If they were block to block the sail would not have proper flow. Believe me when I broke a boom to leech shackle on my Hobie 17 in a Wed night race I learned the meaning of it REAL fast. I had to southern construct one out of line. Lot of difference in 2" and 12" I was block to block way before the main was sheeted in enough and had 12' under boom on tacks. REAL bad DAY. DN's are sweet boas.

Doug