Mast and Genoa Sheets problem solved

[storm]

While sailing Count Down, I notice one very irritating thing. The genoa sheets keep getting stuck around the cleats that are fixed on the mast, this is probably due to me not getting my tack changes exactly right and the length of sail past the mast doesn't help. If you are very careful when going about you can avoid it sometimes, but invariably they get hooked up, which spoils the tack and leaves you scrabbling around trying to free them.

This prompted me to design a simple solution.
Using some sail offcuts I have constructed a cover which has a velcro fastening down the centre and an elastic cord at the top and bottom to secure it. The length of the cover is just 80cm and the width 51cm. This covers the cleats and as a bonus it also acts as a bag to neatly contain all the ropes and halyards as well. The cover fits from the bottom of the main, around the boom to the foot of the mast. I put some eyelets in the top to secure it to the mast ring but in practice these are not needed.

I will post some pics on the Countdown album if anyone is interested.[/img]