Calculating Sail Areas

The following formulas will give you approximately areas for:
Mainsail = (P x E) / 2 (add 10% for racing mains)

155% Genoa = (( J x I ) / 2) x 1.65

135% Genoa = (( J x I ) / 2) x 1.44

100% Jib = ( I x J ) / 2

Racing Symmetrical Spinnaker = 1.8 x J x I

Racing Asymmetrical Spinnaker = 1.8 x J x I

Cruising Asymmetrical Spinnaker = 1.65 x J x I

Formulas Definitions:
"P" is the luff length of the mainsail, measured along the aft face of the mast from the top of the boom to the highest point that the mainsail can be hoisted or black band."E" is the foot length of the mainsail, measured along the boom from the aft face of the mast to the outermost point on the boom to which the main can be pulled or to the black band.

"I" is measured along the front of mast from the genoa halyard to the main deck. The main deck is where the deck would be if there were no deckhouse.

"J" is the base of the foretriangle measured along the deck from the headstay pin to the front of the mast.

"JSP" is the length of the spinnaker pole or the distance from the forward end of the bowsprit (fully extended) to the front face of the mast.

"ISP" is measured from the highest spinnaker halyard to the deck. "PY" and "EY" are, respectively the luff length and foot length of the mizzen of a yawl or ketch measured in the same way as for the mainsail.

"IY" is the measurement from the staysail halyard to the deck.

"JY" is the measurement from the staysail stay to the front face of the mast."LP" is the shortest distance between the clew and the luff of the genoa.

You can get sail areas for many sailboats on Mauri Pro Sailing website www.mauriprosailing.com

Reproduced courtesy Mauri Pro Sailing and Harken

You can read more about sails and sail dimension on my website www.sailboat2adventure.com

Velocitek Handheld Speed and Data Device

Velocitek Speed and Data Device

SC 1

Velocitek SC-1 GPS Heading and Speed
The Velocitek SC-1 is an extremely powerful sail training tool that combines a 100% waterproof high-accuracy GPS Speedometer/VMG Sensor with a Compass, Timer, and 40 hour GPS data logger.

The Velocitek SC-1 harnesses the power of GPS to give you the functionality of a complete instrument suite in a self-contained device that can be mounted anywhere on your boat. The SC-1 installs in seconds and does not require any external wiring or through hull transducers.
In addition to providing real-time speed, heading and VMG information, the SC-1 also stores and organizes speed, heading, position, and time records for your most recent 40 hours of sailing. When you're racing away from home, bring your Velocitek SC-1 with you and you will be able to capture a complete record of your performance on each day of the event. When you get home you will be able to easily download the automatically sorted tracks for replay and analysis on your PC.

The Velocitek SC-1 GPS Race Computer is designed to work seamlessly with both Google Earth and GPS Action Replay to allow you to easily download, view and analyze the GPS data recorded while you were on the water.

About Velocitek. Velocitek, LLC was founded in Dan Kaseler's Raptor design loft, in Port Angeles, Washington. Dan Kaseler was the designer of the sail used by Finian Maynard to break the absolute world speed sailing record in April. An Aerospace Engineer consulted heavily with Dan Kaseler to design the S3.

Velocitek is now located in Paia, HI. Our strategic location on the island of Maui allows the constant testing and refinement of our products in extreme conditions. Velocitek engineers can come up with a new concept in the morning and have professional athletes testing it in the afternoon. Velocitek's mission is to provide useful, easy to use, high-tech training tools for windsport athletes.

Reproduced courtesy Mauri Pro Sailing and Velocitek

You can read more about Heading and VMG on my website www.sailboat2adventure.com

New from Lewmar - One Touch Winch Handle now for Smaller Boats

Lewmar - OneTouch Winch Handle from Lewmar is now Designed for Smaller Boats.


In 2006, the Lewmar OneTouch Winch Handle took the sailing industry by storm, winning the 2006 DAME Design Award. Now the same easy-to-use one-handed design is available in an 8-inch version for smaller boats.

Like the original 10-in. version, the smaller winch handle has the same patented "OneTouch" mechanism to allow sailors to squeeze the release lever (which runs the entire length of the handle) and pull to unlock in one quick, easy motion.

Yet, thanks to its more compact size, the 8-in. OneTouch is easier to manoeuvre within the tight confines of a smaller cockpit.

"Using the OneTouch is a breeze - to lock in, simply squeeze and attach. All it takes is one hand. There's no twisting, or fumbling with the lock in knob" says Matthew Townsend Lewmar's hardware product manager. "It's designed to provide sailors with a stylish, powerful and easy-to-use handle that offers rapid and simple winch entry and exit."

The OneTouch has been used in a variety of competitions, including the TP52 fleet and Open 60s, according to Townsend.The One Touch is constructed of lightweight forged alloy and is corrosion resistant for years of performance under harsh conditions. It's available in Standard Grip or Power Grip starting at $79.50, £41 inc VAT. or €63 (retail ex VAT).

