Hardly any other fitting causes as much frustration as the halyard stopper. Torn ropes and a lack of holding power are the most common problems, but the operation and slippage of the cleats also leave a lot to be desired. Large series yachts where the owner has upgraded the sails and rigging are particularly affected. The less the cloth and line stretch, the greater the strain in gusts or heavy seas.
The weakest link in the chain is usually the stopper. A marginally small and inexpensive model may still be able to cope with the standard equipment - but as soon as ropes with a Dyneema core, laminate sails or even both are brought on board, frustration is inevitable. Instead of enjoying the improved sailing characteristics, the investment in high-quality sails and halyards turns out to be practically useless, as the cleat allows the line to slip when the winch is released or damages the cover of the expensive halyard when it is first opened under load.
Textile technology
After a long period without any real innovations in halyard stoppers, there are now two completely new systems on the market. The first was the Constrictor from French cordage manufacturer Cousin Trestec, which was launched in 2012 and is now distributed by Ronstan. Instead of metal jaws, a 60-centimetre-long braided tube made from high-strength Technora is used. The brand new XTX stopper from Spinlock also uses Technora braiding. However, the braided tube is much shorter and is tensioned with a stainless steel spring. Compared to conventional stoppers, the braided tubes have a much larger contact surface to the halyard, which should enable enormous holding forces to be achieved and also protect the cordage.
