Racing crews know weight placement is crucial to good boat speed, so they are constantly moving to keep the boat in perfect balance.

One problem this cause is that they are not always in an ideal position to adjust control lines, particularly to re-engage line into the cam cleats from an oblique angle. The traditional solution has been to use cams on swivel bases which will face the crew in any position, but for minor controls swivel bases are heavy and expensive.

The solution is a cam fairlead. These accessories are specifically designed to allow lines to be released and engaged, even when the pull is at a severe angle to the cam. Harken offers two cam fairleads. The 375 fits the 150 Cam-Matic. The 476 is designed for the 468 and 471 cams. Both fairleads feature a tough fiber-reinforced plastic body that is low friction and chafe resistant. The carefully designed entry shape encourages lines to enter the cam with only a slight downward force on the line and operates well at angles approaching 90 degrees. The polished stainless steel guide posts prevent line wear and are very low friction.

Mounted aft of the cam, the fairlead allows engagement and release of lines from a wide variety of angles. This is ideal for controls on modern boats where crew move from the cockpit to a trapeze or to the weather rail, yet the weight and expense of swivel cams is not justified.