How the sheeting loop and rudder operate.

Pic 1
shows the general layout as seen inside the hatch opening. Top left is the switch; mid left is the receiver (This is an old Acoms 27Mhz) with protruding crystal carrier; immediately beneath is a brass tube which carries the main sheet towards the stern (just to keep it out of harms way); mid left is the rudder servo and arm; then to its right is the sail winch, drum and servo (Kingmax Sail Winch Servo, 4 turn); the sheeting loop can be seen passing around the drum and going forward where it passes around a large pulley; the battery pack is stowed in an alloy box and neatly goes into the slot in the wooden 'rack' ; at the bottom (disappearing from view)can be seen the sheet which serves the staysail and all the jib sails.

Pic 2
much the same as the first picture but slightly different angle. To the left the main sheet is seen emerging through a sheeting eye (from P J Sails). The rudder servo and arm are seen with the cord leading away to the tiller through saw cuts in the top edge of the coaming.

Pic 3
Shows the battery pack which goes into an alloy box mounted beneath the centre of the sheeting rack.

Pic 4
Shows the battery pack slotted into place. The leads can be tucked away. At the top the jib sheet can be seen emerging from a sheeting eye (from P J Sails). The cord is terminated in a loop to which all sheets from individual jibs and staysail are attached.

Pic 5
This is a video showing the rudder winch in operation.

A little more explanation of the sheeting loop. A knot is tied in the cord each side of the loop such that when one knot reaches the end of its travel, the other knot does so at the other end, ie. one ends up near the forward pulley whilst the other ends up near the servo drum. The main sheet is attached to one knot and the jib sheet to the other. When above deck the jib sheet ends in a loop to which each of the sheets for all the forward sails are attached. So for example, if only a staysail is in use then just one sheet is attached to the loop. If a staysail, jib and flying jib are in use then three sheets are attached to the loop. Adjustment to trim each sail is achieved at the sail end of each sheet.

I will give more detailed information and pictures of the sails, standing rigging and running rigging in future posts.