World Sailing Report on Bora Gulari Accident

   It always made me cringe seeing sailors wrap ropes around my hands. I have never done it. I get a better grip on a rope by passing it over my thumb when it has come out the top of my hand and then it goes back into the hand. If you want to ease it you just ease your grip and it slowly runs over thumb. In an extreme situation like bora's letting the rope off your hand is still easy and quick.

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Oatsandbeans Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 19 Sep 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 382	Post Options Post Reply Quote Oatsandbeans Report Post Quote Reply Topic: World Sailing Report on Bora Gulari Accident Posted: 24 Nov 17 at 1:38pm
	It always made me cringe seeing sailors wrap ropes around my hands. I have never done it. I get a better grip on a rope by passing it over my thumb when it has come out the top of my hand and then it goes back into the hand. If you want to ease it you just ease your grip and it slowly runs over thumb. In an extreme situation like bora's letting the rope off your hand is still easy and quick.

JohnJack Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 12 Mar 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 246	Post Options Post Reply Quote JohnJack Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 27 Nov 17 at 9:48am
	From the report, it sounds like the amputation of his fingers was caused by the sheet first gripping then the sudden jerk as the sheet tightens against the helmsman momentum whilst exiting the boat during the pitch pole. Same mechanism as the long drop (though a hangman's skill was in only allowing the offender to drop enough to allow dislocation of the neck and not ripping the head off). I never understood the need for super skinny sheets, though I have really poor grip in my hands anyway and struggle with anything less than 8-10mm if it has any serious load on it. If I find it doesn't run free enough, I just substitute with bigger blocks. the extra few grams in weight is not going to make that much difference overall. However not sure if the Nacra is a total one design where this isn't a possibility (in which case it may need a review) or is this just put down to being a freak accident with an "allowable" minute possibility of reaccurence.

Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Posted: 27 Nov 17 at 10:19am
	Control lines I find adding extra diameter really adds resistance, so it end up being just as tough on your hands, and tougher on your muscles, and then doesn't release as well. You can obviously go up in sheave diameter, but it's not always possible on control lines. With sheets you can always use larger blocks and with tapered sheets it should run smooth. I do find over 8mm the sheets gets quite heavy and harder to work with in the boat.

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3401	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 27 Nov 17 at 11:00am
	From what I can gather it was the traveller line rather than the sheet that did the damage JJ. Bigger blocks will reduce friction as will fewer blocks or thinner rope. I guess finding a compromise is the key. Spice has a 6:1 centre mainsheet but still has pretty high sheet loads, Blaze (and now Supernova) has a 2:1 transom mainsheet led along the boom via a ratchet on the kicker take off to the hand. Much lower sheet loads with only three blocks in the system, but I do seem to be pulling a fair bit of mainsheet between running and upwind. I suppose a couple of the extra purchases on the Spice go to overcoming the extra friction Perhaps I'll measure the amount of sheet pulled next time I rig each of the boats.....
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"