Bristol Channel Cutter

[Brion Toss]

Originally Posted by o0dunk0o

David

For your runners i would suggest a tackle hooked to a chain-plate with the fall leading from the uppermost block down to a block on the deck which gives you a fair lead to the sheet winch.

I regularly race a 36' gaff cutter which has this arrangement, the tackles we use are 4:1 and it works very well, although for your boat a less powerful tackle might be more appropriate.

The backstays attach to the chainplates with simple hooks, so when running downwind it's easy to unhook the stay and move it forward clearing the boom and mainsail.

I agree, except I'd leave off the upper block, and just run a continuous runner to the winch. Plenty of power there, no block waving around at head height, much quicker casting off and taking up, no need to unhook anything.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss