What about PBO rigging for my 505?

Chips Howarth answers

Chips is currently the Performance Product Manager of Selden Masts, managing all aspects of the design, development and supply of the Proctor spar range. Chips is also the personal coach of the top GBR 470 team, Nick Rogers & Jo Glanfield, coaching them to a 1st in Hyeres in 2001, this following his role as 29er National Coach where his boys dominated with a 1st & 2nd in the 2001 World Championships. As a sailor, Chips has campaigned a 470 on the Olympic circuit and been a National Champion in no less than 9 dinghy and sports boat classes, as well a European and World Champion and Endeavour Trophy winner. He most recenty notched up a win at the Fireball Worlds.

Jesse Falsone, Annapolis, USA asks:

With recent technology developments in high-tech composite cordage, we're seeing applications spread to standing rigging on more radical sailing craft (big cats, tri's, etc). It seems that high performance dinghies (at least the one I sail - the 505) have yet to embrace composite line, like PBO, for shrouds, although similar line has replaced wire in the last few years for other high tension purchase systems. I believe that most people simply don't trust it yet for something as important as standing rigging. Regardless, it seems that 3mm PBO is more that strong enough with an 1800kg breaking load. Can you tell me if things like UV degredation, creep, bending (around spreader tips), and possible chafe make it a bad idea to use high-tech line here? Or, is it simply that it's too difficult to get both shrouds exactly the same length with simple eye splices?


Jesse,

I think the answer is advanced fibres would be capable at taking the sailing loads on dinghy spars, with PBO lines being used by many of the top Star sailors at the 2000 Olympics as the runner line. My understanding is that PBO is still susceptible to UV damage, but great advancements have recently been made to improve this performance.

I suspect the reason for the lack of usage in the dinghy market is price and lack of major weight saving. The advantage of advanced fibres in yachts is both the major weight saving and reduced sizes for lower windage. These gains will be much smaller in a dinghy, although as any top sailor will say it is getting on top of all the small advantages that wins the regattas.

For your 505, I have seen many sailors using stripped spectra T-wires, this will save some weight, regarding advanced fibres for standing rigging, I would try the company Future Fibres, see their website: www.futurefibres.co.uk

Chips.

If you want to read more about PBO and it's use in standing rigging, read TheDailySail's interview with Mr PBO.

Have you seen any dinghy sailors use PBO in their rigging? Tell us about it.

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