Hi BB,
As I've already said this is a completely new venture for me but it is on a background of modelling for many years. I do not however have the experience of sailing/yachts as yet to be able to comment knowlegeably but for what it is worth this is what was done and the reasons why.
Firstly the yacht comes with fixed sheeting points on both booms and equal run out on both sheets. Consquently the jib is allowed to move through the same arc as the main boom. With both booms out on the run that meant the jib was too far out - well past 90 degrees and spilling wind.
After reading as much as I could find about this situation I decided to fit a closed loop to eliminate the single strain on the winch and adopt a method of restricting the jib sheet movement. To me this appears to be working well - how it is seen by others with far more experience remains to be seen and I'm certainly open for constructive critiscism.
The yacht's existing system is fitted with an after pulley at the rudder
The forward pulley is accesible by removing this sheeting housing
The closed loop line is in two lengths attached to the winch drum at each end and a number of turns applied both ways. Using a length of soft copper wire as a hook the line was taken through both pulleys and siezed to two thimbles. The tension was applied by another seizing between the two eyes. This was the third attempt - the first had a spring between which stretched, the second had a stretched 'O' ring which appeard fine until the next day when overnight the thimble had cut through it with the tension.
The sheeting lines are attached to the aft thimble. The main sheet goes straight to the main sheeting post but the jib sheet goes aft to a turn around (made from 3mmdia stainless rod) first then forwards to the jib sheeting post
The jib travel is limited by this small (yellow) restrictor. The position for this was determined by gently squeezing a cut down crimp to the line and sliding it along to a position that had the boom out about halfway. By gently pulling the jib out by hand with the restrictor against the sheeting point the sheet was pulled through until the position was found for the crimp to be set. The restrictor was then glued to the crimp with some thick PVA type glue.
So far this has worked well - for me - it has certainly cured the air spilling from the jib. As you can imagine this is a steep learning curve and how it will be seen as experience is gained remains to be seen.
Since the last post we now have another Focus in the Norwich Club and with others interested it bodes well for the coming season.
Hope this helps you BB and anyone else who may have an interest
Regards - Ramon