Zoltan,

Would you be willing to describe to our members how you upgraded the Commander's standing and running rigging for the trip?
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Hi Ronald,

I'm on a story for National Geographic Channel right now in Argentina and have little if any time. Basically, I upgraded one size on all my stays, and redid all the chainplates, especially the aft one which is the weakest link of the rigging on a commander. I put dual forestays on. lastly, I had additional metal plates welded to the mast head top for strength. Probably I made it as far as I did because I rarely carried full sail--meaning I was often reefed--and possibly because of much luck.

Cheers, zoltan