IN the interest of aiding the discussion I thought I'd give a bit of a run down on what I have
tried before settling on the setup similar to what is currently being used on the VM Blade.

My first setup was very similar to the setup on Agent Orange. Fixed cleats driving 2:1 purchase on
the jib. This worked quite well until the wind strength got up. I found that around 18 to 20 knots I
just didn't have enough purchase and as you are further back on the boat in these conditions the fixed
cleats were more difficult to operate.

A reduction in the final sheet loading may solve this and so I increased the purchase to 4:1
still with fixed cleats.

This was initially achieved with 2 single blocks attached to the junction betwen the jib compression
strut and spinnaker pole where the double block is on the VM Blade.
The lines exiting the two single blocks towards the cleats spun the blocks so they both sat in the same plane and the line exiting the blocks to the single sheave rubbed
against each other preventing the sheet from running smoothly. Even with the reduced loading in the
jib sheet the fixed cleats did not work as well as I had hoped.

My next change was to change the two single blocks for a double and put rotating cleats instead of fixed.
In this configuration I found that I could operate the jib from any position on the boat provided I could get my hand to the jib sheet but I still had a friction problem because
now the jib sheets rubbed on the pole.
A spacer under the head of the double block solved this problem and now it works to my satisfaction.


Regards,
Phill

I know that the voices in my head aint real,
but they have some pretty good ideas.
There is no such thing as a quick fix and I've never had free lunch!