On 25 Aug 2020, at 23:21, Arno Luijten <arno.luijten@...> wrote:

The way my running backstays are rigged seems fairly handy to me.

The backstay is made from aramide/kevlar sheet with extreme little stretch. When not in use the sheet comes down from the mast to a little piece of string tied to the end of the Genua-rail ( see picture1). Originally it was just tied, but I put an old fashioned hanking hook from an old jib to the piece of string so I can click it over the backstay. Storing it like this means it is out of the way when walking on the side-deck.

<Picture1.png>

From there the backstay runs to the back of the boat to a block at the same place as where the Genua-sheet turning block resides. See picture 2 (best I have)

<Picture2.png>

Directly after the block there is a knot in the backstay, so it cannot escape the block.
When you want to use the staysail in stronger winds (12+ knots) you unhook the hanking hook and pull the knot at the end of the backstay untill you can use the tail to put it on the small winch. Pull the backstay tight with a little tension on it, using the winch. Now  you can deploy the staysail. The sheet for the staysail will use the winch at the other side so there is no conflict at winch utilization. You don't use the lee-side backstay as it can/will rub the main sail.


Hope this is clear....

Regards,

Arno Luijten
SV Luna
A54-121

On Aug 25, 2020, at 6:01 AM, David Crisp <david@...> wrote:

Thanks Bill,

The two blocks, great suggestion, I like it.
--
David Crisp
SV Wilna Grace
Amel 54 #58

Thanks everyone.  The advice is consistent and fully absorbed!  My sails are only 4 years old and in good shape. Suspect I simply didn't have adequate outhaul tension / good boom angle. 

The day I have to get new sails I'll consider going without battens and hence no roach and lower performance. My racing days are over but then you know how it is when another boat is sailing close by, the old twitch and tweak kicks in..... :-)   Seriously, I'll not leapt to conclusions until I've got a lot more miles under my belt. It is probably a case of building good habits. I have faith in Amel design.
--
David Crisp
SV Wilna Grace
Amel 54 #58

All,

It's confession time and a request for advice/tips.

A week ago, for the first time ever I managed to jam the mainsail when furling it (somewhere around the first batten).  It was impossible to free the sail there and then but fortunately I was able to find shelter nearby, anchor, go up the mast and work it loose by hand.  At the time I put this down to lack of attention and over confidence and cursed myself. 
Two days later after a good sail upwind (15-20kts apparent), I started furling the main, this time watching VERY carefully, I saw creases appearing around the first batten so unfurled and tried again with the same result.  Being really nervous of a repeat episode I unfurled and carried on sailing and finally furled, without a problem, when in sheltered water. In all cases I was going upwind, maybe 10-30deg off the wind.

I'll confess this incident has been a big knock to my confidence, having a jammed, partly furled main in heavy weather is a worrying thought. I previously had a Super Maramu and never once experienced any problem like this, not even a hint of it.  Is the critical difference the vertical battens in the 54's main? 
Does anyone else have experience like this, more importantly can anyone offer advice/tips on furling the main on an A54 please.

--
David Crisp
SV Wilna Grace
Amel 54 #58

On 24 Aug 2020, at 20:42, Mohammad Shirloo <mshirloo@...> wrote:



Tony;

 

The Amel 54 is truly a gem that we continue to appreciate more and more every day, even after almost 6 years. Whoever ends up with Balthazar will be very fortunate.

 

Wishing you and your family the best in your next ventures.

 

Happy Sailing;

 

 

Mohammad and Aty

B&B Kokomo

AMEL 54 #099

 

From: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io <main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io> On Behalf Of tony wells via groups.io
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2020 10:11 AM
To: main@amelyachtowners.groups.io
Subject: Re: [AmelYachtOwners] Amel 54 2008 Hull 102 for sale in South France #Amel_For_Sale

 

Thanks Peter, much appreciated. 

 

With the fantastic spec / condition and brand new (last month!) B&G total refresh (including second auto helm, radar and 16 inch plotter in fabulous custom-made casing at helm) then I hope Balthazar is a great deal for someone. I’ll stop there. That’s my sales pitch ‘credits’ all used up I’m sure....!!

 

I’ll certainly miss the fantastic knowledge and generosity of this forum - thanks to All. I’ve received and read just about every post in the last 2 years and am in awe! I’ve met and got to know wonderful fellow owners too. Lastly and by no means finally, Bill Rouse has simply been - and continues to be - incredible (thank you, Bill). But everyone knows that already :)

 

Best wishes,

 

Tony

Balthazar. 

 

 

On 24 Aug 2020, at 18:51, Peter Forbes <ppsforbes@...> wrote:

Tony,

 

So sorry you are leaving us - that is a superb deal at €400k.

 

That will sell in a day if anyone has any sense.

 

Peter

Peter Forbes

The Old Rectory 

Farnham

Blandford

DT11 8 DE

00447836 209730

07836 209730

On 24 Aug 2020, at 16:35, tony wells via groups.io <tony.wells@...> wrote:



Amel expert and principal of Yacht School, Bill Rouse, was onboard in May 2019 and commented “Balthazar’s condition is in the top 10% of Amel 54’s that I have seen”.

We have only owned Balthazar since October 2018 and hugely appreciate her extraordinary qualities. However our plans have changed and we’re now offering her for sale in impeccable condition, at an attractive price, initially to the Amel community. Significantly discounted price for private sale €400k (vat paid in France from new, UK flagged now). This will likely be increased to circa €440k if offered via broker.

Balthazar was originally specified with the Comfort Plus Pack in addition to the Opacmare hydraulic passerelle & Dessalator 24/240v 100 litre per hour water maker.

Lightly used in the Med, renowned Amel surveyor, Olivier Beaute, concludes his survey of October 2018, stating “a good boat”. Since then we have invested in comfort, safety & preventative maintenance improvements, listed in the attached document and including a full Nav technology B&G upgrade & additional autopilot in July 2020.

 

There’s a spec sheet attached in the subgroup post at https://amelyachtowners.groups.io/g/yachtforsale  and please contact me by email tony.wells@... for more information including photos which I will send to you via Whatsapp 

Thanks

Tony Wells

Amel 54 - 102 (2008)

Balthazar

Cruising Corsica, heading north to South France

On Aug 24, 2020, at 3:05 PM, Alan Leslie <s.v.elyse@...> wrote:

I agree Kent.
Elyse has vertical battens on both main and mizzen.
30-40 degrees to the wind, preferably stbd tack, boom 90 degrees to the mast.
We have marks on both sheets to enable positioning of the booms correctly before furling.
No problems
Cheers
Alan
Elyse SM437

On Aug 24, 2020, at 11:42 AM, david bruce <davidcbruce57@...> wrote:

Hi All,

It’s dumb (but short) question time regarding furling an Amel in general.   Are the furler and outhaul geared to use simultaneously? or is it an alternating actuation type maneuver in which case it seems there is often intermittent ‘slack’ created in the sail.  It seems on Liesse sometimes simultaneous activation works really well but at other times it causes too much tension on the foot of the sail for the furling motor so have to use the outhaul and furler alone in an alternating manner.  

Thanks, 

Dave Bruce

Liesse

SN006 

On Aug 24, 2020, at 8:27 AM, Mohammad Shirloo <mshirloo@...> wrote:

Hi David;

 

You already have great advice from others.

 

One item I can add is, just like when reefing,  or if we are in a situation that we cannot point straight into the wind, we make sure we are within 50 degrees of the apparent wind, so we can continue sailing under genoa or staysail, sheet out the main until the main starts to luff, place some tension on the outhaul, keep the boom close to 90 degrees to the mast, watch the main luff carefully from the helm and reef. This way we have plenty of time and are not rushed because we are under power and sailing.

 

We have, as I believe most others, jammed the main at least once as we became familiar with our new adventure machine. In our case, the first time it was jammed was by the broker, on the first test sail. Although, in some cases, the jam seemed almost impossible to unravel from the helm, it can be done through patience and slow furl and unfurls. You will need to have a fair amount of tension on the outhaul and work the furler in very small increments back and forth. If at sea and heavy conditions, first adjust the head sail so that the boat is sailing comfortably and safely with minimal heel, so you have plenty of time to focus on the main, without rushing or being concerned about anything else.

 

 

Happy Sailing;

 

 

Mohammad and Aty

B&B Kokomo

AMEL 54 #099

 

From: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io <main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io> On Behalf Of David Crisp via groups.io
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2020 5:51 AM
To: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io
Subject: [AmelYachtOwners] Mainsail jammed when furling on A54

 

All,

It's confession time and a request for advice/tips.

A week ago, for the first time ever I managed to jam the mainsail when furling it (somewhere around the first batten).  It was impossible to free the sail there and then but fortunately I was able to find shelter nearby, anchor, go up the mast and work it loose by hand.  At the time I put this down to lack of attention and over confidence and cursed myself.  
Two days later after a good sail upwind (15-20kts apparent), I started furling the main, this time watching VERY carefully, I saw creases appearing around the first batten so unfurled and tried again with the same result.  Being really nervous of a repeat episode I unfurled and carried on sailing and finally furled, without a problem, when in sheltered water. In all cases I was going upwind, maybe 10-30deg off the wind.

