Public Talk by Roger Taylor in Burnham on Crouch, UK

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  • 12 Mar 2014 09:54
    Reply # 1515966 on 1471142
    Deleted user
    Thanks you for sharing it.
  • 27 Feb 2014 23:16
    Reply # 1507444 on 1471142
    Deleted user
    Very nice, Roger, and quite inspiring.

    I think you have truly picked up the baton (batten?) from Blondie!
  • 27 Feb 2014 20:51
    Reply # 1507351 on 1471142
    There is now a very utilitarian video of this talk posted on Youtube here:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLMROWo1dbY&list=UUqbPTJgSLaMhf0BkdG6t72A&feature=c4-overview

    Unlikely to be nominated for an Oscar.

    There is also a short Yachting Monthly video, which has some footage of Mingming II sailing, here:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jsPOlg7Ovc&list=UUaO9orJHxkML8rpcKkILPIw&feature=c4-overview

    Roger
    Last modified: 27 Feb 2014 23:41 | Anonymous member
  • 18 Feb 2014 17:02
    Reply # 1500551 on 1471142
    Deleted user
    Thank you Roger for your time and all the information of  MingmingII's sail / mast construction.

    We look forward to news of your future passages; we wish you and MingmingII every success.
    Bon Voyage





  • 17 Feb 2014 19:03
    Reply # 1499856 on 1471142

    Thanks for the questions which I’ll do my best to answer. As a prelude could I say that just because I have done something in a particular way does not mean that I advocate that anybody else ought necessarily to be doing it that way. I do things the way that suits me personally and take total responsibility for their success or failure. There are no right or wrong ways, just ways that may or may not work in given circumstances. So much depends on the individual boat and where and how it is sailed. Success or failure of a given rig is largely down to seamanship.

    I am not particularly technically minded, and have in any event come to distrust too much proof by formula of the pure engineering kind. I build things as I go along, using instinct, experience and a healthy tendency to over-build. Sometimes I can’t remember how or why I did something in a particular way; I was totally absorbed in the task, in the white heat of creation, and when I’d finished that’s how it was. I sometimes take notes but tend to lose them. I can’t find the back-of the-envelope notes I made regarding the cambering of the panels, so some of my answers will be approximations from memory. Anyway, that is good, because I would hate people to think that there is some definitive science at work here. There ain’t. This is all just one man’s take on an infinitude of possibilities.

    Here are my answers in chronological order:

     

    • 1.     So far delighted with the mast; no untoward flexing. Time will tell.
    • 2.     Maximum camber is fairly well forward (30 – 35% from luff). Maximum hinge widths are something like 8” for the lowest panel (giving c.5% draft on a batten length of 13’ 10”), then decreasing by c 1” for each panel as we go up. This allows for the fact that although each panel is flat it will still take up some curvature, thereby increasing draft. As an offshore sailor I didn’t want too much draft, just enough to be effective.   
    • 3.     Cof E of the new rig has about 9 -10% (of LWL) lead over the CLR.
    • 4.     Very happy with the power of the sail and no intentions to alter anything yet.
    • 5.     Rather underestimate than overestimate likely offshore tacking angles. Probably 100 – 110 degrees. I prefer to sail slightly free anyway.
    • 6.     Yes, just the LHP.
    • 7.     Possibly, but I haven’t seen any indication of the hinges distorting in this way (there is only 1” between alternate hinges, so not that much room to move).
    • 8.     No HK parrels. No experience of them, but they seem to set up tensions that I would rather do without.
    • 9.     So far so good with Odyssey 3. I have been careful to make a good sail cover, though.
    • 10.                         It was the best way of minimising any waste. 2.5 widths gave me exactly the panel length I wanted.
    • 11.                         No problems with reefing (so far).
    • 12.                         B = 13’ 10”  P = 3’
    • 13.                         No
    • 14.                         I don’t yet have enough experience of pelagic conditions to be able to comment on weather helm off the wind. I have no mechanism to drastically alter the balance of the sail downwind, but neither did Mingming 1.
    • 15.                        No throat parrel (just normal YHP).
    • 16.                         Batten parrels are probably longish. No parrels on yard or boom.
    • 17.                         Leech end of the battens slot into pockets. Luff ends secured by a system of webbing tabs and line.
    • 18.                         Main halyard is 4-part.
    • 19.                         Mainsheet is fine. May need a little encouragement to overhaul in very light airs.
    • 20.                         I have sewn webbing tabs at the batten pockets, to which long pendants will be attached, which in heavy weather are secured right round the sail bundle to prevent fan-ups.
    • 21.                         As yet no sweeps but I have made provision for sculling and will use one of Mingming 1’s sculling oars.
    • 22.                         I will carry appropriate lumber for confecting a jury rig if necessary.

