This caught my attention, maybe my newbie recomendation can do wonders for you. I always rig my lines with figure eight knots, to the trapeze setups. They do not get snagged because they are pretty lengthy. Obviously if the line is withing amrs length, there is no need to crunch to your feet to reach the line. You have it right there in front of you. Have you tried it? Its awesome, no need to reach onto the tramp for anything, everything is a arms reach away. Give it a shot, you may like it.

Ah, Steve,Steve, Steve - that's where you're losing out! You'll go faster if you play the crew instead

(Sorry - I just couldn't resist it.....)

Steve: The numbers for twist can vary a lot. It's one of those parameters sailmakers fiddle about with to build truly great sails.

Robi: I would like to se a picture of how you run your downhaul lines to the trapeze. In double trapping conditions I always bring ut out with me (crew plays main, skipper plays downhaul, and we have found this to be the fastest thing around if you leave the sheet pretty much alone once sheeted, and play the downhaul to control heel [crew have to sheet a bit, to help the skipper releaseing the downhaul]) and I am not entirely happy with our current setup.

I am a bit surprised that not more of the singlehanders play the downhaul instead of the traveller or mainsheet while going uphill.

Steve,

Don't you think you can get some extra pointing with the same speed out of your rig by reducing the downhaul a little and derotating the mast. I assume you are sailing with a flexible alu mast as well.

To much downhaul kills pointing, and to much mastrotation will make the top stand up and may create excessive drag.

Wouter

Next time I go out I will do that.

Robi,
Like your idea, but my crew would kill me if I had downhaul lines going from mast base to trap wire, sounds like more spaghetti for her to trip on. But I`ll try it next time out, keeping an open mind. Might work better when solo.
Wouter : Likewise, I`ll try anything once ! Will keep that in mind for next race, though I`m likely to be solo in a sloop fleet, so hard to compare accurately.

Thanks for all replies.
Steve

Robi's setup can work nicely, if for instance the downhaul lines are lead under the tramp out to the hull (where the cleat is). That's why I asked for photos
As Robi's Blade is a "Philldesign" i take it for granted that the soultion is a good one.

"Ah, Steve,Steve, Steve - that's where you're losing out! You'll go faster if you play the crew instead "

Hey John, I did that a while back, have an 8 month old daughter to show for it !!
That`s why I sail solo a bit more often now..

Steve

Hi all,

I used to run vang control to trap handle on Contender dinghy. It was the line I used most. It worked best with bungee on end which didn't stretch longer than you could reach so it reduced slack rope. Problem could be if it will let you back far enough on wire to stand on transom of F16, I didn't stand that far back on trap on Contender. Also found plastic clip on end allowed you to clip it out of way to sidestay when sitting forward in light winds. Will have to look at it for Altered funny the stuff you forget. I will try it for downhaul this is the control I use most.

Interested to hear how much some use control lines. Being singlehanded I try not to use them to much have to keep head out of boat. So far I have sailed Altered the same way I sailed Mossie.

Traveller set close to centre.
Downhaul adjusted according to wind seen ahead.
Mainsheet played for gusts.

I generaly didn't point much on Mossie used heaps of twist to depower. Which was a combination of downhaul and eased mainsheet. Boat always seemed to go faster with a bit of mainsheet eased, I guess boom was a couple of inches higher than maximum sheet tension not skying. Rarely moved Traveller.

I have continued this on Altered as from talking to A's they mostly now seem to keep traveller centred and play mainsheet.

Regards Gary.

Gary, am I not up to your caliber of sailing, but as you mentioned "keeping the traveler centered" I prefer this route as well, and play the mainsheet. To me its easier, dunno why. I only work the traveler when reaching, not when heading upwind. Dunno, maybe its something I learned from sailing monos. I am also upgrading from a 6:1 to a 7:1 so I can cleat less and work more.