The main and jib halyards come off the mast at the bottom through cheek blocks screwed onto the mast.

I think the design stinks.

First of all, the blocks are too high. If you use the halyard winch, you get riding turns because the line is led too high to the winch.

Second, the blocks are not angled towards the winch or cleat. My main halyard block is getting all bent and the sheave destroyed.

Instead of replacing it, I'm thinking about a different solution.

On Tony's website:

http://www.geocities.com/anthony_mow...ilboat/rigging

he's got some pictures of a Cal Sailing Club Commander with all sorts of extra rigging.

I kind of like what they did with the main halyard, leading it down to the deck, across, and then straight to the winch/cleat. (It has to go across to avoid the hatch rail)

Of course this does mean drilling more holes in the deck.

Any opinions?

Cheers,

Peter