I use the A-sail in conjunction with a roller-furling genoa. I attach a snatch block to the regular jib tack shackle. I have a line with a shackle spliced in on the end which is run through the block and back to the cockpit to a cam cleat on the cabin top (normally for the spin downhaul). It's important to be able to adjust the tack height: down when reaching and up at higher apparent angles. As an added feature, I tie a line about 5 feet long to the stem fitting with the free end going to the release pin on the shackle at the end of the tack line. When it comes time to douse, releasing the tack line beyond 5 feet releases the tack, and you're ready to lower the halyard. We use the "letterbox" technique to haul the sail in - feed the lazy sheet under the loose main foot and over the boom. That keeps it in control.
Alternatively, you can use a sock/sleeve, but they require someone going forward to the mast to raise and lower. Would rather not have that requirement with just two hands if the winds get dicey.
So how do you keep the tack line from loading up on the roller furler drum? What do you do to jibe, the tack line will load up and pull accross the roller furler drum? This is why I figured this would not work. There is a ton of load on the tack so I figured you needed to keep it outside of the forestay triangle.
David
