[paulk]

We sail Long Island Sound & around a bit. We''ve experimented, but for 30 years I''ve almost always have the pole jaws open down. On our Soling as well as on smaller dinghies, I''ve noticed that some jaws have an angle on the pin so that the pole can be rested on the mast fitting and then pulled down, snapping the pole into place. Also, if the chute is lifting against the pin, as it could with the jaws up, the pressure could bind the pin so the pole couldn''t open. Binding the pin would be unlikely with the jaws down. Hathaway Reiser & Raymond (riggers and sailmakers in Stamford for a LONG time and for a lot of people besides us) set up the topping lift and downhaul bridles on our J/36 pole, and jaws down is how it flies.