Allen ratchet block for mainsheet

I recently installed a new Allen 60mm ratchet block on my Sunfish. the Allen Pro-Ratchet 60 (A2160WAVE) is a selectable ratchet, 60mm size, with Allen’s new wave sheave.

The NEW wave ratchet offers 20 to 40%* more grip without adding any additional wear to the rope.

The most effective way to increase friction is to add sharp edges to the ratchet sheave, but this quickly deteriorates and wears away the rope. So, after working alongside leading rope manufacturers the Allen design team came up with a simple solution which improves grip without chewing away at your expensive rope.

The Wave Ratchet sheave has an offset V style grip, made from a hard-wearing recycled plastic nylon, which does not have sharp edges that will eat into the rope. Instead, by adjusting the V formation in the sheave to be slightly offset, the ratchet now grips the rope at additional points around the sheave, resulting in more grip. However, the new Wave Ratchet not only improves grip but as a result of the design it also allows for a less ‘jumpy’ feel when easing the sheets.

I’ve posted previously on my Sunfish mainsheet controls upgrades (ratchet block, spring, etc.), now I’ve now just opted to try this new ratchet block.

I moved the Harken 2135 over to our Minifish.

here is a pic of both blocks – the Allen 60mm and the Harken 57mm 2135.

I used the zip-tie trick to compress the stand-up spring again, such a simple and clever trick makes install of the mainsheet block so much easier.

Tillerman over at Proper Course (and now blogging about his RS Aero at Aerobian) a while back posted a snapshot from his RS Aero instructions that details this zip tie trick quite well:

Sir Paul sails a Sunfish

I’ve posted a few photos from this Sunfish sailing session of Sir Paul’s down in Rio before at my blog post: here comes the sun[fish] – I didn’t realize there was video of it until recently I saw this video posted on the Sunfish Forum.

the video has a bit of a stalker feel to it, but I imagine that’s par for the course with big celebrities.

a few other blogger’s have previously posted about Sir Paul sailing the Sunfish: Proper Course: Dear Sunfish Class and World’s Most Expensive Sail and Captain JP’s log: Celebrity Sailing

this is a blank post

 

msu

it’s not just a mid-Michigan university anymore. with football and basketball programs both ranked in the top #5 national polls. 

coming soon to your local grocery store: marmite sandwich uncrustables (msu). 

  
  
[re: RSAeroMan] 

O Tillerman, where art thou?

  

photo via @sirocosailing 

sailing yole of Martinique

so Peter from Captain Black’s Sea Chronicles was the 1st one to answer my question what class of sailboat is this? from yesterday.  Chris Stow in the comments also knew the answer.

Tillerman also posted the question on his blog, and his readers were a little quicker with the answer.

both the grommier sailboat and the similar yole sailboat are from the island of Martinique. the gommier sailboat is traditionally carved from the trunk of a gommier tree, sort of like a dugout canoe style.  the yole is similarly shaped, but is usually built out of wood instead of carved from the gommier tree trunk.  both boats have a large rectangular sail.  it looks like the yole is typically steered with a large pole off the aft end of the boat instead of a true rudder.

there is no keel or centerboard, so the sailing crew has to counter the heeling effects of the wind by balancing their bodies outboard of the boat on a series of wooden poles (“les bois”) along the side of the boat.

here is a short video that explains a little bit about the yole and the annual race around the island of Martinique – the Yoles Rondes de Martinique.

the race looks like it is a pretty unique time – with several races around the entire island that begin with a running start off the beach and end with a carnival celebration.  there are some great photos of the racing at Wingsail Images blog.

more information about the yole and the race can be found here and here.