I'll confess this incident has been a big knock to my confidence, having a jammed, partly furled main in heavy weather is a worrying thought. I previously had a Super Maramu and never once experienced any problem like this, not even a hint of it.  Is the critical difference the vertical battens in the 54's main? 
Does anyone else have experience like this, more importantly can anyone offer advice/tips on furling the main on an A54 please.

-- 
David Crisp
SV Wilna Grace
Amel 54 #58 

Tony,

 

So sorry you are leaving us - that is a superb deal at €400k.

 

That will sell in a day if anyone has any sense.

 

Peter

Peter Forbes

The Old Rectory 

Farnham

Blandford

DT11 8 DE

00447836 209730

07836 209730

On 24 Aug 2020, at 16:35, tony wells via groups.io <tony.wells@...> wrote:



Amel expert and principal of Yacht School, Bill Rouse, was onboard in May 2019 and commented “Balthazar’s condition is in the top 10% of Amel 54’s that I have seen”.

We have only owned Balthazar since October 2018 and hugely appreciate her extraordinary qualities. However our plans have changed and we’re now offering her for sale in impeccable condition, at an attractive price, initially to the Amel community. Significantly discounted price for private sale €400k (vat paid in France from new, UK flagged now). This will likely be increased to circa €440k if offered via broker.

Balthazar was originally specified with the Comfort Plus Pack in addition to the Opacmare hydraulic passerelle & Dessalator 24/240v 100 litre per hour water maker.

Lightly used in the Med, renowned Amel surveyor, Olivier Beaute, concludes his survey of October 2018, stating “a good boat”. Since then we have invested in comfort, safety & preventative maintenance improvements, listed in the attached document and including a full Nav technology B&G upgrade & additional autopilot in July 2020.

 

There’s a spec sheet attached in the subgroup post at https://amelyachtowners.groups.io/g/yachtforsale  and please contact me by email tony.wells@... for more information including photos which I will send to you via Whatsapp 

Thanks

Tony Wells

Amel 54 - 102 (2008)

Balthazar

Cruising Corsica, heading north to South France

On 24 Aug 2020, at 18:10, tony wells via groups.io <tony.wells@...> wrote:



Thanks Peter, much appreciated. 

With the fantastic spec / condition and brand new (last month!) B&G total refresh (including second auto helm, radar and 16 inch plotter in fabulous custom-made casing at helm) then I hope Balthazar is a great deal for someone. I’ll stop there. That’s my sales pitch ‘credits’ all used up I’m sure....!!

I’ll certainly miss the fantastic knowledge and generosity of this forum - thanks to All. I’ve received and read just about every post in the last 2 years and am in awe! I’ve met and got to know wonderful fellow owners too. Lastly and by no means finally, Bill Rouse has simply been - and continues to be - incredible (thank you, Bill). But everyone knows that already :)

Best wishes,

Tony

Balthazar. 

On 24 Aug 2020, at 18:51, Peter Forbes <ppsforbes@...> wrote:

Tony,

So sorry you are leaving us - that is a superb deal at €400k.

That will sell in a day if anyone has any sense.

Peter

Peter Forbes

The Old Rectory 

Farnham

Blandford

DT11 8 DE

00447836 209730

07836 209730

On 24 Aug 2020, at 16:35, tony wells via groups.io <tony.wells@...> wrote:



Amel expert and principal of Yacht School, Bill Rouse, was onboard in May 2019 and commented “Balthazar’s condition is in the top 10% of Amel 54’s that I have seen”.

We have only owned Balthazar since October 2018 and hugely appreciate her extraordinary qualities. However our plans have changed and we’re now offering her for sale in impeccable condition, at an attractive price, initially to the Amel community. Significantly discounted price for private sale €400k (vat paid in France from new, UK flagged now). This will likely be increased to circa €440k if offered via broker.

Balthazar was originally specified with the Comfort Plus Pack in addition to the Opacmare hydraulic passerelle & Dessalator 24/240v 100 litre per hour water maker.

Lightly used in the Med, renowned Amel surveyor, Olivier Beaute, concludes his survey of October 2018, stating “a good boat”. Since then we have invested in comfort, safety & preventative maintenance improvements, listed in the attached document and including a full Nav technology B&G upgrade & additional autopilot in July 2020.

 

There’s a spec sheet attached in the subgroup post at https://amelyachtowners.groups.io/g/yachtforsale  and please contact me by email tony.wells@... for more information including photos which I will send to you via Whatsapp 

Thanks

Tony Wells

Amel 54 - 102 (2008)

Balthazar

Cruising Corsica, heading north to South France