     

    Hope that does it.

     

    Roger

    PS The mast was sourced from the Aluminium Lighting Company, Port Talbot, Wales. Very helpful. The mast was actually made in Holland (Nedal).

    [Webmaster edit: the link to the above can be found in Members' Area > Junk Info > Useful links > Sails, Masts and Gear.]


    Last modified: 04 Mar 2014 22:45 | Anonymous member
  • 14 Feb 2014 11:58
    Reply # 1497930 on 1471142

    [Webteam edit: Jonathan's post and the replies moved to the Technical Forum 'Mast details and specifications' thread. Let's keep this thread Roger-specific, please. Brian.]

    I may be about to replace the mainmast on Lexia (before it fails !?) 

    I would therefore also be interested as a matter of some urgency....
    Last modified: 16 Feb 2014 20:15 | Anonymous member
  • 13 Feb 2014 14:47
    Reply # 1497261 on 1471142
    Deleted user
    Thank you Roger

    May I  kick off to get the ball rolling, members add their questions to the list, finally in due course, we ask Roger to respond in one hit?

    1. Your mast is tapered to just over 3" diameter at the top. Are you pleased with its  performance? Is the degree of flexing ok?
    2. You have created camber in the lower panels by different lengths of 'piano hinge', can you give us an approximate  % of cord and where point of max camber is built in?
    3. In the process of calculating your new mast position you compared the combined CE of original bermudan sails with your proposed new Junk Rig's CE? Can you say how much difference you settled on?
    4. In light of the sea trials are you happy with the amount of camber and power - you commented in one video that it would be easy to adjust subsequently if not right - do you plan any alterations?
    5. In an early sea trial in light winds and flat water you were getting very respectable tacking angles: are you now able to give us the angles you expect in different conditions of wind force and sea state?
    6. The sail sets well with no obvious diagonal creases . Is shape controlled by LHP alone?
    7. Do you think that the lower 3 panels (which have the hinges) are each able to move independently fore and aft a little and to dispel tensions that otherwise may cause diagonal creases?
    8. Hong Kong Parrels -  any fitted?
    9. Your sailcloth is Odyssey III - any thoughts?
    10. You made each sail panel with 3 sections of cloth - vertically sewn and parallel with the leech. Is this to stop a rip extending too far, or another reason?
    11. You used Carbon fibre for the battens, is there enough weight to reef willingly?
    12. How long are the battens and the width of panels : Dimensions B and P?
    13. Is a tack line fitted.?
    14. Is weather helm an issue off the wind - do you need to 'cant' the sail's CE forward, if so what control lines do you use?
    15. Have you fitted a Throat Parrel
    16. Are batten parrels short or long and are they also fitted to yard or boom?
    17. How are luff and leech attached to the battens?
    18. You don't use a winch for sail handling, how many parts is your halliard tackle.
    19. Your mainsheet is a 6 part tackle, are loads ok and is it willing to overhaul?
    20. How do you deal with Fan Up prevention?
    21. Will you carry sweeps as on Mingming?
    22. Will you have provision to fit a jury rig?
    Last modified: 14 Feb 2014 20:46 | Anonymous member
  • 07 Feb 2014 07:51
    Reply # 1492930 on 1471142
    I'll always try and answer any questions, although I'm not particularly technically-minded; the creation of a yacht is art as much as science.

    A reasonably viewable video of the last talk was made. It just needs some light editing and will probably be put up on Youtube. Many thanks to those who came or have expressed an interest in a video.

    Roger
  • 05 Feb 2014 01:20
    Reply # 1490762 on 1490555
    Ash Woods wrote:

    I imagine that Roger finds himself answering the same questions time and time again? So my suggestion, is if this is ok with Roger, is we invite interested members to create a joint list; then in due course we ask Roger if he would be good enough to respond once 'en masse'?

    With my editor's long distance binoculars, I see an article for issue 65 here!
  • 04 Feb 2014 21:23
    Reply # 1490555 on 1471142
    Deleted user

    I had been looking forward to Roger's talk for a few weeks; and wasn't disappointed, the room was packed - not a spare seat ; I guess 140 or so attended including several of his friends from the Jester Challenge. It was a most interesting, enjoyable talk, and was over too soon.

    MingmingII is a great concept - very fit for her purpose, and goes so well. I am currently researching before converting my Hunter 701 (also designed by Oliver Lee) so I feel very keen to learn all I can from Roger's ideas, before starting.

    I imagine that Roger finds himself answering the same questions time and time again? So my suggestion, is if this is ok with Roger, is we invite interested members to create a joint list; then in due course we ask Roger if he would be good enough to respond once 'en masse'?

    Hope this is ok.

    Best wishes

     

     

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