May 2021 Newsletter

Team GB sailor Elliot Hanson chooses Southeast Sailboats rigging for Tokyo 2020 Olympics

When only the best will do. Team GB Olympic representative Elliot Hanson has chosen Southeast Sailboats to provide custom versions of our unique ‘double puller’ outhaul system, signature 8:1 downhaul system, kicker/vang system, as well as our ProMAX-99 traveller for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.  Southeast Sailboats wishes Elliot all the best for Tokyo 2020!

New elite level traveller - ProMAX-99

Our 5mm SK78 traveller works great and has been the traveller used by both myself and GBR Team sailor Micky Beckett for years.  However in our commitment to innovate, we have spent over a year developing a new traveller.  A traveller has to do a number of things, and for one traveller to do all of them well is incredibly difficult.  Let’s look at what’s important:

·         Cleat well:  One of the biggest problems with some 12 strand Dyneema lines is that they are usually oval in cross-section and some lines just don’t want to cleat.  Our 5mm D12 traveller that we have been selling for many years was selected on its ability to cleat well.  Covered, round lines, have the ability to cleat exceptionally well.

·         Lowest stretch possible: Stretch is one of the most misunderstood subjects especially where 12 strand Dyneema is concerned.

·         Smoothness over the tiller: You want as little friction over the tiller wear plate for ultimate feel in light winds.

·         Ability to keep the blocks in the corners:  A combination of minimal stretch, together with a surface texture that helps keep the blocks out in the critical 5-8 knot range.

·         Durability: It’s a hard life being a traveller and we wrote a whole article on that subject for one of our newsletters late last year.

In our search for the ultimate traveller we have built around 20 prototypes that have been tested by top sailors in the UK and in the USA.  As a result of all this development and testing we are releasing our ‘ultimate’ traveller, the ProMAX-99.

Our ProMAX-99 scores 5* on everything except durability – here we offer a word of caution, especially if you are sailing with a damaged or poorly positioned tiller wear plate, or worse still, no wear plate at all.  Our ProMAX-99 traveller uses a thick Dyneema core with a beautiful but thin cover, which will get damaged very quickly if your tiller wear plate is damaged, has rough edges, or is misplaced causing the traveller line to rub against the transition between the wear plate and tiller when the tiller is hard over during sculling.  Even worse is if you have no wear plate as the microscopic fibres of carbon on your tiller will tear the cover.

Our ProMAX-99 traveller was used last summer by Team GBR sailors at the UK Nationals and Senior European Championships, finishing 1-2 in both events!  This what Micky has to say about it…..

“This is the best traveller I’ve used. It was quite easy to appreciate that as soon as I put it on, it out-performed anything else I’ve ever tried. It cleats instantly and easily and doesn’t slip, it’s lasted very well showing minimal wear after an intense and windy summer of sailing. In that wind range where you really want the traveller to sit down in the corner, 5 – 8 knots, the rope provides a nice amount of friction to stop the blocks sliding up, without being so heavy-duty that it impedes the movement of the tiller underneath it. It’s fantastic, I would highly recommend it.”  - Micky Beckett

Tested by GBR Team sailors Micky Beckett and Elliot Hanson and chosen by them as the ultimate traveller, our new ProMAX-99 traveller is now available.

Hiking Straps Added!

Following requests from many customers we have added Zhik hiking straps to our ever expanding range of offerings.  We have both the normal and Zhik GripII ‘bobble’ grip hiking straps in stock.  

We recommend using the Zhik GripII strap if you are using the Zhik boots with the bobbles on, otherwise we suggest you use the smooth normal Zhik strap.

PRISM Compass back in stock

After many months of supply problems we have the Velocitek PRISM compass back in stock, available as just the compass itself, or with a choice of mountings. 

New Allen Ti3 20mm block

Allen has introduced an updated 20mm version of their popular Tii block which we are now fitting to all of our Allen 20mm based outhaul systems.  This new Ti3 block has a wider entry at the top making it easier to thread a slightly thicker line through, and also allows us to offer this block as a clew block with toggle and dogbone versions. 

Port/Starboard Outhaul Rigging

Long time on the ‘to do’ list was a version of normal version outhaul rigging instructions that showed how to rig it all on the starboard side, rather than the port side which the printed instructions have always shown.  Many thanks to JP for showing how to do it without me taking a whole new set of photos!  The website now includes both port and starboard instructions and printed copies supplied with systems now include a QR code to take you to the starboard side rigging if that is your preference. 

International Sailing Academy Online Courses

Having been to ISA courses in Mexico many times I am a real fan.  However, travel restrictions have meant that has been impossible for most of us over the past year, and many have signed up to their excellent online courses.

The latest course is on tacking.  Learn how to tack like an Olympian by taking the ISA Online tacking course. There are 40+ minutes of technical analysis of the World's best tackers. ISA coaches break down each part of the tack and give you drills to work on. This is the most complete tacking guide to date with a step by step process, downloadable checklists and specific drills to make improvements now.  Find out more via the link below.

