somebody with some tech knowledge please illuminate: how much does a main halyard that goes over the top and cleats at the mast base cause compression, how much of a problem is this, can it or will it break the stick? Locking the halyard at the top is tough on some boats, reefing is a problem etc. the Hobie 21sc just cleats at the base... with new nonstretch line is the simple halyard cleat at the base a viable option? thanks for input
It doubles. If you pull 100 pounds on the luff of a sail that is hooked at the top, you get 100 pounds of compression on the mast. If you pull 100 pounds on the luff of a sail where the halyard freewheels at the top and is cleated at the base, you get 100 pounds of compression from the sail luff and from the halyard = 200 lb of compression no the mast.
It still baffles me how the monohull world has yet to catch up to this novel concept (except for the America's Cup boats).
