I finally got my 15 out for it's first sail since I got it in December. Sunday and Monday were absolutely gorgeous on Lake Michigan with 10-knot winds from the Southwest. Waves only about 1 foot. (very calm water) Yesterday, my second day out, I sailed from Evanston down to Chicago's Wilson Ave. water intake crib and back -- my GPS registered 15 miles round trip, with a maximum speed of (I'm not joking) 7.0 mph! This was my first time rigging the M15 and I have a question I hope somebody will be able to answer: From the top of my mast, back side, I have a wire that comes down to a few feet above the deck, on the end of which is a small block (pulley). What is this for? Is it supposed to be part of an adjustable backstay? Or is it part of a topping lift arrangement? Any ideas? (please forgive my inexperience)
The wire is a topping lift. My M15 has a similar 1/16" stainless wire topping lift. You should run a line from the end of the boom, up through the block and back down to the boom where there should be a cheek block and/or cleat for adjusting the line. The topping lift holds the boom up while you are raising, lowering or reefing the mainsail. Be sure to ease the topping lift tension after the mainsail is raised, otherwise you will distort the sail shape. Joe Kidd M15 #207 "Poco A Poco"
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Joe Kidd -
s.mcclellan@attbi.com