This is now how I do it :

Reasons :

-1- Obviously because now the sheet won't hang up in the forestay due to the small line making it appear the line is continious

-2- The sheet knots are still on the clew of the spi and not on the trampoline allowing my bungee setup to tidy the spi sheet on the trampoline. I also hate those spi sheet knots on the trampoline !




How is it used :


The left sheet end stays on the spi, although you can very easily take it off by running it through the eye leaving the figure 8 knot in place on one end.

When fitting to the boat I run the free end through all the blocks and then push this end through the eye in the opposite direct as the "left" end and secure it with another figure 8 knot. Pull both knots tight to the eye and then grap a screwdrive (best a philips screwdriver) or a special sailing tool like shown and widen the earlier stitched opening in the line. Put the small line through it and secure it with a figure 8 knot again. See picture, btw I haven't cut the small line to correct length yet, I'm lazy, doesn't need to be that long.




How is it made.

Basically the small line is inserted into the left end of the spi sheet and stitched into place. Doesn't need to be very strong (no splicing required) as the small line never has to pull very hard. The other end of the small line is cut under an angle and burned off to a firm pointy tip so it runs easily through the whole in the other end.

The permanent hole in the other line is made by stitching. Basically I just grapped my special tool (but phillips screwdriver will also work) and made a hole in the sheet line. I left the tool in and pushed a needle and thread along the tool through the line, wrapping it back on the outside. Thus bundling the line fibres together on wo sides. Then I took the tool out and finished the stiching by making smaller loops and having the needle come out throught the sides. Just to make the bundling up more firm. This hole will want to close up any when tension is put on the sheet which is good as that holds the line. Basically you have the widen the hole again each time you rig the sheet with the phillips screwdriver of some other tool. That is the only drawback of this setup, UNLESS you leave the sheet permanently on your boat. Because you can also just untie both figure 8 knots in the sheet and take the spi off but letting the small line connecting the two sheet end.

Your choice, I personally take the sheet line off and just bring that sailing tool with me each time, it is also my shackle key, you seee!

Wouter