<html><head><style type='text/css'>p { margin: 0; }</style></head><body><div style='font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000'><P><BR>I'm probably the only Tuna sailer on the planet that didn't know this but in case there's one more out there here's a heads up.</P>
<P>During last nights beercan race I skied the topping lift on a spinnaker set. Spinnakers don't fly well with a drooping spinnaker pole. At the bar I told my sad story to who ever would listen and was told " Well dummy you should've had a stopper knot in it." Head slap.</P>
<P>Today I recoverd the topping lift with my wisker pole and a coat hanger and put a stopper knot in it. I set the pole to its highest level position and marked a spot about a foot short of the topping lift block. Tied a knot, rehoisted the pole, made a small adjustment to the knot location and stored the pole. Now with the knot at the block the pole clip dangels at chest level, very retrievable. </P>
<P>cheers</P>
<P>Tom McIntyre</P>
<P>Spitfire # 802</P>
<P> </P></div></body></html>