Larger Reinforcing Patches for Reefing
Submitted by Fleet #21 (7 of 10 eligible fleet members voted in support.)
Proposal to change Official Plans and Specifications – Thistle Class Sloop Sail Plan revised 2014, Sheet 6, Main Sail Notes #10 to allow for larger reinforcing patches for clew and tack grommets as well as additional gathering grommets for slab reefing.
Current Language:
Official Plans and Specifications – Thistle Class Sloop Sail Plan revised 2014, Sheet 6, Main Sail Notes #10 reads: ADDITIONAL TACK AND CLEW GROMMETS ALLOWED FOR “SLAB REEFING”. REINFORCEMENT PATCHES FOR EACH GROMMET NO GREATER THAN 50 SQUARE INCHES ALLOWED. TWO SAIL-GATHERING GROMMETS PER REEF MAY BE USED ALONG THE BODY OF THE SAIL WITH THEIR CONCOMITANT REINFORCING PATCHES NO GREATER THAN 27 INCHES.
Proposed Language: *
Official Plans and Specifications – Thistle Class Sloop Sail Plan revised 2014, Sheet 6, Main Sail Notes #10 to read: ADDITIONAL TACK AND CLEW GROMMETS ALLOWED FOR “SLAB REEFING”. REINFORCING PATCHES FOR THE CLEW GROMMET MAY BE NO LARGER THAN 900 SQUARE INCHES. REINFORCING PATCHES FOR THE TACK GROMMET MAY BE NO LARGER THAN 100 SQUARE INCHES. NO MORE THAN THREE SAIL GATHERING GROMMETS PER REEF MAY BE USED ALONG THE BODY OF THE SAIL. THE REINFORCING PATCHES FOR THESE GATHERING GROMMETS MAY BE NO LARGER THAN 30 SQUARE INCHES EACH.
Advantages to TCA:
This will bring the reef grommet reinforcement patch size limits in line with the current standard clew and tack grommet sizes used by the major sailmakers.
This will meet the recommendations by the major sailmakers to ensure durability with current sail materials.
This modification does not give any sailor a speed advantage over another sailor.
* Note that the italic and bold text formatting is to highlight the specific changes from the current language and will not be included in the updated plans.
