It is generally acknowledged that the principal force acting upon the mast of a sailing yacht with the so-called Marconi rig is one of pure compression. It is desirable to reduce this compression as much as possible and also in big rigs, where the various strains are very great, to eliminate wear and strain on the wire halliard which experiences exceptional local stresses where it bends over the sheave or sheaves in the mast. In the big America’s Cup class yachts, where all these problems are acute, successful devices have been designed to reduce the compression on the mast and the strain on halliards by locking the mainsail aloft, once it is set. These devices have varied in form but all have been similar in principle. All have provided some sort of hook or latch aloft into which the headboard, or a link on the headboard, could engage and settle back into secure locked position, relieving all strain on the haliard but the halliard’s own weight. Locking the mainsail aloft, in some such way, cuts any compression caused by the mainsail and its halliard in half. The one shown and described here was designed by A.E. Luders, Jr., of the Luders Marine Cosntruction Co., Stamford, Connecticut. It is highly ingenious, quite simple, and as far as we can see, absolutely foolproof. It is operated entirely by the main halyard.
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