I bought a used melges 24 kite to play with. It is about 30 sq feet smaller than local PHRF would allow. I have not raced it, but have used it enough to tell it is slower than the regular spinns. A full size one might be a different story.
For the tack I put the pole on the deck with a pad eye at the bottom of the mast and a stainless strop bolted to the forestay chainplate. A block at the end of the pole and a long tackline to replace my downhaul. The set up worked well and if I decided to get serious about it I might go higher with the hoist.
Next year thinking a new sym .5 for PHRF for all this light Lake Michigan air.
John
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