Technique: RS200 kite gets stuck

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RS200 kite gets stuck

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Technique
Forum Discription: 'How to' section for dinghy questions and answers
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10948
Printed Date: 27 Jun 25 at 2:47pm
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Topic: RS200 kite gets stuck

Posted By: mogthedog
Subject: RS200 kite gets stuck
Date Posted: 02 Jul 13 at 6:55pm

Hi, on sunday it was windy and for the 1st time in a year since owning my boat, I struggled to get the kite down twice in about 8 drops??

It seemed to come down half way then jam solid, I was on the bow pulling it but it wouldn't come down, I pulled it back up then pulled it down again, and had to do this about 3 times before it finally came down all the way.

This is very annoying as it was never happened before, Im pretty sure there was no knots blocking it, I'm just wondering if anyone else has had this problem as I really don't want to have to re-thread the halyard.

I look forward to your thoughts,

Steve

Rs 200 1306

Replies:

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 02 Jul 13 at 8:39pm

So was it the halyard locking rather than the sail not coming into the chute? Any chance the rope was sticking in the block at the top? Was the halyard loose in the boat? What about between mast and pole?

Posted By: transient
Date Posted: 03 Jul 13 at 9:35am

The 200 kite can be a snaggy bugger unless you get everything rigged right, particularly on port hoists and drops.

do you have the parrel bead on the halyard at the top of the kite to stop the knot getting jammed in the top sheave block?

do you have the little bit of bungee between the shrouds that goes around the forestay. This stops the halyard top knot getting snagged between the forestay/jib halyard top shackle on drops. If not, this could be your problem?

do you have tons of tape wrapped around all the gubbins at the bow eye (major snag point particularly on port drops)?
Is the halyard too long and getting looped up somewhere?
do you still have the square running system installed?

All the above is better explained here under tuning tips, tweaks and tips (PDF download):

http://www.rssailing.com.au/class_association.html#tuningtips" rel="nofollow - http://www.rssailing.com.au/class_association.html#tuningtips

failing all that, your halyard might need re-threading.........Let us know how you get on.

Posted By: yellowwelly
Date Posted: 03 Jul 13 at 9:44am

Originally posted by mogthedog

This is very annoying as it was never happened before...

it's divine intervention, sell it and buy an iCon.

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Posted By: mogthedog
Date Posted: 03 Jul 13 at 9:46am

Hi Jim,

I'll try and answer all your questions.

1. So was it the halyard locking rather than the sail not coming into the chute. It did appear that tha halyard was locking meaning the sail wouldn't come down into the chute. The sail came down about half way the would not come down any more.

2.Any chance the rope was sticking in the block at the top? Not really as it was totally jammed solid, the kite went back up fine and when I tried to bring it down again it jammed again in exactly the same place?

3. Was the halyard loose in the boat? Yes the halyard was loose in the boat.

4. What about between mast and pole? not really sure what you mean here, but the sail had come down half way before it jammed so it was slack between the mast and the pole.

It really was a strange one as It was an intermittant fault ! just very frustrating I tend not to think it is jamming on another halyard in the mast as the kite came down to pretty much exactly the same point before jamming each time?

Cheers and I hope I have answered your questions.

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 03 Jul 13 at 10:03am

Originally posted by mogthedog

Cheers and I hope I have answered your questions.

Well, if the halyard was solid at the top of the sail and thus to the mast and loose where it comes out of the mast then we are down to the block at the top or some kind of jam within the mast. I concur that the latter seems unlikely so I think you should take the mast down and inspect everything very thoroughly at the top. Also inspect the halyard from end to end and make sure there is no fraying or anything else that could catch somewhere. If you have the mast right off the boat you should be able to inspect the whole halyard from one end or the other without actually unthreading it.
And go through all that stuff on the RS website too...

Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 03 Jul 13 at 10:55am

Probably just a twist in the halyard jamming in a sheave somewhere.

untie from the head and down haul patch and work the twists out of the halyard.

Run the halyard up and down a few times to see if any twists re-appear.

Or possibly the jib halyard has wrapped around it inside the mast.

Posted By: mogthedog
Date Posted: 03 Jul 13 at 3:10pm

Hey, thanks for all the responses, I like RS400asC approach this could be a possibility as it has never happened in 12 months so I am thinking it cannot of wrapped around the jib halyard inside the mast, although it could be a possibility.

Transient, I will have to read the PDF to understand what you mean about the bungees.

For information on this particular day were on port tack both ttimes the kite stuck, I don't think it was getting caught on the front, I'm racing again tonight so I'll try a few things and let you know tomorrow.

Thanks very much for your advice guys, very much appreciated.

Posted By: mogthedog
Date Posted: 04 Jul 13 at 8:18pm

Sailed last night, did 3 drops all on port tack and had no problems, I tried what RS400atC recommended about untying the halyard and running my finger and thumb over the length of it, to try and get out any twists, I didn't notice any twists but the kite came down x3 with no problems.

Hopefully this was the problem..

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