The folks over in the F16 list seem to like taking rather small diameter line and inserting a small line in the core to bulk it up for cleating and holding. That sounds lower maintenance then a core-removal taper, and works with popular single-braids like Salsa line and Robline. That's what I plan to do with my next sheet.

You have to take care which line you select for tapering: Normal double braid has a losely braided core that is not suitable for use on its own. Don't try removing the core and using the jacket only for a mainsheet: It will be too stretchy without the core.

Just about any of the high tech core lines should work, but they are pricey. Also, the jackets on them are surprisingly thin, so you don't gain as much by tapering. (To taper them, extract enough core for the tail, cut the jacket leaving a few inches, and bury the jacket in the core. Stitch.)

So, a good taper really needs to be a hybrid: It needs a small diameter high tech tail spliced to a larger diameter line. One way to do this is to splice the small diameter tail to the core of a double braid line with a conventional single-braid splice. Then stitch the cover over this splice and whip the end of the cover (since it's too large to bury in the small tail). Another way is to simply insert the tail a few feet into a single braid sheet like salsa line, stich the splice, and whip the end of the jacket.

However, Lovell & Ogletree don't taper (or cascade) on their Olympic Tornado, preferring simplicity/reliability/low maintenance over the reduced drag.

A note on stitching splices: this is best done on a sailmakers sewing machine, as it presses the line flat while stitching. Hand-sewn results are just not comparable.

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As for the split tail: one option is to start with a single-braid large diameter. Take 4' of small diameter single braid, fold it in half, and work in 1' of the folded end into the single-braid. Stitch (through both tails) and whip. The same can be done by removing the core of *polyester* double braid. (Polypro jackets are not strong enough.)

--Glenn