[brummel]

Hello,

When single-handing my 42 foot, 24,000 pound sloop, especially when short-tacking in a breeze, the number two jib sheet bowlines regularly used to hang up on the shrouds, however I configured the knots. Things are much improved since I changed to a continuous 9/16" Sta-Set sheet, ring hitched (luggage-hitched?) to the clew ring, backed up by a couple of seizings adjacent to the hitch. However, the "V" behind the aft seizing still hangs on the shrouds more than I would like.

Therefore, I am now considering brummel-hitching a new, continuous sheet, still 9/16" Sta-Set, to the clew ring, as shown in The Rigger's Apprentice, except with four tucks instead of two,( in view of the considerable loads on this line). The brummel splices I have used for other, admittedly less loaded, applications seem nicely to "open" up the "V" between the splice's legs completely, to 180 degrees, so I hope I will have no hanging whatsoever with this.

Does this sound reasonable? Are four tucks enough? Is there a better way? Is there a role for a Tylaska spool shackle, as mentioned by Bob? Is the present ring hitch sufficiently secure without the seizings, so that I could just cut them away?

Thanks for your thoughts.