Rigging Fatty Knees 8

Launched Jai Dee at the newly completed stage 1 of the Townsville boat park in Ross River.
It's off Boundary street, south Townsville.

There is a large car-trailer parking area for over 50 boat trailers. As it was a windy weekday only a few boats were there. Launched at pontoon B, each pontoon has 4 ramp lanes. The gradient of the ramp is a bit steeper than the old Barnicle st ramp further upstream, no problem with a light 50kg dingy on the work ute. Still prefer the oldest  ramp at Barnicle st for the far heavier Teria ( the loaded boat and trailer over 1000kg) as it has less gradient.

Launching JaiDee at newly completed Townsville boat park ramp.

Pontoons/ramps - shipping the rudder

The floating pontoon in the centre of the ramp lanes makes it easy to launch and tie up the boat. The protected leeward side of the pontoon is easier for Jaidee to be launched and rigged.

Here is a sequence for rigging a Fatty Knees 8 in the water at the ramp.

1. Rig stowed. 2 part mast fits in hull. 2 part oars in grey bag in bow.

2: Push top mast into sails luff sleeve.

3: Join lower mast to top mast.

4: Push whole mast into luff sleeve.

5: Connect boom to gooseneck fitting on mast , then secure sails outer clew corner to boom end with outhaul line. (sheets are left attached to boom when stowed)

6: Raise rig

7: step mast

8: Luff downhaul tensioned (+holds whole rig down into boat securely)

Next is to put the life-jacket on, centre board in, weigh anchor, hop in and go.

At the beach Rig drop - undo luff downhaul and pull mast out of step

Heading off  - Rig raise 

Out sailing - Pelican in flight

Ashore on a sandbar - Ross River on an grey day with Townsville city CBD skyline