Ring hitch strength reduction

[k7cej]

Ben:
The key point is that my sheets are one piece. So the regatta braid sheets effectively become a double brummel splice with a 75' tail and 75' standing part, only one eye, which I have ring hitched to the clew. If I do the tuck splice, I will need to cut the line in two and do two eyes, which seems bulkier and has 3 joins(two eyes and a shackle or lashing). I have done the Regatta tuck splices before and although tedious, they work fine.. With two sheets and spliced eyes, I would indeed use a soft shackle for attachment.

For the Sta-set jib sheets, I am reusing the old line, so cutting it into two pieces and splicing eyes is not practical for the used line. My old approach, a stitched eye with two 60' tails, ring hitched onto the clew, seemed to work fine. I just would like to know the theoretical strength requirements of the stitched eye, ring hitched and loaded on one line at a time. In other words, what portion of the ring hitched load passes to the unloaded side?

Brion,if you are there, this seems to be your type of question!
Craig

[Brion Toss]

There is a strength reduction in any hitch, probably about 20% in this case. Not a significant loss. Ring-hitching to the clew does make for a bump, that can hang up in some cases, and can damage some sails. You also have to reeve the entire length of both legs to remove the sheet. So while it is a big improvement on bowlines, I'd much rather connect that eye -- or two spliced eyes -- with a soft shackle. Utterly secure, less snag-prone, easily removed, and it makes for options like tapered sheets.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss