The J/109 Class Association Forum

We're taking delivery of a 109 in Sydney Harbour in November, which will be raced extensively. Hoping you guys might be able to help with your experience as we have no-one 'down under' to ask!
Some of our twilight races are non-spinnaker, but we are allowed to pole out the jib with a spinnaker pole. Do any of you have the measurements of the pole and the rigging of the topping lift (spinnaker pole uphaul)?
Have any of you had ingenious ideas to protect the interior whilst racing (covers etc)?
We have read that the edges of the J120 floor boards are not sealed. Is this the same with the 109?
Thanks for your help.
Ray & Sandra

[Posted by: Ray Entwistle
]

First of all, congratulations!

The J/109 is not rigged with a conventional spinnaker pole. You'll have to add one. Speak with your rigger and read the catalogs to get ideas.


Pole length depends entirely on the handicapping rule that you're using. Absent any handicapping limitation, the best solution is an expandable whisker pole that extends from J=4.05 meters to perhaps 6 meters. The pole should be kept short and squared back when running, and extended and let forward when reaching. More likely, there will be a penalty for a pole which can be extended beyond J. Talk to your handicapper.

Also, in addition to track and car on the mast, you should consider a topping lift, with a block mounted on the forward edge of the mast, perhaps half a meter below the headstay. You'll need to hold the pole up, especially when setting and gybing, and a halyard will foul in the furler.

You should also install a foreguy (brace)to hold the pole down. The two-part one depicted in the Harken catalog is a good choice in this application.

The pole should have a double bridle. This will permit you to do an end-for-end gybe.

As far as protecting the interior is concerned, several boats had padded covers built for their dining tables. We remove cushions from the forward cabin for racing. Also, class rules allow the forward bulkhead door to be removed.

Cabin soles are made of high pressure laminate over marine ply, rather than teak and holly veneer. The edges are sealed, although another coat might not be a bad idea.

Good luck!

[Posted by: Dan Grossman
]

Thanks Dan,
We are looking at the spec and wonder what you guys do for tweakers on the spinnaker sheets, especially the best position to place the cam cleats. I am sure we have seen some French 109s c/w adjustable tracks and tweakers.
Regards,
Ray & Sandra.

[Posted by: Ray Entwistle
]

Ray - we had a padded table cover made for our table and its terrific. It not only protects it from those busy race days, its great for anyone who has kids! If you would like a photo of what ours looks like, let me know. congratulations on your new baby, you will have a blast!

[Posted by: Maya
]

Conventional wisdom has it that tweakers/twings don't do much good on these boats. The boom tends to hold the sheet down a bit and so acts like a twing. If we were going to experiment, we'd use a single block with cam and snapshackle, and connect it to the stanchion base.

[Posted by: Dan Grossman
]