Some observant sailors have noticed that the mast is out of Passion X at the moment. The reason is not some unexpected calamity but a well planned tuning of the rig. Since launch back three years ago we have struggled to perform to expectations once the breeze gets up over twelve knots. Part of the problem is the narrow beam and light displacement for which there is little remedy but part of the problem is that we have not been able to flatten the main in a breeze. As a result we are reefing the main earlier than most and suffering in the light patches. I had suspected we could improve the mast bend and responsiveness if we had longer spreaders and after Joe Walsh came out for a sail he confirmed that suspicion. Indeed his first comment on stepping on board was “These spreaders are too short.” Allyacht Spars promptly confirmed our diagnosis and manufactured new longer spreaders to fit the existing bases. Once the spreaders were delivered Joe arranged for the mast to come out last Friday and by that evening the spreaders were changed over and the mast is ready to go back in Tuesday in time for the next twiight race. I am sure it will take a while to fine tune the rig with the new spreaders but I am confident it is the right decision. In the meantime we have been fortunate with the weather and I hope that good fortune continues through Wednesday night.
The mast is back in and some photos show that we now have some prebend in the mast
Passion X back on the mooring with new longer spreaders inducing some prebend in the mast