Monday, July 22, 2019

San Diego: finished; differences; a failed drogue

        I finished painting the interior a few hours ago.  There is still some detail work to do and I still have to mount four of the Blue Performance bags that I use for stowage.  The one that attaches to the forward side of the main bulkhead is already in place.  But the job is almost complete and the little boat’s interior is much improved.  I did not mind the painting, but I did get a bit tired of tearing the boat apart each morning and putting it back together each afternoon.
        I had a wonderful time with Susan and Howard in Julian this weekend.  So close and yet a completely different world.


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        I measured the distance from where GANNET’s forestay reaches the deck to the forward edge of the mast.  It is 117”, which is 9.75’.  For non-sailors in measuring sailplans this is known as ‘J’.  Glenn measured the J on his GRENDEL, the prototype Moore 24, and found it to be only 104”, so my observation that her mast seemed farther forward than GANNET’s is correct.  
        GRENDEL’s sailplan differs from stock Moore 24s in other ways too.
        She is a masthead rig.  Stock Moores are fractional.  For non-sailors that means that the stay on which the jib is set does not go all the way to the masthead.
        And GRENDEL’s mainsail has a luff of 22’10”, where as far as I can tell GANNET’s is 25’.  The foot of the mainsails on both boats are about 9.5’.
        I am not sure where Glenn keeps GRENDEL.  It would be interesting to see her photographed beside a stock Moore.
        GRENDEL is an historic boat and, as I have said, Glenn has beautifully restored her.
        I thank him for taking the measurements.


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        I do not follow the round the world races or any longer read much about sailing, so I thank Bill for a link to an interesting analysis of the failure of a Jordan drogue in one of those races.  

https://www.morganscloud.com/2019/04/15/susie-goodalls-series-drogue-failure/

        GANNET’s was custom made by Ocean Brake because she is far lighter than their smallest standard drogue.  It is presently in the dock box.  I will pull it out and look at the bridle connection one day.