Wood or GRP?

I like to have a good look at something that has so obviously caused somebody to totally lose their mind, just in case I might have missed something and or it's time to do a quick personal sanity reality check (head down toilet and push flush) and it is as I thought, they are an old junk item and Bootscooter should be reported to childline and social services sent in.

However there's a bit of rope going on that I've not come across before, in some of the down wind pictures, looks like some sort of redundant rig safety device to stop or fix the clew first attitude of the rig, (I note it's unstayed) I can also see why the OK suits some folks given the sailor position is pretty much fixed within a constrained cockpit area which must be a pain if you're heavy, anyway, that aside, what is that rope for? It goes from the mast up to the pointy bit then off to the boom and has it got an effeminate sounding name like that lame 'barbie hauler'? ('ken hauler' maybe?)

Edited by iGRF - 29 Jan 13 at 12:01pm

Hmm, struggle to comprehend how that might work, if the shock cord works one day it will be over stressed the other as it wraps round the mast surely? Going to have another look in their gallery see if it's clearer on other pics.

It could be what I'm looking for, my bloody boom keeps falling back in light airs, they (the locals) told me it's because I leave the kicker on down wind (which I do because I think it makes the sail more powerful) but even leaving it off it doesn't seem to stop the boom settling back so I physically have to push it out, which is tedious and often causes coffee spillage downwind.

Its called the "JC" strap after the guy who invented it, finn sailor initials JC, scandinavian of one sort or another.
It facilitates grey area kinetics in the really light stuff too.

Originally posted by iGRF Originally posted by Daniel Holman It facilitates grey area kinetics in the really light stuff too. Hah great minds, I'd spotted that as well, and another bonus feature for me, it'll permit auto rig rake, there will be a tendency to pull the rig upright off wind and permit more rear rake if I allow it on the forestay. I'm all over this now. JC strap eh?

JC Strap is fantastic for preventing those annoying light wind boom/forehead interactions, along with holding the boom out.