Thanks! I'm confused about why having the foreguy at the end of the pole prevents it from needing changing while gybing. Is this for cases where the pole is symmetric, so you don't have to flip it end to end during the gybe but just swap which end is on the ring? You guessed correctly, I'm asking because I am planning to do the delta dinghy ditch race next week. Sincerely, Tyler ----- Original Message ----- From: "jerry" <jerry@jerrymontgomery.org> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Monday, July 30, 2018 2:12:40 PM Subject: Re: M_Boats: M15 spinnaker downhaul/foreguy questions -----Original Message----- From: casioqv@usermail.com Sent: Monday, July 30, 2018 1:50 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: M_Boats: M15 spinnaker downhaul/foreguy questions I have a few M15 spinnaker downhaul/foreguy rigging questions. Just to be clear, I'm talking about a sheet/line that usually attaches between the center of the pole and the foredeck, to keep the pole from lifting, I am not 100% sure downhaul (or foreguy?) is the right term. YES, IT'S A FOREGUY, AS OPPOSED TO THE AFTERGUY, WHICH IS THE LINE OPPOSITE THE SHEET (BECOMING THE SHEET AFTER GYBING. 1. Does anyone know the reason why a spinnaker pole downhaul is usually installed in to pull downward on the center of the pole? It makes more sense to me that pulling at the very end, where the spinnaker attaches would drastically reduce the stress on the pole. Last year I did the Delta Dinghy Ditch with a painters pole as the spinnaker pole, and it was nearly snapping in half until I moved the downhaul to the tip, and then it seemed virtually stress free in gusts. ON SMALL BOATS IT'S ATTACHED DIRECTLY TO THE CENTER OF THE POLE SO THAT THE GUY WON'T NEED TO BE CHANGED WHEN GYBING. ON A larger boat, where strength is a question, a bridle can be used, or the guy can be attached to the end. If the block for the guy leads to a block well forward of the mast the guy can be attached to a simple bridle consisting of a line going from one end of the pole to the other with a small block hung on it so that the guy will stay forward, but then you'll need to adjust the foreguy every time you adjust the sheet. On a small boat I like the block just in front of the mast, and then a small bridle on the pole that consists of a wire from each end to a ring in the middle, with a few feet of scope, and the guy attaches to the ring. If you're worrying about the pole bending (a real fear in the Ditch race) this the best of both worlds. 2. Where is a good place to mount the downhaul block? Is it okay to mount it on the deck? I've been actually using a snatch block on the boom vang bail, but that makes gybing really hard. Has anyone tried installing a second boom vang bail and facing it forward? If so, where can you buy one? It seems to me that my M15 uses a boom bail designed for a large sailboat boom, but through the mast step bolt in order to hold the vang. I JUST ATTACH IT TO THE DECK RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE MAST WITH A GOOD STRAP EYE, WATCHING THAT THE EYE DOESN'T LOOSEN AND CAUSE DRY ROT. IF YOU KEEP THE BOAT IN THE WEATHER, I'D USE A BLOCK WITH A GOOD DECK PLATE, WHICH WILL BE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO WORK LOOSE AND LEAK. Good luck in the race- Geoff Prindle anmd I did it a couple of years ago in my Sage, but decided we were too old! Sincerely, Tyler '81 M15 "Defiant"