by Jim Linville » Sat Apr 30, 2005 1:17 pm
Rick: I note that the rules specify that only a downhaul is legal. How is downhaul defined? I prefer to us an "uphaul", that is, the same mechanism used for a downhaul but one that pulls up on the sail from the top of the mast instead of down on the bottom of the sail. I see no advantage in controlling sail shape, but it makes life a bit easier for old farts like me with weak backs who have trouble kneeling down on a dock to pull on a bowsie. I know there are other bowsies that I will have to bend down to pull, but this is one less. Can I use a uphaul in place of a downhaul? --Jim Linville #859