I get the impression you are describing a system like that on the Spitfire - a picture says a thousand words, and I am sad enough to have a photo (taken when I bought the boat, so I could reassemble it!). I have found out since that the outhaul (yellow rope) should go through the foremost hole, not the rear one.

It is a really simple system
- the outhaul emerges from the boom, goes through the eyelet in the sail and a knot in the end is slotted in a groove at the rear end of the boom.
- the blue string hanging from the mainsail has a quick release hook / caribiner, which connects to the top mainsheet block.

Both the outhaul and the mainsheet can be dis/connected very quickly.

Cheers
Simon

You guys just keep surprising me. Typically the start of the winter is a quiet time. But what do F16 sailors do ? Catch up on the gossip, discuss some traveller and outhauls systems. Do some brain (if not artistic) work-out on rules of racing. Win two races and than find time to whip up some support for a second edition of a mixed A-cat/ F16 1-up regatta. I'm up to my neck in e-mails and communication regarding new blood. And in the mean time we all worked up some 130 posts in 3 weeks time = average 43 posts a week ! Talking about logging on to get your delay ration ! You bloody have too or risk getting swamped.

I have to do alot of Math during the daytime, I'm upgrading my degree, and it is just great to be able to log on during the little breaks and find a new posting or even several new ones.

Thank you, thank you all. Trully

Wouter

It's just starting to get nice and warm down here in Aus. Been sailing for nearly three months and will sail until April next year.

I've attached a picture of what I was thinking of, the system in the photo off the spitfire is basically exactly the same as the Taipan, just with rope instead of webbing (and a big fat clewboard).

The system I was thinking of involves two webbing loops tied together with some small rope. I've seen it used before, but in my mind its still un-necessarily complex and only of use for very light winds.

Why do you stop? We stop when the snow blocks the launching ramp, or the sheets freeze.. I tought the temperature stayed sailable year round in Aus?


Rolf

Australia's a bloody big place! In the north its certainly sailable all year round (even in Sydney if you're really keen) but I'm in kind of a sub-alpine area and whilst its not ice blocks, it snows here once or twice each winter.

Plus, when its cold, its generally blowing 20kts+ and really not very nice out on the water. Do-able, but not very nice.

Yes it is certainly sailable all year here but I think year-round sailing might take a bit of a toll on family life