August 2023 Newsletter

Reduce rope wear with this new kicker/vang fairlead – ILCA Class Legal

As regular readers will know, some time ago I submitted a formal request for a rule change to allow a more durable fairlead to be fitted to reduce control line wear.  The great news is that Southeast Sailboats new hard wearing aluminium kicker/vang fairlead is class legal.  Many thanks to all at ILCA, especially Chief Measurer Aileen Loo, for helping get the rules amended.  

This hard anodised PTFE coated aluminium fairlead will reduce wear on your kicker/vang control line.  Tested throughout this year by some of our sponsored sailors whilst training, and now being used in competition at the ILCA Worlds in The Hague.  Available from stock exclusively from Southeast Sailboats.

Southeast Sailboats customers at the ILCA4 Worlds

We ship our custom control line systems to sailors all over the world. Two customers from Hong Kong and Thailand competed at the ILCA4 worlds in Greece recently.

Samuel Tan-Hardy - HKG 229134  Fifteen year old Samuel Tan-Hardy is an ILCA 4 sailor from Hong Kong.  However, he has spent much of his life in Singapore providing him with the opportunity to be part of the sailing communities in both cities. Samuel started sailing aged eleven and quickly became an enthusiastic member of the Optimist squad at Changi Sailing Club (CSC) in Singapore. Being named Optimist club champion at CSC for 2021 and 2022, plus attending overseas Optimist regattas in Lake Garda and the UK, fueled Samuel's passion for the sport and international competition. These achievements then provided a solid foundation to support his transition to the ILCA 4 class at the start of 2023.

His move into ILCA also coincided with the lifting of Covid travel restrictions in Hong Kong allowing him to compete in local Hong Kong regattas and earn a ranking among the Hong Kong ILCA fleet. Based on those results he was able to secure a place in this year's ILCA 4 Youth World Championships in Volos, Greece.

The ILCA 4 Worlds in July were Samuel's first elite ILCA event and lived up to all his expectations. Not only with the high level competitive racing but also with the fantastic comradery among all the young sailors around the world. As he said: "The ILCA 4 Worlds was the best. I learned a lot, I met some great people and I am already thinking about what I need to do to qualify and do better at the Worlds in Portugal next year!"

Weka Bhanubandh - THA 222277  Weka has been competing at high level Optimist regattas since 2018, being quite successful winning numerous titles including the 2022 world championships in Turkey.  Since then Weka has transitioned to the ILCA4 winning the Asian ILCA4 title in 2022.  Weka’s father contacted Southeast Sailboats for our advice on rigging just before the ILCA4 world championships and we shipped out a complete set of systems.  Weka had a great event, winning the championship in style.  Congratulations Weka!

Southeast Sailboats sponsored sailors at the World Sailing World Championships

Three of our sponsored sailors, Micky Beckett, Matilda Nicholls and Chapman Petersen are competing at the 2023 ILCA Senior World Championships, part of World Sailing’s World Championships held in The Netherlands.  We wish everyone competing a great event.

New Ronstan Lower Assembly

We have started delivering kicker/vang systems using the new ILCA Class Legal Ronstan assembly.  The first new lower assembly in around 20 years! 

I have been asked is it any better than the Harken assembly?  A difficult question to answer, and probably too early to know.  If you find uncleating difficult then the Ronstan is maybe a better assembly for you – the cleat sits about 2cm lower than the Harken assembly - and from the limited sailing (5 days) that I have used the Ronstan assembly it did seem much easier to uncleat.  It also has a clever arrangement using a lower block which should help reduce rope wear.  Downsides? The block on the tip of the Ronstan assembly sits a bit lower and closer to the mast and very occasionally it seems to snag the outhaul/downhaul control lines coming down from the gooseneck area.  The images below shows the two assemblies approx. to scale.  

The other thing to note is that line lengths need adjusting as the more compact Ronstan assembly requires a slightly longer primary line and the top attachment point for your downhaul/Cunningham if you use the top of kicker attachment point is about 2cm lower. 

Available in limited stock as the lower assembly by itself or as part of a complete kicker assembly using the Ronstan high load top and middle blocks.

