Solo rigging - help for newbie please

   I've just bought a Solo and would like some help with the rigging please.

The forestay appears too long to me - I previously sailed a Laser so didn't need to consider such things!

When the pin is in the tightest lowest hole and the shrouds are tensioned up the mast sits against the back of the hole in the deck. If the forestay was a little shorter the mast would sit in the centre of the hole? 

The boat isn't new and looks like it's always been like that. Any ideas?

Please email me rather than via the forum to

m4rk1e@tiscali.co.uk

Many thanks

Author	Message / View First Unread Post Share Topic Printable Version Delicious Digg Facebook Furl Google MySpace Newsvine reddit StumbleUpon Translate Twitter Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic
m4rk1e Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 04 Jul 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote m4rk1e Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Solo rigging - help for newbie please Posted: 04 Jul 04 at 9:09pm
	I've just bought a Solo and would like some help with the rigging please. The forestay appears too long to me - I previously sailed a Laser so didn't need to consider such things! When the pin is in the tightest lowest hole and the shrouds are tensioned up the mast sits against the back of the hole in the deck. If the forestay was a little shorter the mast would sit in the centre of the hole? The boat isn't new and looks like it's always been like that. Any ideas? Please email me rather than via the forum to m4rk1e@tiscali.co.uk Many thanks

Garry Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 18 Apr 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 536	Post Options Post Reply Quote Garry Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 Jul 04 at 2:38pm
	Have you tried the Solo class website? www.solosailing.org.uk I don't sail a Solo but there should be a way of applying rig tension although without a spreader I would guess the kicker plays an important role in bending the mast, since you don't have a jib there must be some other mechanism for this! It would seem your forestay is too long but you need to check out a reasonably fast boat before taking the bolt croppers to it I suggest you find a club with a Solo fleet.
	Garry Lark 2252, Contender 298 www.cuckoos.eclipse.co.uk

ChrisJ Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Far too distracted from work Joined: 07 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 337	Post Options Post Reply Quote ChrisJ Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 Jul 04 at 3:00pm
	Where do you sail? What type of water? Which club? At one time, Solo's sailed with a very loose forestay, as it helped to keep the mast flexible and allowed extra mast rake to be applied easily with the kicker. Whether they still do or not, I don't know. Whether you should keep the loose forestay or not will depend on where you sail, the age of the boat, the age of the sails, the way you sail (pinch vs go for speed), whether there are other Solos about etc etc.

m4rk1e Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 04 Jul 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote m4rk1e Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 Jul 04 at 5:37pm
	Thank you for your postings. The boat is late 1970's I guess - sail no. 2871. I haven't sailed it yet but I'm in North Wales where we've got a few lakes and the sea. I think I need to visit the local dinghy parks and find a boat of similar age. Many thanks.

Garry Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 18 Apr 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 536	Post Options Post Reply Quote Garry Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 Jul 04 at 9:34pm
	The Solo website suggests you put some tension on the forestay for anything other than light conditions to move the mast forward in the gate. If the forestay is so loose the mast is at the back of the gate then you could actually remove it!!!! However, the dynamics might change when you tighten the kicker - is the solo a class where you need to ping the mast to stop it inverting?
	Garry Lark 2252, Contender 298 www.cuckoos.eclipse.co.uk

Rob.e Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 19 Oct 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 545	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rob.e Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Oct 04 at 11:36am
	Y=Y did an article on Solo tuning which explains why the rig is set up with low tension, and there is a posting under FAQ's on the solo web site. Basically, it says "set the forestay so the mast without sail is touching the back of the mast gate with the forestay just in tension."(Y&Y July23 2000)