Rigging 101 (Part 1)

Rigging is one of those things that everyones knows is super important but most of us struggle to be on top of. It's also an easy subject to just forget about and hope for the best. Obviously that is not a good way to go!

When you break things down most aspects are just common sense and it's easily within the grasp of most people to get on top of their rigging and keep things safe.

This is the first of a two part series on rigging following a full re-rig of Fair Isle a cutter rigged Hans Christian 48T. We will take you through checking over the whole rig, changing all the standing rigging, fitting STA-LOK compression fittings and fitting a new Furlex unit from Selden.

In order to get the best advice and techniques to do the work we are filming with Jade Edwards-Leaney from The Boat Shed Wales. He was the rigger for Ian Herbert-Jones's boat 'Puffin' in the Golden Globe Race as well as an emergency re-rigging of Abilash Tomy's boat when it was damaged on the way to the start line. So there's no better rigger to get tips of the trade from.
Check out what The Boat Shed Wales can do here:

We used STA-LOK for our rigging, we wanted their compression fittings because we think they are the best thing to have on the bottom of all the wire. We also used their wires and had the swage the top fitting because we know you can trust the quality of the stainless steel they use and they have excellent swaging machines. Check them out here:

We chose Seldens Furlex unit for our yankee. Okay I admit I was smitten with that sexy top furler bearing right from when I saw it at the boat show, but having fitted the unit now I can say it's all made to the same very high standard, it was easy to fit and works like a dream so I'm very glad we chose it. Check out Selden here:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Follow us on Instagram #svfairisle
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE DO SUBSCRIBE - IT COSTS YOU NOTHING AND HELPS US OUT WITH THE YOUTUBE ALGORITHM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rather see our videos without ads?... There is a way...
PATREON:
There is a way to see the current videos with no ads at all before they get released to the public by becoming an honorary member of crew and joining our Patreon group. You will have four or five days to see the latest video before anyone else. There are also lots of extra videos available on Patreon and you can contact us directly on board. We are also now having monthly Zoom sessions with Patreons which is a lot of fun!
Continuing to produce these videos depends on our Patrons and we are very grateful for the support:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FACEBOOK:
You can also follow along on facebook where we constantly update what's happening:
Sailing Fair Isle
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WEBSITE:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[bloomheller]

I’m about to re-rig my boat and this series is very helpful. Thanks to everyone involved!

[hughburgess]

Fabulous technical raising awareness of the importance of regularly checking rigging….and that it is not a daunting task. ⛵️

[qsarkiss]

Nice vid, thanks, on Swage vs sta-lock : i go swage up & down for the forestay: If easy, mechanical systems like sta-lock or swageless bits have just more single points of failure (parts, handworks, mount process, sealant, maintenance, vibrations), and physically good sta-lock mount apply a 10% less breaking strenght to the forestay, while Swage apply 5 to 10 % less breaking strenght.

[peterhaymaker]

I found this video really, really interesting. Thanks, P.

[iherok]

Excellent video. Great job interviewing the rigger and getting the info. Looking forward to the second part.

[francismontocchio]

It’s so refreshing to hear your intelligent questions, Steve. Great video. Very informative. Thank you.

[kevinswinden]

Thanks Steve very Interesting. Every days a school day !

[mememe]

Great information! Thank you for sharing

[markwoods]

I have a 2016 Beneteau 48 I bought it used in 2018 I’ve had the rigging checked every year even with my last sailboat ⛵️, an old sailor gave me this advice back in the 1990’s best advice I’ve ever had.

[SV-Nikita]

thanks for the techtalk about the rigging, looking forward to part 2!

[simonhantler]

great info you asked all the right questions for us

[HeidiandFranny]

Perfect timing! The standing rigging guys are coming out today to replace several diamonds. Thanks for the primer :) f

[RappinIggyG]

My favourite intro music... means there's something good to come! Very good content and looking forward to Part II. Cheers.

[thepigwillfly]

Great info, thanks. I always enjoy the technical videos, you do such a good job on presenting the info and I trust your opinion.

[darz]

Great video, looking forward to part2

[gms]

I've just boat a yacht and you, Sail Life and SV Impavidus are my go too channel's for 'how to' information. Keep up the great work and the brilliant video's ⛵

[billhanna]

Im glad you dont have turn buckle covers, Iv seen some serious problems with those .& Spreader end covers .

[smulismuli]

There is a theory that GGR 2022 participant Tapio Lehtinen's boat might have snapped and consequently sunk in 5 mins in the southern ocean because of too high tension/load in the rigging (by a person who knows the boat Asteria well and actually had warned him <<obviously can't find it back now>>). The hull of the boat was reinforced with several additional bulkheads etc. so very little "flex" and Tapio called it bullet proof...but sometimes rigid things snap quicker than a tad more flexy ones

[mikevanzyl]

Hi there… Who did you use to make up your rigging? How long did it take from order to delivery? I have a Compass47 with double spreader; what would you estimate I should budget?
Thanks a million
Mike

[commandoclark]

I noticed you had a piece of hardware attached to a shroud. Did Jade have an opinion on the dangers of attaching fittings like flag halyard cleats to shrouds?