Graham Brown, "NZL-3166 post-2005 Worlds improvements and modifications" (June 2006, NZ)

New Flying Fifteen innovations for 2006

To read Graham's recollections of the 2005 Worlds in this boat CLICK HERE

Why the changes?

• One of the main lessons learnt from the last world champs was that smooth movement and weight distribution of the crew in the boat can affect speed.
• One of the major obstacles in achieving optimum crew / weight transfer and boat balance while sailing and in particular tacking and gybing, etc… is the central console.
• Removing this console, while retaining a workable cockpit, proved challenging and resulted in some excellent benefits.
• The following are some of the benefits plus other new ideas to aid smoother sailing, weight reduction, better hiking, and a cleaner better boat.

The Result ...

NZL-3166: Primary Control Lines

• In order to open up the cockpit of NZL3166 for better crew movement and weight distribution, I removed the central console and ran the primary control lines under the false floor and onto the side tanks.
• This photo shows the control lines exiting the floor through “ball bearing” exit blocks and passing through four Harken micro cleats that are mounted on a custom bracket at floor level. They then travel up to a custom PTFE (teflon or Nylon) block, on the side tank and just below the side deck (to contain the rope tails.)
• ADVANTAGES …
• I can now adjust the control lines easily, either fully hiking or when inboard by pulling or releasing either side of the PTFE block.
• Tails are contained by gravity using the coloured balls
• No more coming off the hike to adjust controls in a breeze!
• No console hindering tacking and crew weight distribution cleaner and tidier ropes.
• Removal of 4.2 kg of console, etc
• Ropes are from right to left, Outhaul, Mast ram (front cleat, white rope), Jib Barberhauler (back cleat thin red rope), Kicker (endless)

NZL-3166: Secondary Control Lines

• The hole left by the console removal was reinstated to the original floor profile but allowances were made to recess the secondary control line cleats into the newly moulded central foot step.
• In the bottom photo, the red line is the 24:1 rig tension, obscured on the other side of the foot step is the Spinnaker pole topping lift (white ball)
• In the top photo, is the mainsail Cunningham (green rope), obscured on the other side is the “pump” Kite halyard system. (see separate photo and notes.)
• Also in the top photo is the Harken hexaratchet mainsheet block. This is mounted on a custom made, swiveling, Carbon Fibre Cleat mounting bracket / plate that I moulded to the exact angle to cleat from any position or angle on the Boat. The plate is shaped to fit the Standard harken ball bearing swivel base, but is stronger, lighter and built to accommodate the correct cleating angle. This was moved foward 200mm from original attachment on the console.

NZL-3166: Pump Kite System

• A reasonably common and extremely fast system for a Twin Bag Kite system on most dinghies, however the system photographed on our boat is the first one perfected on a launcher system
• The photo shows the halyard coming (left of photo) from the mast and exiting the floor to a Harken Micro cleat. It then passes through a plastic thimble /ball “release” rope to a Harken swivel block. From here it passes through a block / rope loop arrangement that is used to pump or pull the kite up. Finally the halyard pass through a hole in the blue pivoting auto jam fitting.
• How does it work? Well, as you pull the loop up the blue pivoting fitting jams the halyard and only allows the halyard to pull the kite up (the halyard automatically jams in the cleat). Then, as you release the loop down to the deck the blue pivoting fitting drops down and the slack (which is connected via the launcher to the centre of the kite) is taken up. Three pumps and 5 seconds later the kite is up.
• On a “bag” launch system the tail of the halyard is taken up through a series of micro blocks tensioned with shock cord
• On our system the tail is connected to the kite (for retrieval) and the slack is taken up between the cunning blue pivot fitting and the tails exit beneath the cockpit floor with a hidden shock cord system.

Maximum Hiking Power

• Removing 9 kg of teak Gunwales, which was replaced with 2kg of foam/glass ones, revealed that there was scope to build wings out to maximum width. The wings were shaped, recessed and glassed into the existing hull / deck joint and interface.
• Vinyl ester resin was used in conjunction with tri axial cloth to give excellent strength and compatibility with gel coat.
• Gel coat matched to the original colour was then applied, cured and sanded with 1200 then 2000 wet and dry. A final cut and polish to match the original moulded gel coat completed the job
• Interestingly, there are a lot of boats, I have thrown the measure tape over, that are well from maximum beam through the Hiking area. Some are 200mm too narrow.

NZL-3166: Hiking Straps

• In order to remove clutter from the cockpit, reduce weight and have two less objects to trip over or break, I devised a simple “single” hiking strap system that is far superior than the two strap system.
• WHY?
• The strap conforms automatically to your hiking style, leg length and body position.
• There is less clutter to clamber over.
• There is more adjustability for leg length through having no fixed mounting point. You obtain more weight out further utilizing the width of the sliding traveller.
• The top photo is the crews strap. It shows the front Dynax traveller, the straps adjustment rope and cleat (on strap) and the shock cord centering via the cleat.
• The bottom photo shows the crews aft traveller the same as the top but with no adjustment
• Once the crews feet are under the strap it slides, at both ends, outboard to suit your require hiking style or leg length.

