[allene]

Brion,

Thanks for getting back to me. Good for you that you are busy. I understand what you are saying about my implementation of the 3:1/6:1. Perhaps I gave up on it too quickly but I did and have tried several different systems and rejected most of them for one reason or another. Most were versions of what is called the German or Admiral's Cup system. I tried aft winches and cabin top winches. Problems with both. The next thing, and one I think I am going to really like, is a double ended system but with the leads way apart. It will be basically 5:1 with one lead going to my sole mounted swivel block cam cleat or the horn cleat and the other along the boom to a cabin top mounted winch. This will allow 2.5:1 although it will take two people to do it. But that is OK as I have a big enough crew when racing. It will also allow for considerably more leverage with the winch but still have the advantage of the 5:1 on the line aft for our general line control.

The issue I have is trying to figure out the blocks to make it work. Tomorrow I am going to try a single with a fiddle hung from it with the intersection pulled forward so the lines clear each other. Fiddle on the traveler. That was the best I could come up with without having multiple attachment points on the boom. I have never seen such a system on a boat so I may be in new ground.

PS. In terms of my "alternate take", I really never could figure out a good way to have the 3:1/6:1 come off the boom and what I did was the best I could come up with. I certainly understand your assessment of it and what it takes to make such a system work. I still can't see a way to have it come off the boom though. In terms of the use of fiddle blocks instead of duals that didn't seem to contribute to the problem. The tangle was in the piles of line on the cockpit sole. I am off to the boat to try the latest system.