The RS Venture

Specification

Rigging

Bowsprit Pole and Gennaker Launch system

Overview

The gennaker launching system is referred to as a 'Single Line Launch System'. Whilst true from a crew perspective because it takes only a single line to operate the system, there are in practice three linked lines that work together to launch and retrieve the gennaker sail. All of these lines form part of the standing rigging, ie the rigging that stays in the boat when stored onshore. The gennaker standing rigging is linked to the bowsprit pole launch system via a pulley block sytem sited in the bow of the boat concealed by the mouth of the chute. This section describes the rigging of the bowsprit launch system that consists of two ropes, the Tack line, running through the centre of the bowsprit pole and the pull out line that launches the bowspit pole as the gennaker sail is launched. In normal use this rigging is left untouched apart from the need to rig the gennaker sail to the top of the launch line, link its patch to the bottom of the launch line and its Tack to the Tack line at the front of the pole. See the Gennaker section for detailed guidance on rigging the gennaker sail. This section provides guidance on the operation of the launch system and rope replacement.

The Tack Line

The Tack line is a 4mm rope tied off at its rear to the front section of the mast step bracket. It leads through the centre of the bowsprit pole and emerges from the front of the pole where it is terminated in a large rope stopper or bobble. The Bowsprit pole is held in position on the Tack line by two stopper knots. One knot is placed at the rear of the pole and the other at the front of the pole allowing approx 2cm of slack between the pole and the knots.
In normal use the tack line rigging is left undisturbed, even when the mast is removed and the boat is being towed etc. However note that the lower section of the gennaker launch line will need uncoupling whenever the mast is removed. This section explains how to replace this line when the mast is returned. In time the ropes will require replacing and the following information on the adjustment will be helpful.

TIP: Do replace the Tack line as soon as the front section begins to fray. If the Tack line snaps and pulls out of the Bowsprit pole, feeding a replacement line through the pole is difficult and time consuming. Whenever possible stitch the new line carefully to the end of the old line and gently pull the new line into position.

The Bowsprit Launch Line

The bowsprit launch line, also a 4mm rope, is a short length of rope tied to a clip at the rear of the bowsprit pole and the other end of this line travels forwards and is passed through a block fixed in the bow. The end of the line is tied to the becket of a small loose block, through which the gennaker launch line travels. The adjustments of this system are fairly critical for optimum operation of the bowsprit pole. When replacing the ropes for this system follow these steps;

  • Thread the replacement rope through the bowsprit pole using a thin wire or electricians feed stick if the old rope cannot be used as a tow rope for the new line
  • Place a large plastic rope stopper to the front end of the Tack line and secure it with a snug stopper knot.
  • Tie a stopper knot 15cm in before the rope stopper.
  • Slide the front of the Bowsprit pole against the stopper knot
  • Keeping the Bowsprit pole in position, tie a second stopper knot approx 2cm from the rear end of the bowsprit pole.
  • Feed the Bowsprit pole into the front of the boat, rear end first.
  • Tie the rear end of the Tack line loosely (it will need adjustment later) to the front bolt of the Mast step bracket.
  • Tie the small becket block firmly (bowline knot) to the end of the bowsprit pole launch line
  • Feed the bowsprit pole launch line in an anticlockwise direction through the fixed steel block in the bow.
  • Bring the end of the bowsprit pole launch line to the rear of the bowsprit pole and loosely tie off to the fastening clip on the pole.

The final stage is the adjustment of these ropes. Start by pulling out the Bowsprit pole to its full length but not so far that the fastening clip on the pole fouls the fixed block in the bow or the retsining saddle clip holding the bowsprit pole to the deck. Keeping the Bowsprit pole in this position re tie the rear end of the Tack line to the Mast step bracket so that the Tack line is taut at this position. Test that all is well, ie the front blocks are not being fouled by the pole rear fastening, by attempting to pull the bowsprit pole out by hand. Re-adjust as necessary. Also double check that when the Tack line front stopper is pulled taut the pole still slides slightly between the positioning knots (this is to ensure that the plastic pole end caps are not under strain when the gennaker sail is in use)..
Finally with the gennaker launch line taut (easiest to achieve this by rigging the gennaker sail and doing a full hoist and cleating the line) re-adjust the length of the bowsprit pole launch line so that the launch line is taut in this position. As a final check retrieve the gennaker sail into the chute and then carry out a launch ashore (you may have to move the boat backwards on its trolley to allow the bowsprit pole to fully extend). Check that the gennaker sail is at its highest point; that the bowsprit pole is fully extended; that the Tack line at the rear of the pole is reasonably taut.Check again that when the Tack line stopper knot is pulled tightly to the front of the boat the pole is still free to move slightly backwards /forwards along the Tack line - there should be no force on the positioning knots or the bowsprit pole plastic end caps.

The Launch / Retrieval Line

This is the line that the crew uses to launch and retrieve the gennaker. It is part of the standing rigging is normally left in the boat when ashore. It is only removed from the boat to allow the mast to be removed.