Stage 6 is the final stage of the rigging program: The Sea Trial

Stage 6 is the final stage of the rigging program: The Sea Trial

Published 10 December 2014
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Published 10 December 2014

Once the rig has been re-stepped, the hydraulics connected and the mast tuning completed we will arrange a time with the boat to carry out the sailing trials in the bay of Palma where the rig will be loaded on various different points of sail. It is very important that this stage is completed in good time so that the riggers can see how the rig performs under full sail.

The riggers want to see the yacht powered up under full sail to check that the mast remains in column, the rig bend is correct for the mainsail and that the headstays do not have to much sag when on the wind. The trial will start with the boat being sailed on a reach before coming up to a close hauled course with the rig at load. This will be carried out on both tacks under full sail if the wind allows, the running backstays and checkstays will be tensioned to check on their interaction with the newly tuned mast and any changes to the original settings or marks noted.

If necessary and where possible tuning alterations will be made under sail however if there is not enough wind to create the necessary loads to allow the leeward rigging to become slack it may be necessary to de-jack the mast once the boat is back on the dock.

Once the riggers and the crew are satisfied and any minor alterations have been made, the project is signed off and the yacht is good to go to sea! This video shows the sea trial of Vitters Shipyard built Cinderella IV:

For all rigging and rope enquiries contact info@rsb-rigging.com

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