The mechanism employs two pins that automatically retract into the bi-square when the handle arm is squeezed. These pins extend when the handle arm is released, and provide a secure lock that prevents the handle from being inadvertently knocked out of the winch. Insertion or removal of the handle is now achieved in one quick and easy operation instead of fumbling with traditional bi-square locks.

Reproduced courtesy of Voiles News, internet magazine and Lewmar

You can read more about winch servicing in my ebook 'Voyage of the Little Ship 'Tere Moana' on my website www.sailboat2adventure.com

Keeping in Touch

Keeping in touch with Family & Friends

Even in these days of constantly improving communications, it can still be difficult to ensure that you keep all of your family and friends up to date with your whereabouts, your progress so far and your plans for the next part of your journey.

Tell one, tell all.

YachtPlot is a simple, low cost way of ensuring that all of your family and friends are kept up to date with your progress and/or location. Whether you are on a long term voyage or simply cruising for the summer season, tell us where you are and where you are going, and your friends and family can keep track of your progress via your own mini web site. Access to your details are limited by password, so you can restrict your information to only those you want to know it.
Tell us any way you like.

We recognise that keeping in touch with even one person on a regular basis is sometimes awkward. That's why we provide such a variety of methods. You can update your own information from an internet-connected computer without special software anywhere in the world. Alternatively, you can submit your position reports by email, SMS text message, Inmarsat text, fax - in fact any way you like, as long as it's in writing or print.

A comprehensive service for the voyaging yacht.

yachtplot.com is a managed service, which provides the following for yacht captains and crew.
A password protected mini web site for the yacht including optional pictures and biographical details.

'Where are we now?' with links to an on-line mapping system.
A bulletin board so that a message can be posted for all visitors to read.
A trip log so that visitors can track your progress and your comments on the voyage.
A secure self-contained mini-message system .
All administered by ex-cruising sailors who have been there, done that!

Reproduced courtesy of Yachtplot and Noonsite

You can read more about keeping in touch with family and friends in my ebook 'Voyage of the Little Ship 'Tere Moana' on my website www.sailboat2adventure.com

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston wins Yachtsman of the Year

www.Sail-Search: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston won the prestigious title of Raymarine/YJA Yachtsman of the Year ­ making it a double for the boys, following Laurence Greenough taking the title of Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year announced at the London Boat Show on Saturday 12 January).

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, from Devon, who completed the Velux 5 Oceans Race at the age of 68, thirty-eight years after his original (the first non-stop) solo circumnavigation of the world, was presented with the coveted award by Lady Pippa Blake. The prestigious awards ceremony, arranged by members of the Yachting Journalists¹ Association (YJA), was held at The Painted Hall, The Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich.

Sir Robin first made history in 1969 when he took 312 days to become the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world in the Sunday Times Golden Globe, sailing Suhaili. He said he entered the Velux 5 Oceans Race, which finished in May 2007, to prove that age is not a barrier to getting out and doing things in life.

The Velux 5 Oceans Race is one of the toughest sporting challenges in the world. It pushes skippers¹ endurance, resilience and determination for more than 150 days in demanding and extreme conditions. After finishing the race Sir Robin said he would not have missed it but vowed never to do another solo circumnavigation of the world.

Finalists for the prestigious title included World and Pre Olympic Champions Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson; disabled sailor Geoff Holt, who achieved his Personal Everest in 2007 by sailing around the UK single handed; and Mike Golding, who won the Raymarine/YJA Special Award, for risking his own life to rescue a fellow competitor in the Velux 5 Oceans race in appalling Southern Ocean conditions, thus ruining his own chances ofwinning the race.
Bob Fisher, Chairman of the YJA and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston at the Raymarine/YJA Yachtsman of the Year ceremony in the Painted Hall, Greenwich, London.

Published courtesy http://www.sail-search.com/

Photo credit: onEdition

You can read more about sailing and world wide cruising on my website www.sailboat2adventure.com

Emergency sail clamp

Here is a nifty solution for affixing your jib to your forestay in the event of failure of the original rig.




Shackle Attachment

Nylon Ties on rollerfurl foil
with #2 Swedish Hank

Made of UV-resistant black nylon.

Fasteners:
5/8 inch 10-32 stainless allen head (hex) bolts with Nylor© locking nuts.

Groove accomodates #5, #6, #7 luff tapes or for general use attach to any line, shroud or stay 1/4 inch or less.

Use one Sail Clamp every three feet for emergency use and every two feet if converting a rollerfurl jib to a hanked jib.

Go to their website www.sailclamp.com for further information.

You can read more about jury rigging at sea in my ebook 'Voyage of the Little Ship 'Tere Moana' on my website www.sailboat2adventure.com