, a jib sheet should be run through a turning block to a winch on the opposite side of the boat. Is this the type of setup I should pursue?
Thanks in advance for any advice and suggestions. My boat goes fast and straight with a jib but as it is now, I don't think I have proper control of it.
Alan