Jeanne Socrates Oldest Person solo RTW attempt

[mitiempo]

I talked to Jeanne this morning. She said that most all of the cones were damaged, both hems and seams. She said the hem should be turned out and zig-zag stitching should be used.

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Folks, Jeanne is a member on CF. She hasn't posted probably because she is rather busy doing stuff most of us only read about

^^^^^^

Are you at liberty to give us her screen name?

Ann

[Snowpetrel]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

I talked to Jeanne this morning. She said that most all of the cones were damaged, both hems and seams. She said the hem should be turned out and zig-zag stitching should be used.

Very interesting, so if thats the case the dyneema warp distributes the load more evenly over the cones, and tge stretchy nylon warp loads up the forward ones. Makes sense.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Jim Cate]

Just noted in 'Lectronic Latitude that Richard Spindler, the ex-owner of Latitude 38 has paid for a new JSD for jeanne.

Way to go, Richard!!!

Jim

[coastalexplorer]

I would really like to examine the damage to that Jordan series drogue. I have been talking to Denis at North sails in Richmond BC about making one. & have made the template to Don Jordan's specifications for cutting out the cones of which they now have, Looking at something that has seen rough service to the point of being partially destroyed can be the ideal way to develop improvements. We have discussed the Idea of using of cuts of storm sail cloth.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by coastalexplorer

I would really like to examine the damage to that Jordan series drogue. I have been talking to Denis at North sails in Richmond BC about making one. & have made the template to Don Jordan's specifications for cutting out the cones of which they now have, Looking at something that has seen rough service to the point of being partially destroyed can be the ideal way to develop improvements. We have discussed the Idea of using of cuts of storm sail cloth.

We would be interested in the outcome of any such investigation, so please keep us abreast of developments.

Re use of storm sail cloth: That seems like extreme overkill to me. Consider that most JSDs are built from 1.5 Oz spinnaker cloth, as I bet Jeanne's was. Even the lightest of dacron sailcloth will be much stronger that such nylon fabrics... going to 10-12 oz cloth as used in storm sails would add lots to weight and especially to bulk whilst in storage (which is where they spend most of their lives, being in your way!).

Jim

[boatman61]

Try a canvas bucket.. without the bottom.

[Littlechay]

Originally Posted by Snowpetrel

A good news report and some excellant video of Jeane and the damaged drogue here. One tough person, I look forward to following her voyage and watching her sail south of Tassie.

Looks like the staysail is a bit tatty too. Maybe furled too loose.

Some of the drogues look as if they were damaged enough that they would not function. Food for thought.

What happened to the shackle from the bridle line that failed? Anybody got any news on that?

She has used JSDs on three of four occasions now and I know lost two when she couldn't recover them.

[buzzstar]

Since no method is appropriate for all conditions, her tattered JSD cones may suggest the limits of the device and/or late deployment. I hope someone can make sense from the information so we, the mere mortals, can make sense of it too and benefit from the experience of the modern doers/ role models.

[Littlechay]

Originally Posted by buzzstar

Since no method is appropriate for all conditions, her tattered JSD cones may suggest the limits of the device and/or late deployment. I hope someone can make sense from the information so we, the mere mortals, can make sense of it too and benefit from the experience of the modern doers/ role models.

Have you read the thread and looked at the photos. Not much, if any, more analysis is needed. To sum up.

The cones were not properly hemmed (fairly typical when you look at the specs online).
It seems a lot of the offerings from commercial producers are seen as single-use products. (This one survived the single use and was still functioning).

Summary if you are buying a series drogue make sure both ends of the cone are hemmed, just like you would any other fabric product that is mean to be used.

There was a shackle failure that we don't know much (well anything) about.

Knowing Jeanne and how she uses her drogues she definitely didn't deploy it late. She deploys drogues in conditions where many would keep sailing. She knows her limits I guess and does things her way.

[Foolish]

Just found this photo of Jeanne's damaged staysail on her blog. Wow! That is a key sail on this voyage. She uses it often. To have this level of damage in the first few days of a voyage is reason enough to restart, whether the skipper is 74 or 24.

[barnakiel]

It took some flogging, NO? ;-)

BTW the oddest placement of woolies I have seen in my short sailing life.

It looks like the conditions were somewhat worse than the skipper reported.

Cheers,
b.

[Don C L]

Hmmm, perhaps the PNW is a good place to practice for the Southern Ocean.

[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Hmmm, perhaps the PNW is a good place to practice for the Southern Ocean.

Certainly could be this time of the year!

[Paul Elliott]

Jeanne used this drogue once before, near the Faulkland Islands. From the "S/V Nereida" Facebook page:

Damaged cones on JSD - material needs to be stronger, seams/hems possibly turned out, not in?.. zig-zag stitching needed for strength. Second time used - lay to it for 3 1/2 days E of Falklands in 2012). Did its job this time but not fit for any more safe use....