HS guide systems

HS System

The Antal HS Guide System is designed for boats with full batten mainsails that experience high loads
and compression-loading on the mainsail luff. The system’s aluminium sliders contain HS composite
fibre inserts that run on aluminium track mounted on the mast. HS composite fibre is a new material
that is durable over long periods of use and offers extremely low friction coefficients. The material is
made from special resins strengthened with fibre and is self lubricating. The HS Guide System provides
the following advantages:

– the low friction properties of the HS composite fibre allows the cars to be shorter than standard ballbearing
car systems, thereby reducing the stacking height at the mast when the sail is down;
– the lower cars can easily be removed from the track when the sail is reefed, thereby keeping the tack
low to the boom;
– minimum friction under load;
– less maintenance than ball bearing car systems;
– cars can easily be removed and re-installed on the track whenever the mainsail is changed.

Each batten end fitting is attached to a slider with a triaxial joint to ensure that the batten can freely
orient itself under all points of sail. At least one simple slider should be attached to the
sail with nylon webbing between two battens. A headboard is attached to the sail with webbing
and is secured to the slider (double or triple) with a clevis pin which allows the headboard to pivot and
to be removed.