Does anyone know what the thin rope in the mast track in an F2 Lightning is supposed to do?. Mine is broken off and just tied around the release pin. But as I have the track out at the moment, I can see the broken end of it and where it does a U-turn at the far end of the box. Not able to see where it should attach or what it is supposed to do though.

Keen to put it back to how it should be if anyone knows.

Cheers, Brad.

it the same as a Bic mast track its made out of bungee cord to help pull the track forward

could also be a safety leash, it may hook onto the mast foot below the powerjoint.

as you can see with my Mistral Equipe ...
there is a "safety line" whose purpose is mentioned above...

Thanks all.

Seems that is it. I don't understand why it has to run the length of the track though? Mine appears to be anchored at the foot pedal and exits at the point shown on Jo's Mistral, through a 180deg bend.

I thought it may have been to assist in moving the truck forward as grich62 suggested, but I could not see how.

Thanks for the info.

Select to expand quote

ballast said..
Thanks all.

Seems that is it. I don't understand why it has to run the length of the track though? Mine appears to be anchored at the foot pedal and exits at the point shown on Jo's Mistral, through a 180deg bend.

I thought it may have been to assist in moving the truck forward as grich62 suggested, but I could not see how.

Thanks for the info.

the cord is tied to the rear of the track and stretched forward around u guide then back to the slider it needs the distance so the bungee cord was not to springy.you have to remove the track and strip it to replace the cord

Select to expand quote

grich62 said..

ballast said..
Thanks all.

Seems that is it. I don't understand why it has to run the length of the track though? Mine appears to be anchored at the foot pedal and exits at the point shown on Jo's Mistral, through a 180deg bend.

I thought it may have been to assist in moving the truck forward as grich62 suggested, but I could not see how.

Thanks for the info.

the cord is tied to the rear of the track and stretched forward around u guide then back to the slider it needs the distance so the bungee cord was not to springy.you have to remove the track and strip it to replace the cord

sorry i am misleading you ,it goes back to a tear drop shaped fitting on the power joint.not really needed in normal use .

Thanks again. Mine does have a plastic fitting on the end, but I don't have the original base anymore.
Also mine is just standard rope, not shock cord.
Haven't got my head around how it would assist in moving the track as yet. Going to have another play with it on the weekend.

The rope is needed to stop the track moving when the peddle is released. Replace the rope with some 4mm non stretch stuff. The rope will go from the carriage, round both pulleys and finish at the carriage. It needs to be tight so that the mast doesn't move to much when sailing, but lose enough to move when the peddle is pushed.
If this is too hard just screw a normal base into the track and have it non sliding.

^^^^that would be correct for a Mistral track, this one is F2.

It's the Euro safety rope to connect the board to rig if uni joint fails.