Rigging Calculations for Allied Princess Ketch coming up odd

[Brion Toss]

Originally Posted by cstotland

By the time you were to hit the calculated loading on the sail plan, you'd have shortened sail. On my Princess, I reef by 20 kts, and if going above 25 kts, strike the main altogether. We've been hit full sail by 45kt squalls with no ill effect, on the stock, 30+ yr old wire. When we replaced the standing rigging last spring, I did upsize the main uppers to 9/32 from the measured and spec'd 1/4". Didn't seem that larger would help, since the forestay is only 1/4" and couldn't make that any larger without replacing the furler. (I did opt for dyform for the forestay).

Just a thought...

8

Hello,
You seem to think that there is some overriding relationship between sail area and rig load. There is not. Rig load is relative to angle of heel, and it is possible, as many people have discovered on sailing's more exciting days, to achieve maximum rig load with minimum sail area. In fact, that's when it is most likely to happen.
You also seem to think that, because your old wire didn't break in a breeze, that it was all right. It almost certainly wasn't. Not at that age. How close to breaking do you think you got? How close do you think it is okay to get? Good thing you had a safety factor built in.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss