Blog | upffront.com

Image source - Stock images

Mainsheet systems, simple yet vital hardware, play a crucial role in sailboat operation due to their constant use. A block and tackle or ‘purchase’ system is a form of mechanical advantage, where the input force is multiplied through a series of pulleys or blocks to create a much larger output force. Trying to understand how to achieve different purchase ratios might seem daunting to the uninitiated, but it’s quite straightforward once you know some basic principles. In this blog we will guide you through different purchase systems used on modern sailboats. 
 

We have previously reported on the benefits of composite backstays: to reduce weight aloft and increase performance. An effective control system to finely tune backstay load is equally important, particularly for a race yacht. In this blog we look at 3 popular configurations for backstay purchase systems using block and tackle. 

Wichard’s expertise comes from over 100 years of forging safety parts for the manufacturing industry, so when it came to designing boat fittings, strength and safety have always been at the top of their priority list.

This is evident in the Wichard MXEvo 2:1/3:1 Block range, but it is the simple, functional design that makes this piece of hardware stand out from the crowd.

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of the cool gadgets that Antal manufacture. These are often the subject of our blogs – previously, we’ve delved into the Antal Roller Cleat, the Antal Soft Loop Hook and the Antal Electric Winch Range, to name a few.

This time, we’re taking a look at the Antal Barber Block – a tough, well-designed block created specifically for barber-hauler applications or code zero tweaker systems.

In this blog we take a quick look at what is new and/or interesting in the sailing block world in 2023.

Image Credit: Botin Partners 85 (2020), via Morfrac Systems

Deck hardware has come full circle. Now, designers favour simple designs that make use of high-performance materials over complex concepts. We spoke to Nicolas Goldenberg of Morfrac Systems, the mind behind the disruptive morfblock, about the evolution of deck hardware and his predictions for the future.