Smiths_Cat,
Thanks for the video. The trapeze line in the video is quite a bit shorter than what I have, when he scooted off the hull, his butt didn't seem to drop at all. I noticed the crew was using the aft trapeze line, isn't that only when going downwind? Also, could someone explain what a "chicken line" is? I assume it is supposed to stop you from flying forward in a pitch pole situation, but how is it rigged and how does it work? My wife might like something like that.
The length depends on the weather conditions, another reason to have an adjustable setup. In light winds if you go in and out or in a bend leg position, it is good to have a shorter one to avoid getting tea-bagged. Same if there are serious waves. With constant wind and flat water you go with a long wire, getting more heeling moment.
And by the way, you can adjust the trapez also when sitting on the hull, if it seems to unconvenient to do on the wire. We have rigged the chicken line from rear to the front beam. It is quite helpful if the crew goes out without the main sheet (which pulls her backwards) especially if the boat rocks.
You may have noticed that we come in with both legs, either going on the knees or sitting. This requires a pull on the handle and is of course harder the lower the trapeze.
Cheers,
Klaus
