Blog | upffront.com

Spring is approaching and we start to think about getting our boats ready for the coming season.  

And whilst there are some jobs that are obvious, like servicing engines, repainting, varnishing woodwork, and checking sails, here is our list of 10 jobs that could easily be overlooked but are potentially critical for you to enjoy a safe season ahead.  

This list is not exhaustive, but should give you food for thought!  

Image credit: Spinlock 

It’s a breeze-on day, you have rounded the top mark, set the kite and everything is just about under control. The bowman, now providing ballast at the back of the boat, calls in the gusts. As the pressure reaches the boat you expect to accelerate and start surfing the next wave but instead you hear a zipping noise as the halyard runs through the clutch and the belly of the kite billows out in front of the boat, just above the water. Anyone who has experienced this knows the nightmare of a slipping clutch. If you are lucky, you might be able to keep the boat under control and winch the spinnaker back to the top of the rig. If you are less fortunate, it’s easy to broach or turn the kite into a trawling net. In this blog we look at some of the possible causes of a slipping halyard and how these can be resolved. 

Credit - Premiumropes 

The issue of plastic waste has come to the forefront of public attention in recent years, with plastic bottles clogging our waterways and gathering as vast floating islands in our oceans. Now scientists and entrepreneurs across the world are scrambling to come up with solutions to the problem and find novel ways of recycling waste plastic. Premiumropes are no different and have recently launched their Eco range of ropes featuring recycled Polyester.

Image Credit: Jason Ball

Choosing the correct line for your halyard doesn’t just improve performance, it’s essential for keeping your sails safe. Lose a halyard while sailing and you’ll likely have to end your race and head to the loft for repairs, so making sure you use the very best for your halyards is a worthwhile investment.

Photo Credit © Premium Ropes

Premium Ropes is an Amsterdam based rope supplier, rigging workshop and resource centre for all things running rigging.

We are pleased to announce our Custom Splicing, running rigging service at upffront.com. We have created a configurator to allow you to build and order finished sheets and halyards online. We have started with a small range of Gottifredi Maffioli lines but, if you like it, we hope to expand this range in the future. The lines are built by hand-picked, high quality rigging partners from around the world.