Lori,

Thank you for doing this. While I have the 18" stanchions currently required for the offshore races, I agree with you on the risks and have requested individual race exemptions (and been denied) for the races last year.

Please add my name to this too: #60 Salty Hotel, John Kearney

John

:: Lori, Excellent Letter!
::
:: Add my name: #12 Artemis, Mark Murray
::
:: :: 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