Interview Summary Sheet

Interview Details:

Date:9-10-13

Time:3:30 pm – 4:15 pm

Location:Conference Call in MSD Breakout Room

Subject: Introduction to Piers Park Sailing Program & Information on Previous Iteration

Team Members Present: Matt, Mike, Nicole, Katy, Kate Leipold (Guide)

Interview Notes:

Caitlyn Connolly is the director of sailing at Piers Park Sailing Center (Boston, MA)

  1. About the Piers Park Sailing Program
  2. Sailors first learn how to drive the boat (steer with the tiller, sitting back in the boat)
  3. After they are comfortable with driving/have the ability for other jobs they may move forward to jib trimming position
  4. Volunteers to install bench (quick and easy installation desirable)
  5. ideally with no installation tools (if tools needed provide a list)
  6. typically 2 people install
  7. They don't like to leave adaptive devices in boats because it doesn't allow for their members to be flexible with when they want to sail (if a device is permanently installed a boat may not be available to take out)
  8. Store the devices in the gangway (under dock)
  9. device is potentially wet in storage
  10. cushions headrests pulled out to protect (not covered with tarp)
  11. protected from the sides, but not totally from above
  12. Do not take adaptive sailing boats out over 15-17 knots
  13. Season ends November 15 for Piers Park, but they rarely take people out at end of October
  14. Should this device be designed for racing? or for day sailing?
  15. Design for racing, so that the device can be used for either application
  16. Weight is a big concern for racing (the current design is too heavy for a racing application, so even if a sailor wanted to use the device it is not practical to use in racing)
  1. What would you say the range of users (age, disability, body type, etc.) is for this device?
  2. Most of the disabled are aged 18-20 years old with:
  3. 1 sided weakness
  4. 1 side of the body is strong and the other has limited function
  5. stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal injury
  6. High functioning quadriplegic
  7. sailors have moderate core stability
  8. Users can potentially duck from the moving boom (but need to remember to duck in time)
  1. Are there any adaptive devices for disabled sailors that you have heard of that have worked well in the past? Specifically, any directly for disabled jib trimmers?
  2. Jim French Bench
  3. clips onto the traveler bar (may be too far back for jib trimming application)
  4. is a bench with a sliding and pivoting seat
  5. Stability Bars that attach to the toe rails (can we attach to toe rails?)
  6. the stability bars are in the boats → our device should be compatible for use when stability bar is in place
  7. Users may be able to use a bench that allows them to “scoot” across, but there is a problem with sailors that do not have core strength.
  1. Are there any common companies that manufacture or design these types of fixtures or devices?
  2. none that were mentioned in discussion
  3. If you were to design a jib trimming device, using your first-hand sailing expertise, what are some key points that you would make sure to include that someone removed from the adaptive sailing scene might overlook?
  4. sailors often use a seat cushion - some are almost 3” thick
  5. possible option for head rest for additional neck support
  6. possible optional harness for lower functioning sailors (additional seat support, can’t fall out of the seat)
  7. From your experiences, what do you find disabled jib trimmers struggle with the most?
  8. cleating jib lines due to inability to grip (struggle with gripping lines to get in cleat)
  9. sometimes sailors compensate for lack of grip strength by using their elbows to get lines into clips
  10. What emergency plans are in place of accidents on the water for disabled sailors? (ie. event of capsize) What’s the frequency of capsizing?
  11. Boats at Piers Park cannot tip over, but can still tip significantly (60 deg)
  12. if sailor has no core strength then stability in chair is key parameter
  13. The group responsible for the previous iteration has stated in their customer needs that the jib trimmer’s feet should not touch the floor of the boat. Do you know why this may have been identified as a customer need?
  14. Disabled sailors may like to have their feet in contact for a point of stability
  15. once feet are on the ground the feet are not always “moving with them” and there is a risk for leg injuries (twisted ankles, bruises, etc.)
  16. how can the device provide a point of stability without their legs touching the floor (wheelchair leg rests)?
  1. Can you discuss the previous design?
  2. Caitlyn was present for the initial install, but they have not been using the device much since
  3. limited demand for the device
  4. Cindy is training and has not been actively promoting the use
  5. Positives of previous design
  6. Allows the sailor to sit forward in the boat (position)
  7. Enables the sailor to move from port to starboard (most desirable feature)
  8. many other devices require the sailor to sit stationary in center
  9. Negatives of previous design
  10. Very heavy (not practical for racing applications because weight puts racers at disadvantage)
  11. Height of boom vang was not considered? The boom vang is in the sailor’s face and they had to lean back.
  12. possible due to the fact the sailor sits very far up in boat (size constraint with captains chair)
  13. The jib sheet went through a blocking system that was attached to the bulkhead
  14. the blocks did not seem to work correctly because the sailors were not able to purchase to move the lines into the cleats
  15. the blocks needed to be used because they moved the bench from side to side
  16. Other notes:
  17. Can the bench be “between” the seats vs. “above” the seats? When the boat is tipping the sailors want to be as high as possible to the sides
  18. if limited to motion between the seats, the sailor may have trouble seeing
  19. weight against you affects weather helm
  20. Caitlyn mentioned something about cross sheeting?
  21. Down the road, in design phase, need to ask about locking points on transfer bench. Can the design allow for locking into place in a few discrete points along the bench, or does the device need to allow the sailor to “lock-in” at any point along the bench.