Saltwater and dirt tears away at the fibres of the rope, shortening their lifespan. ‘Salty ropes’ are damp, thus collect more dirt. Ropes aren’t cheap and so proper maintenance will ensure you get the maximum performance out of your ropes.
Cleaning lines isn’t only a matter of cosmetics; clean ropes are easier to handle. This is especially the case for overworked ropes such as genoa and mainsheets. As a minimum, ropes should be cleaned properly at least once a year, at the end of the season.
What is the cost vs. benefit trade-off for running rigging options on a 25 ft sailing boat? We take a look at three running rigging specs, from budget to full performance racing, and investigate whether the increase in cost is justified by the performance benefits.
Upffront.com has supplied many running rigging packages for top level J70 campaigns. Find out what is currently "hot" when it comes to driving the best performance out of these exciting sports boats.
There are many core materials used in rope making (e.g. Vectran®, PBO, polypropylene, hemp, nylon etc) but the vast majority of modern ropes are based on a polyester, or increasingly, a Dyneema® core. Get a basic introduction to the benefits and weaknesses of these two primary core fibres.
If you are looking at upgrading your running rigging, before you delve into the manufacturers catalogues there are a few key terms you need to understand.
There are so many great performance ropes to choose from...... but where to start? Based on your sailing level/style, understand some of the basic principles so you know what you are looking for.
