[C320-list] Racing

[kenneth bousum]

Denny, don't do it you will rip that sea hood cover right off.Just use two guys one one each side of the companion way.Ken B #711 
----- Original Message -----
I race my C320 (#935), and have run into some difficulties with halyards, 
mainsheet, spinnaker controls, etc. all occurring around the companionway. 
This is too much activity for a single crew at the weather and leeward 
marks. So, I'm thinking of running the mainsheet to a swivel at the forward 
edge center of the companionway as the only mainsheet control (possibly with 
a fine tune at the back of the boom) in an effort to get the mainsheet off 
both cabintop winches and separate the main trimmer's duties and equipment 
from the pit guy's. It may be smarter just to put two guys on the tasks with 
existing equipment, but I think I can make it better. 

Garhauer makes the swivel that I want 
(http://garhauermarine.com/catalog_process.cfm?cid=63 ) but I don't know how 
to mount it. The companionway cover slides under a molded piece that I'm 
thinking of attaching a piece of stainless angle iron to, so I can mount the 
swivel to the angle iron, but I'm still not sure the vertical aft edge of 
this cover is strong enough to handle the load of the mainsheet. Actually, 
it's probably only 1/3 of the load, as I'm contemplating a single block on 
the swivel and the existing double block on the traveler, but it's still a 
substantial load with our mid-boom mainsheet. I've added Harken 150 cam 
cleats to the aft edge of the cabintop, and they seem to be fine for the 
mainsheet when sailing off the wind, but I'm not confident in their strength 
when hard on the wind. Makes me nervous in the event of a jibe, as well. 

Can anyone offer any insights that may help guide me on this? 

Thanks, 

DENNY BROWNE 
____________________________ 
A Cappella #935 
Redondo Beach, CA 
Denny at DennyBrowne.com