Hi Don,



I too have a Tornado with a curved self tacking track. I retreive my kite into a shoot sewn diagnally underneath my tramp with the mouth at the front port corner of the tramp. I have tied a peice of spectra from the edge of the track to the end of the beem so the kite can flow over it a bit more freely. I have noticed on Darren Bundock/John Forbes boat they do not have this and to the best of my knowledge they do not have a problem with it. Just make sure the corners are rounded of and protected with electrical tape for padding.



The curved track I would say would set easier on each new tack and if you need to backwind which we have rarely had to do you can hold it with your hand.



I find the self tacking system unbeatable if you have a kite. With the crew not having to worry about the jib during manouvers, he can set himself up quicker on the next tack or gybe. By the time I am on the other side of the boat after the tack, my crew is already on trap, reaching for the main sheet and can power us up as I get out.



Regards

Stephen Medwell