Mark-

Good point about the tethers vs chicken lines, technically slightly different. Another clean "chicken line" system I've used was the one I had on my 5.0- it's sold by Murray's - just a line frunning from rear rudder pin (eyestrap, whatever) along the hull, through a large eyestrap at front lower corner of the front beam, under tramp through block connected to bunji to keep line tensioned, then around to other rudder pin/etc. If long enough can double as righting line- With the fancy sliding knot previously shown this could double as a tether also- A variation is to use the large "hollow" line w/ bunji inside- Just make sure eyestrap is large enough for line to run through w/o "bunching"-

As for the footstraps- I feel they also help maintain control and "contact" with the boat when it's "jumping around" for whatever reason (going over wave, cleat releases suddenly, crew bumps/bangs into you). Usually, when my rear foot is in the footstrap my forward foot is squarely planted against the back of the rear beam (see previous photos) on the Taipan which is a nice, flat "footrest"-



Kirt