Bluenose staysail halliard - confusion

[hamilton]

Hi there:

 

I have some confusion about how the staysail halliard on the Bluenose would have been rigged. The plans provide two views of the halliard (see below)

 

The upper and lower blocks seem obvious - one seized to the peak of the sail, the other seized to an eye on the main topmast. But in the image with the three blocks, the line just seems to circle between a standing end on a ring, through the block on the sail, up to the block on the mast, down to a third, hooked block - but where does this third block go? There is talk in the explanation to the right in the image of it being hooked to the sheer pole - ok....but then there is talk of the "running end" of the line, which doesn't seem to exist in that drawing.....has anyone come up with an interpretation of this element who can share it with me?

 

Thanks a lot

hamilton

 

 

 

Edited October 14, 2023 by hamilton

[wefalck]

I am not an expert on these, but looking at the arrangement and reading the explanatory text, it appears that the idea was to lead each of the halliards to different sides of the boat. In practice only one would be worked, persumably the windward one, as the leeward belaying point might be awash when racing. I think that is the idea, as otherwise there is no mechanical advantage over a single halliard.

[hamilton]

thanks Wefalck - that is helpful!

hamilton