©Bamar
Are you considering upgrading your sail plan to include a staysail? It is an increasingly popular choice, offering considerable performance benefits, which is explored in more detail in our previous blog here. In this blog we focus on the various setup options and some things to watch out for when considering an inner forestay retrofit.
©Ronstan
At upffront.com we are passionate about performance sailing hardware and rigging. However, that doesn’t mean we are all about racing. It means we believe in modern materials and technology to deliver lighter, stronger products which can benefit all types of sailing boats from club racers to the smallest coastal cruising day-boats.
The majority of yacht ropes are double braid construction i.e. with a core and braided cover. The purpose of this cover is to protect the core from general chafe, abrasion and UV damage but also to provide grip and durability of the line on winches and in clutches. Yacht ropes are manufactured in a uniform construction, but customisation is relatively quick, easy and inexpensive and adds a whole new dimension to optimising your running rigging. In this article we look at why, when and where to use cover stripping and re-covering techniques to improve your running rigging systems.
©MorfBlock
There is an increasing trend towards soft attachment of sailing hardware and rigging i.e. using a lashing or soft loop, however they are not a catch-all solution. In this article we look at the benefits and some caveats around the use of soft attachments plus discuss where metal fixings are still the right option.
When it comes to the Ino-block range, the manufacturer firmly believes that simplicity is key, and we tend to agree with them.
Based on the same concept as the innovative Ino-block, the Ino-ending block has been stripped of many of the shortcomings of a traditional block. No central metal axle that could warp or crack, no pins or shackles that could shatter, no ball bearings or other complex moving parts. Instead the block has been reduced to three simple pieces.
Image Credit: Ronstan
Here at upffront.com, it’s no secret that we favour soft solutions. Although this has sometimes been controversial – would you trust Dyneema®with your lifelines? – when it comes to soft connectors, we couldn’t be more onboard.
