David - Do you put a strip of velcro at the mast base and one on the topping lift to keep it out of the way when not raised? In the past we ran the topping lift through the aft jaws, but inevitably, when the bowman pulled it out 50% of the time had it wrapped around the pole the wrong way. Also - how do you handle the foreguy? Is it run aft or do you also put a cleat on the mast?
We have the velcro on the starboard lower shroud. We always hook the aft end of the pole to the upper starboard shroud and then we velcro the topping lift down to the lower shroud (it basically follows the lower shroud down from the topping lift exit point).
For the foreguy we have an eye at the forward base of the mast with a fiddle on it - we then have a single block with a snap shackle on it which attaches to the bridle - so this gives us 2:1 on the foreguy. It also keeps the foreguy out of the way of all the sheets since it is not attached to the deck and it keeps you from having to ease and tighten when you move the pole forward and aft since the pivot point is the same as the attach point. This is not lead aft.
So both setups are handled by the foredeck person. But the only time there really needs to be communication about adjustments to the foreguy and topping lift is when the poll height needs to be adjusted.
