front bridle low to the deck

[Jim Sears]

Drew's suggestion a while back of lowering the front bridle to deck level to clean up the cockpit is actually a good idea.  I tried it on a day sail and it works!  The question is: are those pad-eyes strong enough?  I hope so, because it was SO nice not having to step across the bridle to move my weight forward.  I also wonder about loss of boom centering, but with a split-tail mainsheet at the end of the boom, that shouldn't be a problem.

[Drew Harper]

Those pad eyes are through bolted so I don't suspect they'll be an issue...

[Justin Scott]

Drew's suggestion a while back of lowering the front bridle to deck level to clean up the cockpit is actually a good idea.  I tried it on a day sail and it works!  The question is: are those pad-eyes strong enough?  I hope so, because it was SO nice not having to step across the bridle to move my weight forward.  I also wonder about loss of boom centering, but with a split-tail mainsheet at the end of the boom, that shouldn't be a problem.

Great for day sailing.
For racing, I feel it pulls "down" a bit more at a vertical angle, not so good in lighter air. But you could just play sheet from the boom.
I like to use the bridle as a hand hold for the roll tacks. so I like my bridle up there.


Anyway, seems legal to me.