This past summer, I made a "block" part way up the backstay using a piece of rope and a knot similar to a prussic knot. The line that tightened it had a loop in it. I slid it up into position using 2 dock poles taped together for extra reach. I had it pre-strung with a halyard before doing so.
That setup worked really well. We have a cleat on the backstay 12" above head level, so that served to secure the halyard at the bottom. the halyard was tied into a big loop, so there was no way it could get unthreaded from the top loop.
When not in use, we kept the riding sail connected, but rolled-up and lashed to the backstay.
To raise, run the riding sail's "sheet" loosely to the winch on the mast. Un-lash the sail from the backstay. Loosen the halyard on the cleat, raise the halyard. Cleat firmly in place. Then tighten the "sheet" on the winch on the mast.
Regards,
Brad
That setup worked really well. We have a cleat on the backstay 12" above head level, so that served to secure the halyard at the bottom. the halyard was tied into a big loop, so there was no way it could get unthreaded from the top loop.
When not in use, we kept the riding sail connected, but rolled-up and lashed to the backstay.
To raise, run the riding sail's "sheet" loosely to the winch on the mast. Un-lash the sail from the backstay. Loosen the halyard on the cleat, raise the halyard. Cleat firmly in place. Then tighten the "sheet" on the winch on the mast.
Regards,
Brad
