Rich, thanks for your measurements. Howard, thanks for your thoughts. I typically have company when I'm out on the water, so someone can take the helm while I wrestle with the rig on the foredeck. I want to wring as much speed as possible out of my little boat, and don't mind messing with the rig to do such. My preliminary thoughts are to use my whisker pole (which works great with my factory jib) with the "kite" to keep it up and out in wind shifts and in chop. The way I have things mapped out in my mind (we'll see if it works out on the water), it should be straightforward to rig my spinnaker. The quick acceleration that you describe sounds like fun. The kite should be ready in three weeks (Elliott Pattison, supplier of my factory sails, is making it), and I'll report on it shortly thereafter. Sincerely, John M-15, Bella (628) La Jolla, CA