B’Quest Project Wish List
These basic adaptive systems are just the beginning. To meet B’Quest’s goal to further enhance the safety, performance, and abilities of sailors with disabilities, to include participation in competitive offshore racing events, such as the Transpac (Long Beach, CA to Honolulu, HI), continued R&D and testing is required.
Here are a few of the future technology adaptions we’re considering to promote and advance the sport of sailing at a tool in rehabilitation.
- Cabin and cockpit handrails will provide safe handholds for PWD crew members and facilitate daily living aboard B’Quest when offshore.
- Cockpit insert will revise the cockpit layout ahead of the wheel, to address ergonomic issues including: a lateral transfer bench; revised mainsheet traveler location to provide better control and additional clearance on jibes; locations for crew seat modules.
- Head-sail furling gear will allow B’Quest to be sailed with a furling headsail, that can be controlled from the cockpit. Similarly, the main sail will be rigged with jiffy reefing system, controlled from the cockpit.
- Pedestal/power primary winch system is required to assist PWD sailors to winch the considerable sheet forces involved with large headsails and spinnaker sheet loads. It is not clear yet, whether these will be electric winches or a “grinder” style pedestal.
- Emergency rudder system is required by offshore racing regulations. B’Quest plans to meet this requirement by installing a Monitor wind vane steering system that will provide an emergency rudder capability as well as a minimum energy offshore autopilot system.
- Offshore electronics package will install a single sideband radio, extra battery capacity, a solar powered charging system, and an emergency generator.
- Radar Arch with personal lift will be installed above the transom of the boat, to clear the three backstays from the aft deck of the boat for the helmsperson. The radar arch will provide mounts for solar panels and a personal lift boom that will lift PWD sailors from the dock to the helmseat, as well as assist in man-overboard retrievals.
- Offshore water, fuel and safety systems will provide B’Quest with necessary offshore safety equipment: a water-maker, adequate potable water and fuel storage, a storm trysail and related rigging.
- Sails and rigging re-fit will inspect, re-fit and replace sails and rigging to prepare B’Quest for the Transpac journey.
