Question
The use of poles, set to leeward to act as struts for the sheeting of headsails, is becoming more common. The pole is not attached to the clew of the headsail; the sheet is running through the end of a ferrule along the length of the pole. Is this allowed under rule 50?

Answer
Yes. While rule 50.3(a) prohibits the use of outriggers in general, it provides exceptions covered in rule 50.3(b) and(c). Rule 50.3(c) allows a headsail to be sheeted or attached at its clew to a spinnaker pole or a whisker pole and it does not specify or restrict how the headsail is to be sheeted to the pole.