Just try it, you'll never go back.

With regard to holes in the sailtrack. These are not an issue structurally speaking. These holes are to small to be significant and are located in a place where the bending moments are very small compared to what the mast section is designed to with stand. Masts typically fail near the hound fitting or spreaders (when a diamond wire breaks); not anywhere near the bail. That should say enough.

As far as I know the vast majority of F18's using the line setup and no issues are associated with it. I have never replaced the line-bail in the 8 years I've been using this setup on two different boats (4+4 years). So wear is not an issue in my opinion.

Yes, I do loop around the mast top so I only have 2 small holes in teh sailtrack and that is it. Not cheakblock, just a free hanging block at the end of the vertical support line.

Wouter