Rigging Checklist

Once again, you should do this EVERY time before you hit the water and between races.

1. Drain your tanks
2. Do you have a bow line?
3. Check and tape forestay ring-ding
4. Check and tape jib tack pin ring-ding (this means you have tape on you)
5. Check and tape shroud pins
6. Check shrouds, forestay, and halyards for frays
7. Use pliers to tighten twist shackle(s) on vang
8. Check jib cleats
9. Check and tape ring-ding on vang shackle (if not a twist shackle)
10. Check and tape ring-dings on mainsheet blocks (2 on the boom + the ratchet block)
11. Check mainsheet for frays
12. Check jib sheets for frays
13. Make sure you have an outhaul and cunningham
14. Check centerboard up-haul and down-haul lines (do not leave the dock without them)
15. Check knots in the vang, mainsheet, and jibsheets (if you are rotating into a boat, check halyard cleats and main halyard at the head)
16. Check hiking straps to make sure they are tied up to the traveler bar
17. Check hiking strap tie-down line (check the knot and the condition of the line). Do you really want your weight on that piece of rope?
18. Check tiller universal for cracks
19. Check and tighten your rudder bolt
20. Do you have 2 bailers secured with tie-down line

HINT: Every person should have on them, at all times, a knife (preferably a multi-tool like a Leatherman or Gerber – ask Roy or Beth for opinions on these two) a foot of thin line, a few pins & ring-dings, and a roll of electrical tape.

Roll Tacks

Roy and I just finished talking about Florida. The two best boat-handlers out there were the 2 most athletic, strong, and in-shape teams. (Hint: those of you who do NOT play a winter sport need to think about how to stay in shape next year...) Anyways, I just found a few videos that you should consider. Remember that a 420 is a physical boat - FJs are a different story.

Clip #1
The big issue here is timing. Notice how late the roll is - probably too late. Also watch how the skipper and crew are NOT together.



Clip #2
With this one, the timing is better but there is NO ROLL. The reason is that the skipper does not slide her hips back and roll out on the main sheet. The crew also does not get out far enough away from the boat. She's really vertical. On a positive note, the skipper does get a fairly big ease on the main.



Clip #3
The skipper and crew have great timing, but still not enough roll or flatten. What do you think they should do?



Clip #4
This is part of the Harken/North U boathandling videos. Roy has the full video on Dragon, but this is a decent over-view. There is some good info in here and a few decent tacks to watch. (Some not-so-decent ones as well)