You are not wrong Mike.
Mike, you forgot your signature… 
You’re correct, Mike. If the timing is off, it can rip the deck turning block apart. I speak from experience. Years ago, someone on this list suggested a bigger block would fix that. Yes, that’s correct, but then it would rip it right out of the deck – blocks are cheaper!!
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
After sailing my 26 for over a decade with the wishbone rig, I am firmly in the Botts camp. Gybing a Nonsuch with a wishbone rig is not worth the risk other than in light weather. It does not matter if you have the taffrail clear, the mainsheet can be lethal. In a friendly TGIF race in the year I had converted to a standing gaff rig, another 26 gybed around the leeward mark. The mainsheet flew across the cockpit. A guest crew put her arm up to protect herself from it. It broke her wrist and she had to go to a hospital to get a cast. That was a wasted evening and not fun for anybody. It ruined her summer.
This 26 did not have a bimini frame to deflect the mainsheet. Even if it had, The wishbone weighs around 100 lbs. which generates a lot of power during a gybe which is suddenly dissipated if the mainsheet snags which it is prone to do. This puts stress on fittings and the mast. It does help to have the choker eased if one must gybe as that will reduce the forces at play somewhat.
The “accident” confirmed that I made the right decision to convert to a standing gaff rig with a 30 lb. 15’ boom with the mainsheet safely ahead of the dodger. I did not want to put myself or any of my octogenarian guests at risk of injury. It takes the fun out of sailing. It is not only a problem for Nonsuches with the mainsheet in the cockpit. On the same TGIF a J 105’s skipper’s wife received a nasty injury from the mainsheet hitting her forehead. She is an experienced racing crew member.
Mascouche is much more fun to sail in any weather now I have fewer worries and a well balanced boat that answers smartly to the helm.
Cheers,
John Newell
Mascouche 26 C1
Toronto
Very interesting to see how you discovered coming out of sailing by the lee is hard to get out of. This can be a predicament. Before I got my Nonsuch 26 I sailed Cape Cod Catboats, owned several including a 22’ gaff rigged Ted Brewer boat for about 17 years. I used and still use the Hudson River Jibe as a regular tactic. I have had my Nonsuch since 2001 and she has been in teaching and charter service since 2008 under my command. The HRJ is not hard to learn, but it requires practice to get confident. It helps to have a very clean stern rail to avoid damage. I use it often and feel very confident with it. Even if you don’t feel like using it all the time (tacking downwind is normal for us in our typical charter operation and we rely on this jibe even in winds up to 20 knots - after that I am a chicken unless deep reefed). I now believe this is a tactic that every Nonsuch sailor needs to understand for safety purposes. In case of accidental jibe, you can use this technique to get out of it with no harm or embarassment if you are practiced. Two rules: control your mainsheet - gather and throw it aft and out of the way: and use a heavy but controlled hand on the helm to get you pointed onto a beam reach as soon as your sail grabs the windward wind. You will come out fine.
Greg Silver
Misty Cat 26C #121
Cape Breton
It’s hard to argue with Ed “Botts”. Not only was he a personal friend but also a mentor. He told me not to bother with a spinnaker/reacher as it really did not improve the speed over water any more than which could be attainable by the main. He also said that gybing a Nonsuch was not they way they should be sailed. Even in light air the risk was not worth it. Be kind to your boat, use a Nonsuch Gybe, a figure eight. I bow to his wisdom….
Brian McCuaig. NS30u
Whitby, Ontario
“Having a yacht is reason for being more cheerful than most."
One very good reason to practice the HR gybe, is that circumstances could occur where due to a sudden wind shift and proximity to nearby hazards, you may find yourself in extremis and need to gybe to get out of trouble. I’ve practiced putting my 2nd reef in although I don’t ever plan to use it.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
About the flag. We solve the problem after several re gluing episodes of broken flag poles. We have a rail mount and it works like a charm. Mounted off the starboard corner of the push pit. Been several years and in spite of several concentrated efforts to lasso the pole it remains untouched
https://www.five-oceans.com/products/flag-pole-socket-rail-mount-stainless-steel-78-inches-fo-3126