SC27 Rig Tuning Guide...

[Adam Yuret]

I would like to be less of a pest to my generous fleet. Does anybody know of a decent SC27 rig tuning guide? Maybe those with tuning expertise could comment here and teach us all what we should be doing to get our rigs tuned for racing?

Cheers, 

Adam Yuret

Mr. Manager
The Banana Stand
Santa Cruz 27 #104

"There's always money in the banana stand." -George Bluth Sr.

[John S]

Adam,

I have never found a meaningful tuning guide for the boat. We should get some of the rigging experts in the fleet to chime in on this. I asked Bill Lee for rig tuning advice years ago and got something along the lines of "if the leward lowers go slack at about 15 degrees of heel that's about right." The one measurement I would most like to hear about, especially from the successful boats, is a forestay length. I've added about 4 inches to mine in the time I've owned the boat to get it where it is now. It seems happy there. Next time I'm at the boat with a tape I'll measure it. I also wonder if there would be differences between the Sparcraft and Ballenger spars. Anyway, a collection of tuning information and guidance would be a very nice thing for the fleet to have and wonderful addition to the website. (My 2 cents worth on this subject. Thanks for bringing it up.)

John

[Adam Yuret]

John, 

Here's what Andy posted to the NW list: ... 

<snip>

6) The more sailing experience I get the more I play the backstay (tell my wife to) You can really feel it in the SC-27

7) Luff curve built into mainsail must be correct or you will be chasing proper shape forever
8) Typically 640 on lowers 840 on uppers on PT-2 Loos guage
9) Depends how you sail, I would be tempted to say WR has a tendency to point high I have seen others sail lower and faster and have success as well
10) Trial and error and then recording the "fast" settings and being able to re create them is important too.
11) Rig tune, good sails, decent starts, going the right way, fast bottom, not losing your rudder, and having a boatload of fun....

<snip>

Things still seem pretty nebulous on that front but I can tell you that I copied the forestay length of Little Blue Dune Buggy and his backstay cascade setup. The forestay length is 34'1" I had to add a 4" link plate to my existing forestay because backed all the way off it was 33' 9" now my mast rakes pretty far aft... https://plus.google.com/photos/111724358162499396325/albums/5706267239572557281 but it's made a huge difference for me. I have very fine control over the slot by playing the backstay. 

My main question is how I know when my shrouds are tuned properly. :-) A guide would be great to have. 

Cheers, 

Adam Yuret

Mr. Manager
The Banana Stand
Santa Cruz 27 #104

"There's always money in the banana stand." -George Bluth Sr.

[mike farrell]

     There is a difference between Sparcraft and Ballinger spars.  Buzz Ballinger says that the shrouds on the leeward should just go barely slack when on the wind.  I tune for a little more slack.  Tuners call for between 8oolb and 1200lb on the uppers.  I want a column fore/aft in 12k apparent and bend(curve) the mast to 1/2 spar section additional  beyond this.  I use the baby stay the way Bill Lee made it and I will pull 800lbs+ as I lead it to my halyard winch, this also controls mast pump in a seaway.  I have a wire below deck so I am not just lifting the deck.  I use lots of backstay pressure and measure my headstay deflection at 1 to 1.5 spar deflection, a dimention my sailmaker has  dealt with.  I use the lowers to maintain a column with a bit of sag off.  If too much sag off is evident then the masthead will seem to hook to weather and bad mainsail shape(tight leech) will result.  Remember if your mast will not come into column,  backstay tension increase will result in a greater S bend.  A bad condition!  You Are NOT A PEST!

                                            My Best Mike Farrell,  Yellow Jack hull#58

From: John S <sciol...@gmail.com>
To: sc2...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 1:09 PM
Subject: Re: SC27 Rig Tuning Guide...

[Andy Schwenk]

Also when yakking about rig tune, it's really about sail shape rather than rig tension, although they tend to affect/effect(never understood that) each other...

On Tue, Feb 28, 2012 at 1:09 PM, John S <sciol...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Adam Yuret]

Thanks for the tips... 

Affect/effect are halfway down the list here: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/misspelling from our own best Seattle-based web-comic. :-) 

Cheers, 

Adam Yuret

Mr. Manager
The Banana Stand
Santa Cruz 27 #104

"There's always money in the banana stand." -George Bluth Sr.

[mike farrell]

   The Moore 24 web site has a really good guide for rig tuning and although the Moore has a frac rig most applies.  Ballenger Spars website has a quick review of basic tips also. Replace your standing if it's over 7 years old and the boat has been raced--9 years if not raced.

            Happy Leap Day!  My Best,  Mike Farrell

From: Adam Yuret <adam....@gmail.com>
To: sc2...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 4:07 PM
Subject: Re: SC27 Rig Tuning Guide...