Hi Chris,

The jib halyard is 4mm Gottifredi Maffioli Swiftcord - a single braid Dyneema line that has a non-slip fiber woven in. You can get it directly from Hall Spars who has the exclusive import license (here). It's only $0.38/ft, so the halyard was only about $30. I'm not so sure about it, though. I used it for the first time last weekend and it might be too stretchy.

As for the wind indicator, the position is more a function of my choice of bridle fly. I've always thought that the Winddex vanes were much more sensitive than anything else. Because it's really a masthead vane, it has to be supported from below, thus the bent mount. (If you plan to do this, you have to heat the aluminum rod with a torch, otherwise it will break.) I like the tacking vanes (very useful with a novice crew). I use it primarily for upwind work in light to moderate air.

What you don't see in the photo is my "back-up" system of 18" lengths of 8-track tape flown off the bridle wires. Those are used for downwind work, since the opposite bridle wire gives a good reference for 90 degrees apparent wind.

I've been using a system like the one you see in the photo for probably 25 years.

See you in Syracuse this fall?