thank you wouter,

gives a clear idea how simple a strut can be made! I don't see how you fix the jib on where the alu tube and the spiboom meet, but the other pics gave an idea for that too. what i like on this simple system is that you can easily take the compression strut away if for any reason you would sail again without spinnaker and old jib...
and the reliability of the whole rig is not touched, so even if the compression strut fails, no problem with the rig!

if anyone still have photos of the compression strut with a jib attached, would still be nice to see!

thanks again and we will keep you updated on the progresses of the growing china F16 fleet...

soon a fifth taipan will join our fleet...

slow progress for a fast moving country (I think the number of members of our sailing club nearly doubled last season and we are now around 140 members where the majority still have to share the few boats owned by the club...)

dirk