We are pleased to announce we have been working on some big projects for the marine industry over the past 12 months, one of which is production of 11-meter tapered masts.
The project to create a new tapered mast for the Dragon fleet came about after sailors and boat builders had started to notice the bend characteristics differed between each mast produced. Meaning, if you broke a mast and replaced it with a new one all the tuning and set up and measurements would no longer be valid. This also affected the continuity within the fleet, as each boat would require their own settings to get the most from their specific mast section.
Mast tapers are needed to get the best shape and performance from a sail. The basic technique to create a tapered mast requires the manufacturer to remove a “v” section from the mast, once removed the section needs to be closed – usually done with an internal mandrel, hammer, or clamp. Once closed it is held together with a weld. Straight forward it would seem, but it proves very difficult to achieve a consistent result. Each process has a possibility for small variation which will result in slightly different bend characteristics.
Allen Contender Open at Weston Sailing Club 13th June 2021
Weston Sailing club with its rich, creamy Contender history is always solid venue to bank some good racing. the local fleet are hard to beat in the fickle waters and trying to do so is enormous fun. The prospect of wall-to-wall sunshine would entice a few outsiders, but some usual suspects were scared off by the forecast of very light winds
Racing was due to start after midday and all were hoping for that most glorious of trump cards, a sea breeze, but to no avail. “Too far up the creek” was the summary from those who know, so off we went into a North West gradient of 1-8 knots with 20-30 degrees shifts.
On the weekend of 5/6 June, we travelled to Grafham Water to compete in the Typhoon Trophy, our first competition since December last year. A very light forecast made for concerns that there would not be much racing and we were greeted on arrival with a 3 hour postponement. However, after a few games of rugby in the dinghy park, the wind started to fill in just as predicted by the race officer, and we launched for 3 races in a shift 4-8 knots of breeze. We were really happy to win the first two races, and a 6th place in the last race left us overnight leaders.
Sunday was forecast to be even lighter and, whilst we really wanted to go sailing, we have to confess to a bit of mixed feelings! A glassy lake and no wind meant the AP over A was displayed mid morning. We were sad not to sail, but thrilled with our first Regatta win together. We hope there will be more!
We were really pleased with our recently upgraded Cunningham system, using new lightweight 20mm Allen blocks, and we look forward to testing this across the range of wind strengths.
Allen employee’s bring home the silverware
Ben Harden, Head of Marketing, and Nic Tolhurst, Warehouse Distribution Assistant at Allen, recently took part in the Blaze National Championships in the waters of Torquay.
The event was held at Paignton Sailing Club and had a record-breaking turnout of 70 boats for the 3-day event.
After the first two days of racing in a mix of light and medium wind conditions, Ben managed a score line of four firsts, a second and a fifth. Which meant with only two more scheduled races it wasn’t possible for him to be beaten and as such took the Nationals win after the second day of racing.
Nic Tolhurst finished 9th overall as well as first Master with an impressive string of top 10 results. Unfortunately, a UFD hindered his overall score and with the last day of racing being cancelled due to lack of wind he wasn’t able to make up for it.
Liz Adams, MD at Allen commenting on the results said ‘congratulations go the race officer and team at Paignton Sailing Club for putting on an excellent event, to Hartley Boats for the Blaze and it’s success in attracting so many keen sailors to the class, and to Ben and Nic for their great results’.
Allen sponsored Contender open at Castle Cove Sailing Club
What % chance would you give the confluence of all the right factors coming together to make an epic open meeting, in this strangest of seasons?
A great venue, manageable restrictions, perfect wind, sun, and the hope of a beer on the terrace? Low odds, especially the wind bit, as so far this year every weekend has been all or nothing. So it was for the 2nd Allen headlined Contender TT of the year at Castle Cove. Forecasts predicted light breeze, but such is the clamour for competitive racing that 28 boats made a considerable investment in nothing but hope; One even came from Scotland to add to the finger crossing.
Early morning arrivals noted the no wind, mirror like finish to Portland harbour, but were compensated by the hospitality of Castle Cove welcoming party of volunteers. As racing closed in, the beginnings of a sea breeze looked possible in the glorious sunshine. The RO backed that up with staunch confidence in a good day’s racing that proved to be bang on.
By the time of the first starting signal, a happy 12 -14 Knot breeze had kicked in from the south but it’s desire to track to the right made start and beat strategies very simple; Close to the boat, go right in Garda like conditions.
