The guys over here who bought A Class cats, have found that they cannot leave the cats rigged with their masts up. They though that the cats would be safe if they were well tied down, but the light carbon masts vibrate in the wind and one completely delaminated. They now lower their masts every time, after sailing. Also they say, because of the way they raise their masts, they need two people to do this.
Seems a lot of trouble to me.
Dermot

Dermot,
The A cat guys here raise their masts over their bows and I have never seen any of them request or get help. They all do it by themselves. Its not hard. I suppose it is just what you are used to.

Back to the point of this thread.
I really like the Stealth Video. Great initiative for Stealth and great promotion for the class.


Regards,
Phill

I wonder if the blade will ever get a video shoot. South Florida USA would be the perfect venue for one as well.

cough cough Matt McDonald cough cough.

Hi Phill, a tangent, but what do you recommend for the Blade? From the bow or stern? I raised my mast for the first time on the weekend, from the rear based on some advice on the superwing mast I found on Boyer's site. Is is feasible/desirable to do it from the front? I was concerned that the self-tacker would be in the way, and that if I wasn't careful it might end up taking all the weight of the mast, which I'm sure it wouldn't survive.

Mark.

Can anyone help me to view the video? When ever I access it all I get on the screen is loads of "script".
I am using Netscape on a Mac with OS X. Does anyone know how I should set up Netscape to translate the format for the video. I have Windows Media Player and Quick time installed, but for this video (and some others) it just doesn't seem to work?
Darryl

Darryl,

I'm not a Mac user, but what you describe sounds like something I have seen before somewhere. Are attempting to just click (i.e. left-click) on the link? If so I suggest first downloading the file by right-clicking the link and selecting "save link as" or words to that effect.

Once you have downloaded the file, either doubloe click on the file icon to opn it, or (and this is probably the approach with the least risk of not working) start Windows Media Player, and select the File-Open menu option and open the file from there.

Worth a look.

Mark.

If you have a single forestay and 2 people, raise from the transom.

If by yourself, make a wooden A frame up or use your trailer to hold up mast tip and position mast at 45 degrees from bow. Now connect forestay and closest side stay. Raise at 45 degree angle then run around and fastened other side stay. Some of the Taipan boys in Oz use this techneque and is very effective.

Mark,
I raise my mast, usually by myslef, over the bow. The method I use is a little different to that mentioned by Steve. However I would be hesitant to recommend raising over the bow. If you are not careful things can go wrong. It is just that I don't like walking on my boat when it is on land. Believe me this is a personal quirk. Most people have no issue with this and the mast goes up over the sterns.
Regards,
Phill

http://www.xs4all.nl/~whijink/Blade_F16_004.mpeg

Thanks Steve and Phill. I'll try those and see how I go.

Mark.

That video is pretty old and is only 20 seconds long. Needs more action, more boats ect ect.

Is that Phill's boat in this video?

Robi,
In answer to your question that is my boat.
The surprising thing is we have 160kg on board and the chap steering has not long learnt how to sail and never been on a boat with a spinnaker before. Hate to think what he'd be like after a bit of practise.
Regards,
Phill

Thanks for that Mark, but I have solved the problem. I spent some time yesterday actually "reading the instructions" (shame shame!!) and then went and downloaded the latest version of Netscape. It seems that "windows media Player 9" is not always compatable with the earlier versions of Netscape.
Darryl

Cos it's less hassle getting someone else to help! If I owned Ts and didn't just borrow them I might change my mind. Or I might just leave them in all the time like the other two boats which both have Ts do.

They really do help a huge amount when it's windy. Only time I've used them when it was windy was sailing out to where we were racing as an F5 squall came through - sailing slightly deeper than a beam reach I just couldn't get the bows to even think about going down. Naturally the wind died as the race started and they became a liability after that....

Does anyone know whether Matt has thought about offering T foil rudders as an option for the Blade? I bet there would be lots of takers on that one.

Jerry

Here the new website of the Dutch Stealth F16 agent !

http://www.cat-house.nl/index.htm

Wouter

No--totally different pintles on the transom, but I'm sure it could be done with some modification.