http://www.forespar.com/products/boat-lightning-static-dissipater.shtml

Strictly Sail Chicago was a great success and luckily finished just ahead of the epic blizzard of 2011. As usual, the crowds were very large on Friday and Saturday. Customers seemed particularly interested in whisker and spinnaker poles this year.

Forespar's Art Bandy also presented seven well-attended seminars during the show. His two topics included the benefits of composite Marelon plumbing fixtures over traditional bronze, and the techniques and benefits of downwind sailing with Forespar poles.

Forespar-sponsored writer Meghan Cleary and her fiancé Prescott have now travelled to mainland Mexico through the tropics on a voyage from San Diego, CA to Newport, RI. Meghan is a sailing educational writer for the American Sailing Association (ASA) and her blog describes her voyage, and in particular her use of various Forespar products such as their whisker pole. It's a great real-world perspective on the benefits of sailing with downwind poles. They are currently near Puerto Vallarta preparing to sail to the Panama Canal.

http://asa.com/social_media/2011/01/25/voyaging-with-velella-the-cost-of-cruising/