Hi Lori, I too agree that the 18-inch lifelines are unsafe and sent of a letter to Andy Newell in response to an email asking for input into Sailing Equipment Requirements. The results were positive and I was asked to write a rule proposal to be submitted to US Sailing. My recommendation would be to contact Andy Newell and chuck Hawley to follow up. "

My recommendation is a flexible rule with a lifeline minimum height of 12” to a maximum height of 16” (18”) "

If YRA does not approve your waiver I ask them to proved documentation that 18 inch lifelines are safer. I really doubt that anyone has ever done a study on this. "

cheers

:: Add our name: DIANNE, express 27 #0. And a huge
:: compliment to Lori Tewksbury.
::
:: :: Add our name: Abigail Morgan-Ron and Oliver
:: ::
:: :: The 18" are dangerous.
:: ::
:: :: :: 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:
:: ::
:: :: :: Name​​​​​​​​Boat