by craig on Tue Apr 19, 2016 11:55 am
For rope, I believe the safe working load is generally 1/4 or 1/5 of the breaking strength. I also read once that in 20 knot wind (or something like that), 1 square foot of sail yields 1 pound of force or thereabouts. So I guess that the rig would see 150-200 pounds in the worst conditions, hence the 300-pound safe working load for the blocks. I imagine that the throat halyard isn't experiencing much force, the peak halyard is experiencing more force, and the jib halyard the most. I guess you could substitute in that order as far as you feel comfortable. It's actually pretty incredible how tight you need to tension the jib halyard. Early on, I wouldn't get it tight enough and the rope would sag just enough that the mast would start to move. Not cool! Get that forestay good and tight!
Titania, launched January 2015