We have both on the boat. Footstrap is fine in small conditions. Usually only use the chicken line if the conditions get pretty sporty, like 5 foot swells and more than 18 knots of breeze. Other that that it is just footstraps.

We will be at the Wine and Roses regatta so you will be able to see it then.

I had the first set with the bungee spliced into the line, but just at the end. It only went in about 1 inch then I sewed some thread around it to keep it in. I just looked at the one I have now. It is just pushed through the line and a small knot on the other side to keep it placed. Reason this happened was to make adjustments so it was just right. I would move the bungee out and back to make sure the hook just went into the crossbar and not too far in. After I was done I thought it was just fine and left it that way.

By the way my footstraps are in the same place as the video. The only time you are not in them is if the wind is lighter, in which the swells would not be so big anyway, and you just do not need them.

I do not know what you mean by sailing with the F-18s. You have one right? If not then you will be sailing in the Portsmouth fleet.

Dan