NZL-3166: Jib Sheet System

• From left, the jib sheet travels aft through the barberhauler through a harken tuning block down through a harken Cleat and finally through a Harken Block mounted on a stainless saddle that allows the block to have a rise and fall “pivot”.
• This pivoting block, when the sheet is pulled in with an aft motion, (bottom photo) lowers the block and the sheet is lowered through the cleat and automatically jams the sheet.
• When pulled or flicked forward, raises the pivoting block and releases the sheet from the cleat. (top photo)
• I have found that when tacking, it is faster to cross the boat with the new sheet and release the old sheet by pulling the sheet out of the cleat between the turning block and cleat. This is very easy and times the release of the jib perfectly through a roll tack. Or, you can release the sheet through a tack be a forward pull or flick of the sheet.
• ADVANTAGES.
• Quicker, lighter and no more obstructive plates, turning blocks and cleats on the side tanks and hiking areas!
• Automatically cleats when pulled in.
• Better load and stress distribution.
• Easier to work the jib sheet tension.
• No slipping sheets during tack
• Better pull angle.
• Less Weight with lower centre of gravity.

NZL-3166: Adjustable Mainsheet system

• On NZL-3166 we run a 8mm 1:1 mainsheet that splits into two 4mm Spectra (core) lines that exit out of two Harken Carbon blocks at the booms end. They then attach at the gunwhale.
• This system utilizes a powerful kicker and a strong boom to maintain leech tension on the mainsail. The mainsheet, in everything but light conditions, is essentially the traveler.
• While this self-centering system is used on a few Flying Fifteens and maximizes the leverage on the boom laterally (and minimizes mainsheet tension), it does lack self-centering in very light (sub 3knots) conditions were you require the boom on the centre line and no kicker and very low mainsheet tension.
• Thus, if you look at the photo, I have attached the green rope to the white spectra mainsheet, this runs around a very small block, through the deck, under the floor, and exits forward by the chain plates (where the helmsman sits in light conditions). Under the deck it converts to 2:1 and when pulled brings the boom onto or above the centerline.
• This is the port side and is duplicated on the starboard side.

NZL-3166: Mainsheet system

• This shot shows the split spectra mainsheet running through the Harken Blocks at the booms outer end. The alloy mounting bracket allow the blocks to run freely from side to side and clear the boom (no chafe).
• The red line is the outhaul.
• All ropes on our boat are either spectra, vectran or Dynax and spliced. This allows minimal creep or stretch in the entire rig thus every kg of wind pressure put on the sails is directly transferred to boat speed and not rig movement.
• Rig tension and sail shape are also maintained with minimal creep and stretch in your rigging.

2:1 Main Halyard

• Running a 2:1 halyard has numerous benefits, but the best reason to install one is the reduction in compression on the mast in the hounds to mast head area. This has the benefit of stiffening this area resulting in less bend (sideways and fore & aft) less loss of shape in the top third if the sail, more power, better sale shape and leach tension.
• Other benefits are: less stretch because there is double the Spectra rope holding the head board to the mast head and a more stable headboard because of better head board support.
• This photo show a light alloy extrusion that slides and rivets to the existing proctor mast crane. The extrusion was shaped to accommodate a 3/16 stainless pin to support the spliced halyard end.

Venturi Placement

• This photo shows the placement of the venturi (super sucker) 100mm aft of the keel flange.
• This is the lowest part of the hull when sailing and thus captures all water in the boat (no added weight).
• It also strategically placed to create the least drag by being in an area of low turbulence and disrupted water flow.
• Note the large launching pads and keel protection box. These totally reduce launch and retrieval damage, especially when launching into waves.

No more Central Console

• With the removal of the central console, the boat is now a pleasure to sail.
• No more going aft around the console when the helmsman tacks (digging the stern in)
• Easier fore and aft crew movement when the conditions change.
• Sail adjustments are easier in all conditions
generally easier movement throughout the boat. Especially downwind.
• No bumping into or tripping over that 'bloody' obstruction.
• Better boat trim and weight transfer in the boat.
• More space for the crew, especially when sitting on the cockpit floor.
• Reduction in weight.

The offending Console

Pimp your Boat

• This fibreglass fitting covers a ball bearing exit block and while it offers no functional value, other than keeping water out of the cockpit, it looks great and adds bling to your boat. And all for about $0.50
• This fitting is recessed and epoxy glued into the gel coat and sprayed metallic blue for effect.
• How do you make them? ... Easy ... Drop me a line and I will tell you how: gbrown@usgi.co.nz