Best Mainsail Halyard Material

[GinoDelG]

Hi Brion,

The New England VPC was my first choice too.

As for loads, my boat is a 29,000 pound 44-foot cutter. Using the Lewmar formula in the back of your book (which is terrific by the way), I calculate the loads to be 1,500 pounds, if I'm doing this right.

I assumed the resistance when raising my main halyard would be reduced by switching to a smaller diameter halyard because there would be less surface area and therefore less drag over the sheave and through the fairleads.

BTW, I like your suggestion to use Tig instead of cotter pins on my stays. I'm not near my boat at the moment. Would it be safe to assume that I would need the 3/32 diameter vs the 1/6?

Gino