Wouter, I thought VWM (US Blades) are using the same rudders as in the pictures? Are they not from AHPC too? I thought the US buyers were doing the up-down string mods themselves. I liked your setup after I got used to it, I don't see the need to drill holes and add strings. Less is more to me. Dermot's Spitfire has a similar system and he added a small rubber bungie loop around the tiller bars to slip over the up-down rod after you set it in the down possition.

The only drawback to this system vs. a Hobie or Nacra type system is you must go down to the low side rudder to lift the rod/rudder unless you just want to run the rudder aground to have it kick up. It's not a big deal on a lake but if you are in the ocean, coming to shore with the wind behind you in surf, well, you don't want to go down to the low side to raise the rudder or you will risk a wipe out in the surf. In that case, I would just let it hit bottom and kick up...as long as the bottom is sand, not rocks! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />