... and it pops right out !!!
yeah, i wasn't nervous one bit. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Limited downhaul ? Ohh, you'll want to fix that !
yeah the new main will have slightly longer luff and leach which will take care of the problem. for the moment we have a work around that will get the job done. We put a 8:1 downhaul system on it too which may need to get beefed up a bit. It was designed so that is is a pretty simple process to add a 2:1 on top of the 8:1, which should be plenty of purchase
Setting the spi ? ALWYAYS !
Actually, the spi makes the boat better behaved in challenging conditions. In my experience the F16's are more dive happy without a spi. It sounds contradictionary but it is true.
Adn when all hell breaks loose, set the spi and pin yourself against the rearbeam with you butt on the luff hull steering the boat by the tillers (not the tiller extension) and follow that big piece of cloth in front of the boat. As long as you can remain there near the mainbeam (and not luff up to violantly) you'll survive.
I'm pretty sure you mean rearbeam, and yes that is the technique i resorted too. just didn't want to seem too conservative (you know testosterone pumping and all). What was interesting was, easing the spinnaker slightly as the nose starts to dive just pulls the bow back up so easily, I was nervous about doing this because the last boat I sailed that technique would have had you swimming very quickly.
