[Rhodes22-list] [Rhodes22e-list] New Traveler Modifications
ROGER PIHLAJA
roger_pihlaja at msn.com
Wed Mar 24 18:00:26 EDT 2021
Hi All,
I want to make one clarification. I am talking about upwind sailing using the latest generation GBI mainsail traveler. It is available to members of ROC for $495 and retrofits in place of your old bar style traveler. Check out the Rhodes parts website: http://www.rhodes22parts.com
Part No Description
GB29 GB TRAVELER INVENTION
A General Boats product available thru ROC membership.
5' ss bar with all hardware mounted and ready to use.
Requiring no cleats. it is positioned by a single continuous
push or pull control line from port or starboard seating.
I would invite the readers to go back and reread my description of the evolution of the mainsail traveler on S/V Dynamic Equilibrium given earlier in this e-mail thread. The bar style traveler that mounts on the backstays has certain issues, especially for short handed sailing close hauled. The latest generation traveler (I guess I should start calling it the GB29 Traveler) solves all these issues. It’s yet another example of Stan’s out-of-the-box thinking that results in a clever, elegant solution. Again, if you sail short handed and care about boat speed, the GB29 Traveler is a game changer! No, I don’t get any commissions from Stan for this endorsement, although I ought to considering how much pushback I’m getting! Stan, I don’t happen to have any pictures of the GB29 Traveler as installed, my boat is still in winter storage, and I don’t have a lake to float my boat in. Could you publish a picture?
Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10
From: ROGER PIHLAJA<mailto:Roger_Pihlaja at msn.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2021 5:14 PM
To: The Rhodes 22 Email List<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] [Rhodes22e-list] New Traveler Modifications
Rick,
The control lines on the old bar style traveler were rigged 2:1. That’s a faster ratio than the mainsheet blocks and the mainsheet must let out or take in many more feet of line (~3X). The latest generation traveler can be pulled from end to end much faster than the mainsheet can be let out or trimmed in.
Check with any book or video tutorial on how to sail fast upwind and it will instruct you to make maximum use of your mainsail traveler.
I put it to the rest of the list, have any of you had issues with slow response on the mainsail traveler?
Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
Sent from my iPhone
> On Mar 24, 2021, at 5:03 PM, Rick Lange <sloopblueheron at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Roger,
>
> That piece of gear is for setting your sails to the prevailing wind. It is
> too cumbersome and limited for responding to gusts.
>
> Regards,
>
> Rick Lange
>
>
>> On Wed, Mar 24, 2021 at 4:51 PM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com> wrote:
>>
>> Rick,
>>
>> One more question, beginner sailboats do not come equipped with mainsail
>> travelers; but, more advanced sailboats nearly all have travelers. If you
>> don’t sail your Rhodes 22 to windward while playing the traveler, what do
>> you think that piece of gear is for?
>>
>> Roger Pihlaja
>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Mar 24, 2021, at 4:34 PM, ROGER PIHLAJA <Roger_Pihlaja at msn.com>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Rick,
>>>
>>> If you have so much mainsail area up that dumping the traveler is not
>> sufficient to keep the boat upright in a gust; then, you need to reef down
>> the mainsail. The more efficient reefed mainsail shape will more than
>> compensate for the greater unreefed mainsail area that spends a lot of time
>> all twisted and luffing. Besides, it makes you look like a real amateur
>> and it’s hard on the sail.
>>>
>>> Roger Pihlaja
>>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>> On Mar 24, 2021, at 4:25 PM, ROGER PIHLAJA <Roger_Pihlaja at msn.com>
>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Rick,
>>>>
>>>> I would welcome the chance to match race you. I would be willing to
>> bet considerable money that your strategy is wrong and I would beat you
>> decisively.
>>>>
>>>> Roger Pihlaja
>>>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>>>> On Mar 24, 2021, at 4:21 PM, Rick Lange <sloopblueheron at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Roger,
>>>>>
>>>>> We're talking about sailing close hauled in a stiff breeze (15-20knt)
>> with
>>>>> sudden gusts that will round up the boat. The only mainsail shape that
>>>>> matters during a gust is the shape that quickly dumps enough wind to
>> keep
>>>>> the boat on course without luffing the jib and, in the case of the R22,
>>>>> sailing flat.
>>>>>
>>>>> Easing the main sheet is the quickest way to react while affording the
>>>>> tactile control needed to ease and recover appropriately as the gust
>>>>> varies. In addition to being quicker than a traveller can move,
>>>>> sheet control is not as restrictive as a traveller in allowing greater
>> boom
>>>>> motion for dumping enough wind when there is a really strong gust.
