Hurricane 5.9SX Fittings Guide

Hurricane 5.9 Sailing downwind

Below is a full-fitting guide from Ben Harris – 2023 Hurricane 5.9SX national champion and Team Allen sailor.

Mainsheet

Jib Sheet

Spinnaker Sheet

Spinnaker Halyard

Mast Rotation

Downhaul

Hurricane Rigging Tips

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Fittings and Tuning Guide for the Melges 15

Melges 15 Rigging and fittings

The Melges 15 is quickly becoming a popular dinghy class worldwide. It was designed to be both accessible and exciting, offering a stable platform for learning while also delivering high-performance racing for more experienced sailors. The boat is responsive, fast, and simple to rig, which makes it a favourite among sailors of all levels.

If you are looking to upgrade or replace the hardware on your Melges 15, it helps to know exactly which fittings you need and what their role is on the boat. Below is a breakdown of the fittings used across the major systems, based on a complete Allen Brothers fit-out, along with some tips on upgrades. After that, you will also find a clear summary of tuning advice to help you get the most from your rig and sails.

Pre-Made Packs

Mainsheet System

Jib Sheet System

Jib Halyard System

Main Halyard System

Spinnaker Halyard System

Spinnaker Sheet System

Vang Purchase System

Outhaul

Boat Breaker

Tuning Guide

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Flying Fifteen Boat Tour

As a day sponsor at the Worlds and a long-time supplier to the class, we wanted to pull back the curtain and show exactly why this particular fit-out works so well, and in the video, you can find out exactly what Charles thinks. The Worlds at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy are the class’s premier event this year and the perfect place to show the kit in action.

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Silver for Charlie MacKenzie at the 2025 Topper World Championships

Allen Topper Fitout

Facing fierce international competition from over a dozen countries—including the USA, China, South Africa, and across Europe—Charlie rose to the challenge in a week marked by unpredictable and extreme conditions. From violent thunderstorms and gusts over 30 knots to complete windless drift days, the event tested every sailor’s resilience and skill. Through it all, Charlie remained calm, consistent, and determined.

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Enzo Ballanger Crowned 2025 International Moth World Champion – Powered by Allen & XPO

Enzo World Champion

Facing a fleet of 137 top sailors from 25 nations — including Olympic veterans, America’s Cup tacticians and SailGP stars — Enzo held his nerve through Lake Garda’s shifting conditions to finish 12 points clear of silver medalist Tom Slingsby (AUS) and with New Zealander Jacob Pye in third. His impressive final score of 15 points was built on commanding leads throughout qualifying and finals, reinforced by a strong 4th place in the final race.

Enzo himself reflected: “We’ve just wrapped up the Moth World Championship and I’m the new World Champion!… Winning this title was truly a lifelong dream… The boat was fast, everything went smoothly — just amazing.”

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Jazz Turner Makes History in “Project FEAR”

Jazz Turner completes project fear

Project FEAR, an extraordinary solo sailing voyage by Jazz Turner, has concluded successfully: she became the first disabled person – and specifically the first wheelchair user – to sail non-stop and unassisted around the UK and Ireland. Departing from Brighton on 2 June, Jazz completed the challenging 2,070-mile circumnavigation in 28 days, returning to Brighton Marina on 30 June 2025.

Boat & Route: Jazz sailed her 1975 Albin Vega, named FEAR (Face Everything And Rise), through the English Channel, Irish Sea, Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, and around Shetland.

Challenges at Sea: She endured seasickness, extreme weather, and physical exhaustion, including a grounding off Folkestone on 29 June. She successfully refloated FEAR unaided at high tide and continued her mission.

Health & Adaptations: Living with terminal Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome—including seizures, fainting, and severe joint pain—Jazz overcame serious health obstacles and adapted her boat with wind generators, satellite nav, solar panels, and tailored sail systems.

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Product Feature: A New Generation of Precision – The Acetal Pivoting Mast Step

First developed as a breakthrough in the dinghy and small keelboat market, our original aluminium pivoting mast step was inspired by the ball-and-cup design commonly found on catamarans. However, instead of multi-directional articulation, our step offers controlled fore-and-aft pivot within the mast step channel. This allows for dynamic rig tuning on the water without compromising mast alignment or deck integrity.

Now, we’ve taken everything great about that original design and, in partnership with Jon Turner, we have made it even more accessible.

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Waszp Upgrade Guide

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We’re Now a Full Distributor of Clamcleat® Products

clamcleats installed to 49er

We’ve proudly stocked a selection of Clamcleat products for many years, but following the unfortunate closure of one of their distributors, we were offered the opportunity to take on the full range. It’s a natural next step in our long-standing relationship with Clamcleat and we’re pleased to be strengthening our partnership with another great British brand.

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SWITCH Boat Tour & Fittings Guide

Below, we’ve compiled a detailed fitting guide listing all the Allen components used in the upgrades, along with alternative options to suit different budgets and needs.

Please note: At the time of filming, no class rules were in place. The hardware replacements listed are based on our alternatives to the OEM-fitted hardware, with a few exceptions where doubles have replaced two single blocks.

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