Comet Duo 'Owners Handbook'
INTRODUCTION:
This following is intended to introduce You, to Your Duo, and to
help you get the
best from het. There are some hints and tips on sailing the Duo, but
you are
advised to learn the basics at a sailing school or from a friend who
has a
dinghy. Before you sail your Duo for the first time, the following
points
should be remembered;
1) Always wear a Buoyancy Aid or Lifejacket whatever the weather
or
your experience.
2) Choose a sheltered strectch of water, with no strong tides, currents
or
big waves.
3) Avoid winds blowing directly off the land onto water. The real
strength
of
the wind is not discovered until you are out there in the dinghy.
4) Depending on your experience, it is a good idea to reef the mainsail
or
even furl the jib as well.
TRANSPORTING THE DUO:
TRAILERS:
Most small trailers are suitable for the Duo, although the Bramber
Duo
Combination Trailer is designed specifically for the Duo. Adjust the
trailer
so the side supports as well as the centre roller take the weight
of the dinghy.
BEFORE YOU START:
Before rigging your Duo for the first time it is best to study the
diagram and
familiarize yourself with the ropes and various parts of the boat.
KNOW THE ROPES:
| Painter |
 |
Mainsheet Horse |
|
| Cunningham |
 |
Outhaul |
 |
| Clew Strop |
|
Reefing Line |
 |
| Mainsheet |
 |
Jib Sheet |
|
RIGGING THE DUO:
|
1) Check the halyards are stowed along the mast, and the top
swivel on
the jib furling gear is temporarily attached to a mast cleat.
2) Make sure the mast gate is open, raise the mast up and locate
the mast
foot in its hole and let the mast lean forward. Close the mast
gate.
|
|
3) Unwind the shrouds and after checking they are
not tangled fasten the two side shrouds keeping
the rings on the outside.
4) Fasten the forestay to the bow shackle using a
triple purchase & half hitches to tighten the rigging.
5) Fully wind up the jib furling drum anti-clockwise.
6) Fasten the head of the jib to the top swivel on the
jib halyard and fasten the jib tack to the furling drum.
Clip the top swivel to the forestay.
|
|
|
7) Hoist the jib, hook the loop in the jib halyard onto the
Highfield Lever and
lower the lever to tighten. Pass the jib sheets inboard of the
shrouds and
through the jib sheet fairleads from the outside. Put a knot
in the end of each
jib sheet. Fully furl the jib.
8) Shackle the tack of the mainsail to the front of the boom.
Tie the clew to
the boom between the two blocks & thread the outhaul rope
as per diagram.
9) Tie the reefing line around the middle of the boom with a
bowline and
thread the rope, again as in the diagram.
10) Put on the rudder with the blade fully up. Tie the mainsheet
horse to one
eye on the transom, pass the other end through the mainsheet
swivel block,
over the tiller, but under the tiller extension and firmly tie
to the other eye.
|
|
11) Shackle the top mainsheet block to the boom
making sure that the mainsheet is not twisted.
12) Shackle the kicking strap to the mast
and boom, but have it fully slack.
13) Check the boat is head into wind.
Shackle the mainsail halyard to the top of the sail,
fee the sail into the luff groove, pull the sail up
and connect boom to the gooseneck.
|
|
14) Thread the end of the reefing line through the eye on the
mast and tie
a knot in the end. Thread the cunningham rope through the sail
and fasten
to the cleat, as in the diagram. Tie the painter to the bow shackle. |
LAUNCHING THE DUO:
1) Make sure the tiller and mainsheet are free to operate.
Close
the self bailers, and check the drain bung is tight.
2) Check the outhual is not too loose, tighten the kicking strap a
liitle,
and
make sure the reefing line is not too tight.
3) Move the boat into the water and hold the bow head to wind.
4) The helmsman should get in, lower the the rudder and the centreboard
a bit.
5) Unfurl the jib if needed and the crew should now get aboard.
6) Sail into deeper water and lower the rudder and centreboard.
REEFING:
It is often sensible to reef the mainsail and even furl the jib in
strong winds if
you are sailing single-handed or are beginners. To reef the mainsail
firstly head
the dinghy into wind, make sure the centreboard is fully down, and
furl the jib.
This helps the dinghy sit head to wind and makes reefing the mainsail
easier.
Loosen the kicking strap, and pull the reefing line on the boom and
cheat.
Uncleat the mainsail halyard and pull down the other end of the reefing
line
until the eyelet is above the boom, and cleat on the clamcleat on
the mast.
Tighten the mainsail halyard. Tidy up the foot of the sail by hooking
the
shockcord under the sail and onto the hook on the other side of the
sail.
Tighten up the kicking strap again, and unfurl the jib if required.
Whilst a reefed mainsail & jib give easier sailing for lightweights
or in strong winds,
it might sometimes be necessary to sail with just the reefed mainsail
and no jib.
When sailing without the jib, it is important to remember that when
sailing close to
the wind, you should not pull the boom in as tight as you would if
sailing with a jib.
If you are sailing with a full mainsail and no jib, to stop excessive
weather helm,
you should balance the baot by raising the centreboard a little.
~ The above information was supplied
by AMS Marine, South Molton, Devon ~