Traveller Wear Protectors

Our traveller wear protectors are proving very popular - now over 650 sets sold!

Based on our own design concept these class legal traveller pads have been turned into reality by dinghy fittings company Allen.  Our protection pads are injection moulded for durability. They also feature three distinct features:

• No overhang over the gunwhale that could otherwise get snagged. Our neat design clips into place and the traveller line itself ensures it can’t get dislodged.
• Minimal 2mm thickness to keep the traveller and block as close as possible to the deck level whilst providing durable protection.
• A smooth transition from deck level to ensure that the traveller block rides over the pad easily.

The traveller wear protectors are available by themselves or a part of a cost saving wear protection bundle.

Celebrating 50 Years of this great boat!

The UKLA recently published the 2021 ILCA Yearbook celebrating 50 years of the greatest singlehander on the water.  Over 100 pages of articles and interviews make this a great read. Follow the link below for the online version.

Updated Website - Tax Free Prices for sales outside of the UK

Since our last newsletter there have been a few minor changes to the updated website.

Tax Free Pricing:  Our updated website now displays all item prices in US$, CAN$, € EURO, SFR, NOR KR and SWE KR, free of UK Value Added Tax. If the website doesn't autodetect your location, select your preferred currency using the dropdown in the top right hand corner.  Please note that irrespective of currency, the delivery address has to be outside of the UK to obtain tax free prices.

The new website features shown in the top right are:

Local currency support:  The website can show prices in the following currencies – GPB£, US$, CAN$, € EURO, SFR, NOR KR and SWE KR. 

Search Facility:  Requested by our customers this makes it easy to find the part or news article you are looking for.

Account facility: If you are a regular customer and want to set up an account then you can. This is entirely optional.

The other major changes are:

Payment Options:  We have broadened the range of payment options.  To pay in US$, CAN$, EURO, SFR, NOR KR and SWE KR, use the credit/debit card option, as PayPal payment accepts a smaller range of currencies (GPB£, plus now US$ and EURO).

Intelligent shipping options:  Shipping is now automatically calculated based on the weight of your order, and the appropriate options are shown.     

We hope you like the new website!   We have tested it extensively but if you see any ‘bugs’ or problems please let us know!

Shipments to the European Union - Latest Update

As a result of BREXIT, on the 31st December 2020 the United Kingdom left the European Union single market/customs union.  Sales to the European Union are, until the 1st July, now free of the 20% Value Added Tax (VAT).  If you see prices on the website in Euros you are seeing the tax-free price.

However, as a result of the purchase price being tax free,  you may be liable for taxes/charges when your package reaches your country.   How this is being done, and the time it takes, seems to vary from country to country, and will also depend on the order value.  Some shipments are getting to European customers in as little as 3 days, others are taking longer depending on the destination country. 

Typical Delivery Times - based on tracked shipments (which we can see when they are delivered), below is the latest guidance on delivery times to Europe:

Republic of Ireland – typically 3-4 days

France - typically 3-4 days

Belgium - typically 4 days

Netherlands - typically 4 days

Spain – typically 10 days

Italy – typically 28 days

Poland – typically 10 days

Norway – typically 14 days

Sweden – typically 14 days

On the 1st July 2021 as a result of the impacts of BREXIT on e-commerce, the European Union is implementing a new system for web-shops such as Southeast Sailboats to add the appropriate VAT for the destination EU country to enable more rapid delivery to customers. This will mean that for orders up to Euro150, you will pay a taxed price (as you did up to 1st January 2021), and packages will be ‘fast tracked’ as they will be tax paid and not subject to customs clearance on arrival in the destination country.

ILCA 6 Carbon Lower section in stock - UK delivery only

The new carbon lower section for the ILCA 6 (Radial) is now available and class legal for events.   Contact us for pricing.  Please note that due to the size we can only deliver this item in the UK Mainland/Northern Ireland.

Popular upgrades

The following continue to be some of our most popular upgrades....

Harken 29mm bolt-on deck blocks.  Easy to fit, these blocks instantly improve your Laser. Available as the blocks by themselves or as an assembly including the block plate.

Our signature 8:1 downhaul/cunningham system.  We have built/shipped hundreds of these systems to sailors all over the world.  An essential upgrade if you are using the MKII standard sail, and also if you are struggling to pull on enough downhaul on your Radial or 4.7 rig.  Each system shipped is custom made using blocks from Harken, Allen and Ronstan, with options including rig type, termination and secondary lines types/colours. 

Transform your kicker/vang system with our range of great free-running block/key assemblies using blocks from Harken, Allen and Ronstan and stronger kicker keys.  Whether you are using a 15:1 or 12:1 setup, lower friction in your system makes it easier to pull on, leaving you with more energy to focus on sailing/hiking! 

Southeast Sailboats 'Away Dates'

Southeast Sailboats competes at events in the UK and in Europe.  As a result, occasionally the 'away sailing' banner is put up on the website.  The next major event that we hope to be able to attend is the Masters Europeans in July.