Hi Folks,

I need some advice. I've been an aggressive H16 sailor for the last 6-7 years, enjoy the speed, wait for small craft warnings to go sailing, etc. Now I've upgraded to a Tornado to satisfy the need for speed. I do most of my sailing by myself.

The boat I have is in good shape - has previous Olympic team mast, nice high roached main, has spi set up but no snuffer and old-style jib.

Over the winter I've read as much as I could about rigging all my lines, reviewed nice illustrations here on Catsailor forums - F16 mainly - and others.

I am getting a better spi pole and a snuffer made and will learn to sail this beast with spi solo - the challenge is overpowering.

Problem - should I immediately upgrade to self tacking jib or leave the old set up with sheet/barberhauler. I clearly understand that the self tacker is so much easier when using the spi and when sailing up wind. My concern is this - if I'm out on a big blow day, too much wind for spi but I want to zoom around the lake, does the self tacker (with no spi) limit my off wind sailing? I've been on T's with self tackers what only have a sheet control line - the port-starboard movement of the car on the track is dependendt upon the wind. That is, there's no barberhauler-like control.

So, should I re-rig my T for the old style jib I have now - I need to redo the barberhauler system - or should I just go ahead and upgrade to the self tacker, accepting any limitations it may or may not have when sailing with just the jib and main offwind on big blow days when I can't use the spi or don't want to.

Thanks for all opinions offered and I hope we all have a great and safe sailing season

Ron