Contender

I'm well aquainted with the tower! I know that quite a few Contenders have tried the method but have not seen the benefit over the more sedate but safe way.

maybe i'll give it a try. Tower on the buttock instead!!

 

He just throws it across and picks it up on his way through, although its done so quickly you can't see it.

By crouching backward you get the main bulk of your body in the biggest gap i.e. closest to the tower, therefore you can squeeze on a bit more kicker and rake, which Contenders like.

Can anyone see what he does with the main sheet?

And I don't understand the link that shows how his trapeze works. Can anyone interpret this picture?

Edited by Strawberry

Looks like he drops the mainsheet at about 30s in - it's not very clear as that area becomes pixellated just after but you can say the tension go. I haven't spotted him picking it up again though, it looks to be just left cleated all the way through. When I'm helming on the wire (though I've never sailed a contender) I tend to drop it just as I get into the boat then pick it up at the block again.
To me the diagram looks to be 2 bobbles, an adjuster cleat and a ring (ring on the left). I think the 56cm gap has a length of tubing over it, and that length is fixed, with the adjustment being on the section above it. On looking at the other pics it would appear that the 'bobbles' are actually the blocks to adjust the trapeze length.

Originally posted by MRJP BUZZ 585 I think the right handside is the hook and left the bit attached to the mast, then the wierd thing is the adjustment and the bottom picture is the tube that goes over the bottom piece of rope which is used to help hook on??

Yeah, essentially the bit between the handle/adjuster and the ring you hook on to is made rigid by the tube so when you swing out you have some control over where the ring is and can move it to the most convenient place to hook on. You also get really good feedback that you are hooked on before commiting your weight to it.

I've tried wire to wire tacking - where you hang your body weight on your arm and unhook/hook on whilst on the rail - my upper body strength is just not good enough to support my lower body weight whilst also trying to steer/sheet.