HI Ted,
Why I took off the life lines? There are a number of reasons we don't have life lines but I guess if there needs to be one bottom line it would be to allow our jib to set as clean as possible. With the sail cut that we have it was difficult if not impossible to strap it in when going to weather.

Many if not most the Ariels I see in the San Francisco area do not have life lines. I know there is a number of opinions on the pros and cons of life lines and we have opted to take the con position. Plus to see the sheer line of and Ariel nice and clean, without the stanchions and lines and all that stuff hangin' off them, is a beautiful thing to behold in my opinion...........ed