Kiwi Dave
Many thanks for positing this interesting series of videos and for you report.
I've been considering the JS Drogue for some time.
What you have shown highlights the concerns that I have in my mind about both deployment and about retrieval.
Considering:
1. You are likely to deploy when caught out in building conditions down
wind where you have sea room and no immediate option to shelter.
2. You are also likely to be intermittently surfing but otherwise doing 7-10kts when under reduced sail or bare poles.
3. For a boat the size of your 450 or my 440, the length of the drogue and the number of cups becomes very substantial generating not only high drag loads under deployment but also generating very significant forces during the layout whilst the boat is still running fast and the drogue layout gains pace before abruptly being tethered by the bridle.
4. I would be very fearful of something or someone becoming entangled by the lazy end during the layout especially as it all gains momentum as more is fed out, not to mention the difficulty of reducing the shock load at the conclusion when the bridle takes the strain.
5. I think it is for this reason that most drogues are simply dumped all in to allow self deployment.
6. It all looks simple enough in 2 knots in calm seas but what about 10 kts in big seas with the odd surf to 15kts or more, just at the time you are 70% or more through the laying out with enough lazy line to catch something(one)!
7. You also highlight the difficulty with recovery - challenging even at 2 kts. The prospect of doing less than 2 kts when the
wind dies from gale or storm to "strong breeze" at a time you might be interested in moving on, seems
remote.
8. Turning and motoring up to it would appear hazardous due to lazy lines in the
water near props and rudders. Parachutes are recovered that way but they are off the bow, not the stern.
I'd remain very interested in your and other's views about these issues, especially the retrieval process.
Again, great post and thank you.
Malcolm.