Rigging for Offshore Part 3 of 3

I equipped "BELO VULA" with twin forestays and twin backstays. Although this slows the boat down through extra weight and windage, I have never regretted them for the peace of mind it gives.

One of the backstays is insulated as the aerial for the SSB transceiver, and I have found that its length seems to agree very well with the 4MHz frequencies and provides a very efficient aerial. On the other backstay I installed an aluminium radar reflector. How effective this piece of equipment is, I have yet to find out;

but I should point out that, contrary to the stated experience of other yachtsmen I have met on my voyages, I have sighted ships on every leg of every trip I have done so far, so I figure it is in my interests to give them every assistance to 'see' my boat.

Lee cloths are fitted to both bunks in the main cabin. These are a necessity, because, although at sea one normally sleeps on the leeward berth, the lee cloth on the windward bunk prevents any clothes, books, heavy-weather gear etc.,which invariably get thrown around in rough weather, from disturbing one's rest. I have built two sideboards over the forward ends of the main bunks. The result and loss of in-harbour seating space is more than compensated for by the ability to stow sleeping bags or blankets inside them, and the extra stowage room on top. On one of these sideboards is my first aid box and library, and on the other side is secure stowage for my sextant and tapes for the tapedeck.

Most of my sailing was to be in coral waters, so the forepeak chainlocker was made large enough to hold 90 metres of 8mm chain. The bottom of this locker is 25cm above the forward cabin bunk squabs, which allows one's feet to go beneath it. The 22s Danforth anchor remains lashed to a large bronze roller fitted at the stemhead, and chain leads from this aft to a Simpson Lawrence 'Hyspeed' windlass, thence down a spurting pipe into the forepeak. Aft of the forepeak bulkhead, which incidently gives added strength to the bow, and helps prevent it "panting" in a seaway, I have mounted, thwartships, a 38mm stainless steel pipe. On this pipe are threaded two large wooded "cottonreels" which I made. One holds 100 metres of 14mm nylon warp and the other 100 metres of 12mm terylene for spare halyards. I have found these "cottonreels" are a most convenient way to carry emergency lines, and it enables me to quickly run them aft for towing in heavy weather if necessary. The bower anchor, a 16kg CQR with 100m of 14mm nylon warp and 10m of 10mm chain, is stowed beneath the forward bunks.

Sandy Harold, of Sails Specialties who built all my sails, designed for me a cruising main/trisail. The peak of this sail reaches to about halfway between the spreaders and the masthead; the sail has an almost straight leech, so it needs no battens, and it can be roller-reefed easily to trisail size. I have found this sail to be excellent for passage making; and carry it during all my deep water work; therefore never have to worry about broken battens in the event of a gybe caused by sudden wind change.

The self steering on "BELO VULA" is of my own design, using a balanced trim tab on the rudder. It is in fact, the Mark I model of the self steering gear described in last year's H28 Yearbook. Provided the boat is balanced correctly, this gear steers a better course than I can, even down to a 3 knot following breeze and, apart from the vane breaking off during a knockdown, has safely guided me on three separate tours around the Pacific.

Around both sides of the deck, from the forward bollard to the after cleats, I have run two 5mm stainless steel wires, sheathed in plastic tubing. Four 25mm stainless steel rings are threaded on these wires, (two on each side), and onto these rings are clipped the harness safety lines, when at sea. These safety lines, which are 1.8m long, have stainless clips at each end, so that, when one steps down into the cabin from the cockpit, the harness can be undipped from the body end, leaving the safety line inside the companionway. Before going on deck, the line is attached to the harness, as I fully believe that the transition from the cabin to the deck is the time when the crew are most at risk of being lost over the side. Having the S/S wire running along each side-deck, enables me to move the whole length of the boat without unclipping the harness and gives a great sense of security. The wire, when not in use, is quite unobtrusive, and does not get in the way.

I have found that the way 'BELO VULA' is rigged is excellent for singlehanded operation and, during my first voyage, of which four legs were undertaken single-handed,, inweather situations that varied from flat calm to winds of more than 40 knots, the sail changing was not too arduous and the H28 hull was sea-kindly and comfortable.

Bob Elliott.