:: Add Bryan Myers (Wildthing) to the letter please. Thank
:: you for doing this!
::
:: What of the distance between stern pulpit and first
:: stanchion? Do we have a waiver already for that?
::
:: :: Hi fellow Express 27 owners & racers
:: ::
:: :: I am petitioning OYRA to allow Express 27's to use our
:: :: class legal 12" stanchions and synthetic lifelines
:: :: (instead of the soon to be wire only requirement
:: :: beginning this season). I am including the text of my
:: :: letter below and would appreciate any/all who would like
:: :: to add their name.
:: ::
:: :: Thanks!
:: ::
:: :: Lori (half of Hang Dear Andy Newell,
::
:: :: This letter is intended to ask that the minimum
:: :: equipment requirement for OYRA racing during the 2017
:: :: season be changed or that an exception be made for the
:: :: Express 27 boats. Specifically, the taller (18”)
:: :: stanchions and wire lifelines should be changed so the
:: :: Express 27 boats can use their standard, class-legal 12”
:: :: stanchions and 18” bow and stern pulpit, and optional
:: :: synthetic lifelines. This request is being made to
:: :: address safety issues as described in the following.
::
:: :: I am a relatively new Express 27 owner. My co-owner,
:: :: Moni Blum, and I bought our Express (Hang 20) in October
:: :: of 2015 and did the entire 2016 OYRA series doublehanded
:: :: in addition to some other 40+ fleet and long distance
:: :: races on the bay (crewed and doublehanded). While I am
:: :: new to owning an Express 27, I am not new to racing both
:: :: in the bay and offshore (my crewed offshore experience
:: :: goes back 10 years). During the 2016 season, we followed
:: :: the set OYRA minimum equipment list, that was to be in
:: :: place for the next two years (2016 and 2017), and
:: :: dutifully changed our stanchions to the taller 18”
:: :: stanchions for ocean races and then back to the 12”
:: :: stanchions for all other races. After a year of using
:: :: both the 18” and 12” stanchions, we firmly believe that
:: :: the 12” stanchions are safer for a smaller boat like the
:: :: Express 27, especially offshore and doublehanded. The
:: :: taller stanchions leave a bigger gap under the lifelines
:: :: and thus increase the risk of slipping under them. There
:: :: were several occasions while being offshore when one of
:: :: us came close to going overboard due to the gap under
:: :: the lifelines. Granted we were tethered in, but it was
:: :: very scary nonetheless.
::
:: :: Given that we have never had this experience with the
:: :: 12” stanchions (as there is less space under the
:: :: lifelines) we will be using the 12” stanchions during
:: :: the doublehanded Farallones race on March 18 2017,
:: :: through BAMA, because it is safer.
::
:: :: In addition, the taller stanchions necessitate going
:: :: forward more often to skirt the jibs, increasing the
:: :: risk of an unsafe situation. Based on our experiences
:: :: last year, we feel very strongly that the 12” stanchions
:: :: with the standard 18” bow and stern pupits are safer for
:: :: us when we race and entreat to either change the
:: :: equipment requirements or to make an exception for the
:: :: Express 27 boats.
::
:: :: We started racing our boat with wire lifelines. After
:: :: two months of intense racing they started to unravel and
:: :: we replaced them with spectra. The spectra worked well,
:: :: both crewed and double handed, and we were very vigilant
:: :: to constantly check for chafing. Before the Express 27
:: :: Nationals in October of 2016, we replaced our spectra
:: :: lifelines with WR2 (wire to rope replacement) synthetic
:: :: lifelines, made of 100% dyneema double braid (SK-78
:: :: fiber), specifically designed to replace wire in
:: :: lifelines and standing rigging and with a longer service
:: :: life than wire. This is what is currently on the boat.
:: :: While we can change back to wire, after our season
:: :: doublehanding offshore, we are worried that if one of us
:: :: got caught in the lifelines due to a broach, especially
:: :: while doublehanded offshore, the ability to cut
:: :: ourselves free, gives us sense of security and safety
:: :: that the wire lifelines do not. Further, the WR2
:: :: synthetic lifelines are designed to replace wire
:: :: lifelines and rigging and has a longer service life than
:: :: wire.
::
:: :: Finally, when the offshore equipment list that was
:: :: updated and mandated last year and distributed, racers
:: :: were promised the list would be in effect for two years.
:: :: Now, one year later, changes are being made. For these
:: :: reasons, we are asking that wire lifelines not be
:: :: mandated for offshore racing.
::
:: :: We are asking that the minimum equipment list be changed
:: :: or an exception be made so that the Express 27 boats can
:: :: race in the OYRA season with our class-legal 12”
:: :: stanchions (with the 18” bow pulpit and stern pulpit)
:: :: and the WR2 synthetic lifelines.
::
:: :: Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
:: :: Both Moni and I love racing offshore doublehanded our
:: :: Express 27.
::
:: :: Sincerely,
::
:: :: Lori Tewksbury
::
:: :: Signing in support of this request are other Express 27
:: :: owners and racers:
::
:: :: NameBoat
