Just so everyone knows what we are talking about here's the fitting in question on my mast.



You can't see the hole that the TEE is hanging in because I've filled it with Sikaflex. This is a problem with T-ball fittings - you are left with a large hole in the mast which you have to seal like this.

The reasons T-balls get used are that they don't stretch like swaged ends so your wires that are built to millimetric accuracy will stay accurate. They also look neat (except for the Sikaflex).

You can see the scuff marks on my mast from the sidestays. They go right up to the diamond fitting, so it seems this one only just works. Interestingly though, the little bit of Sikaflex on the tip of the Tee-ball is still there so the sidestays seem to just miss the Tee-ball.

The bearing points of the hounds and the Tee-balls are 300mm apart.