Next day delivery to the USA?!

Two customers in the USA were amazed with Southeast Sailboats service earlier this month.  Orders placed on the Sunday evening, despatched via UPS on the Monday, they arrived the following morning!  

UPS delivery to the USA is a great way of getting what you need fast – but please allow the more normal 2-3 days!  If you can wait a bit longer our economic regular postal service to the US takes 6-8 days.

Southeast Sailboats at the 2023 UK Nationals

As an event sponsor, Southeast Sailboats is on-site at the UK Nationals at Hayling Island from Saturday 19th until Friday 25th August.  We will continue to ship out ‘off the shelf’ parts during this period, but any orders including custom rigging or spliced items will be shipped on the 28^th when I will be back in the office/workshop!!

Outhaul Rigging Videos

We have added a couple of videos to our YouTube channel.  Filmed earlier this year in sunny Spain, one video covers rigging our normal outhaul system, and the other focuses on what is called the ‘tricky bit’ – the bit of rope magic threading the outhaul primary line.  Head over to our YouTube channel to see them..

The sail bundle sale!

Our sail bundles are really popular with sails being shipped all over the world.    Contact us for amazing deals on all ILCA sails and bundles or visit the website.  We have ILCA4, 6 and 7 sails in stock for same day shipping.

What's Trending!

Hiking Strap Adjustment System: Now available in four colours our unique hiking strap adjustment system is proving very popular and customer feedback on just how well it works has been truly great.

Kicker/Vang Upgrades: Customers are just loving the Allen XHL and the new Allen XHL middle blocks.  

Tag-On Control Lines: If you are using the old style Harken 407 metal middle block, or one of the Allen XHL double middle blocks our ‘tag on’ control lines are a very neat way of attaching the line to the block.

Travellers:   More and more top level sailors including Olympic medallists are choosing our elite ProMAX-99 traveller.   Featuring a super thin cover over a super low stretch core, this traveller isn’t as durable as our other travellers, but if you want the best traveller that you can get in terms of performance, at the expense of longer term durability, then this is THE traveller to get.  If you want a traveller with a tougher cover then our ProMAX DURA may be the one for you. 

Where to see Southeast Sailboats in 2023

The 2023 calendar is almost finalised, and listed below are the upcoming events at which Southeast Sailboats will compete.  It's a great opportunity to come up and say hi and ask any rigging questions that you may have!  

• UK Nationals - Hayling Island  19-25 August
• Masters Europeans - Douarnenez, France - 9-15 September
• Portugal Grand Prix - Vilamoura, 14-17 December

Please note that during the longer events the 'Shop Closed' sign will be up on the website.  Plenty more events that I would like to be at but lots of splicing to do!

Recent additions to the website...

We are continually adding little things to the website.  Here are some of the latest additions: Allen masthead wind indicator; titanium mega-bolt; more Rooster tiller extensions.

International Shipments 

Southeast Sailboats delivers all over the world with tax free pricing in multiple currencies.  To date we have delivered to over 40 countries!  For more information on what tax free means click on the link below.  

Typical Delivery Times - Based on recent tracked shipments  (which we can see when they are delivered), below is the latest guidance on postal and UPS delivery times to Europe, and other destinations, in alphabetical order:

Australia - typically 7-10 days.  UPS typically 3-4 days

Austria  – UPS 2 days, post 12 days

Belgium - typically 7 days

Canada – typically 7-12 days.  UPS 2 days.

France - typically 6 days  

Germany - 6-14 days

Greece – typically 9-11 days

Hungary – 10 days

Ireland (Republic) – typically 3-8 days  6-8

Italy – Please note that we have regrettably suspended deliveries to Italy

Japan – typically 7 days

Netherlands - typically 6-14 days

New Zealand - typically 10-14 days

Norway – typically 14 days

Poland – typically 6 days

Portugal – approx. 28 days 

Singapore – typically 7 days

Spain – Please note that we have regrettably suspended deliveries to Spain

Sweden – typically 4--14 days

USA - typically 6-8 days. UPS 2-3 days

For more information on tax free pricing click on the link below.