Wouter: We are switching to two rachet blocks on the spi now, as we dont want to bust our hands completely. It's not the muscle, but the hands can't take it without swelling when the wind is up.

Another comment. There are some large changes in western culture (and asian) just now. Young women do not want to start a family, they prefer to stay free and without kids. This is happening all over the western countries, and the demographics in Spain and Italy show some really bad trends. Bad in the sense that financing social security and pensions might be impossible as there will not be coming generations to tax.. (Again, dont get me wrong. Women are of course entitled to make their own choices!)


Good post!