RE: rule changes

[David Lapes <david.lapes (at) abgsec.com>]

I read this letter in Gybe; It gave me a warm feeling inside because I
agreed with almost all of it.  However, I was dismayed by the defensive
response.  

I do not object to the use of blocks, or the improvement in the outhaul, but
the revised cleating arrangement is unnecessary and poorly engineered.  If
the aftmost of the two screws fails then you will loose all three of your
controls in one fell swoop; Imagine that for an inexperienced sailor in
testing conditions.  The bracket will have all sorts of odd torque loads
because of the different tensions in the controls.  If one of the outer
cleats in used for the Kicker (Vang) the dipping the boom and gybing will
transmit quite strong shock loads through the cleat.

If this arrangement is to be accepted, I believe there will be a spate of
gear breakages from poorly mounted controls.

I say we should permit no new deck or spar fittings, but permit the free use
of blocks in all three controls and permit sailors to choose their own Vang
cleat as long as it is only attached to the existing tangs on the mast and
boom.

I also think to prevent ridiculous extremes it would be worth specifying the
maximum purchase permitted in each control.

One way of preventing Full rig users from using the Carbon topmast is to
make it incompatible with the full size bottom section and to permit a
modification to the radial lower section - Maybe along the lines of the
collarless system discussed before, then it would be apparent would was
attempting to bend the rules.

David Lapes
GBR 165548