>>>>>
>>>>> For small sloops up to 32', sailing close hauled by feeling sheet
>> tension
>>>>> is the fastest way to go. I have sailed with totally blind crews and
>> they
>>>>> sail closer to the wind than many sighted sailors distracted by
>> watching
>>>>> sail shape.
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>
>>>>> Rick Lange
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Wed, Mar 24, 2021 at 1:48 PM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Rick,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> My 1976 Rhodes Continental 22 came with a cable style traveler. This
>> was
>>>>>> not a very good setup and I soon upgraded to the GBI bar-style
>> traveler
>>>>>> that is mounted on the backstay. This traveler was much better and I
>> used
>>>>>> it for many years. However, because the mainsail trimmer needed to
>> be in
>>>>>> line with the clam cleats on each end of the traveler bar in order to
>> cleat
>>>>>> off the control line, it was very difficult for the helmsman to also
>> play
>>>>>> the traveler. This was especially an issue when the helmsman was
>> sitting
>>>>>> up on the windward gunnel (i.e. hiking out) and the traveler needed
>> to be
>>>>>> trimmed to leeward. GBI’s 2nd
>>>>>> (3rd?) generation traveler pretty much solves all these issues.
>> Properly
>>>>>> adjusted, the latest generation traveler has a built-in slip
>> characteristic
>>>>>> that will save you in an accidental gibe or a knockdown gust. The
>>>>>> traveler control line is a continuous loop, which enables the
>> helmsman to
>>>>>> play the traveler to windward or leeward without leaving his hiking
>> station
>>>>>> up on the windward gunnel. The helmsman drives with one hand on the
>> tiller
>>>>>> extension, the other on the traveler control line, and multitasks.
>> The
>>>>>> helmsman can feel the weather/lee helm pressure thru the tiller and
>> is in
>>>>>> the best position to adjust the traveler to optimize the weather
>> helm/lee
>>>>>> helm balance. I’ve been sailing with the new generation traveler for
>> 3
>>>>>> seasons now. If you care about boat speed and sail short handed, this
>>>>>> upgrade is well worth the price! On a close hauled course in 10-15
>> knot of
>>>>>> wind, If you get into a drag race with another Rhodes 22 that is
>> properly
>>>>>> using its latest generation traveler vs you using your mainsheet,
>> you will
>>>>>> fall behind by ~30-40 sec/nm. In a PHRF race, that’s huge! Other
>> than
>>>>>> buying new sails, there is probably no other upgrade that offers this
>> much
>>>>>> performance per dollar spent.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Roger Pihlaja
>>>>>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
>>>>>> Windows 10
>>>>>>
>>>>>> From: ROGER PIHLAJA<mailto:roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2021 12:12 PM
>>>>>> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] [Rhodes22e-list] New Traveler
>> Modifications
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Rick,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> When you ease the traveler, the end of the boom does not rise as it
>> does
>>>>>> when you ease the mainsheet. Thus the mainsail shape is affected
>> much less
>>>>>> when you ease the traveler vs the mainsheet. When you trim the
>> traveler
>>>>>> back to where it was, the flow reattaches itself much quicker.
>> Overall,
>>>>>> boat speed stays higher. That’s why you play the traveler much more
>> than
>>>>>> the mainsheet.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Roger Pihlaja
>>>>>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Mar 24, 2021, at 11:25 AM, Rick Lange <sloopblueheron at gmail.com
>>> Trim
>>>>>> the trawrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Jeff,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Why the traveller? The sheet is so much faster and gives greater
>> range
>>>>>> of
>>>>>>> boom movement.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Rick Lange
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Wed, Mar 24, 2021, 9:13 AM JeffSmith <jeffsmithphoto at gmail.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> When sailing to weather I like to play the traveler (as opposed to
>> the
>>>>>> main
>>>>>>>> sheet) in the puffs while sitting on the high side cockpit combing
>> with
>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> hiking stick.
>>>>>>>> A continuous 5mm line with the core removed where it travels
>> through the
>>>>>>>> blocks on the New Traveler and possibly changing the purchase from
>> 5 to
>>>>>> 1
>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>> 3 to 1 is part of my plan. Before holes are drilled in the cockpit
>>>>>> sides to
>>>>>>>> accomodate turning blocks to lead the continuous line forward
>> around the
>>>>>>>> perimeter of the cockpit, I would welcome input.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> -----
>>>>>>>> Jeff Smith
>>>>>>>> 2009 R22 #101 RADIANT
>>>>>>>> Atlantic Highlands Municpal Harbor
>>>>>>>> Atlantic Highlands, NJ
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>> Sent from: http://rhodes-22.1065344.n5.nabble.com/
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>
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