"Barton blocks were among several outstanding pieces of equipment on board 'Barrabas' on the first part of the Alpha Global Expedition. Encountering truly horrendous conditions during the 26,000 mile passage between the UK and Alaska via Cape Horn, my Barton Blocks performed way above expectation. I did not experience a single failure despite massively overloading the blocks at times. The shackles on the spinnaker snatch blocks never seized, a problem I have experienced with a number of blocks from a variety of other leading manufacturers.

Barton Blocks will again be on board exclusively when I return to Alaska in June to sail 'Barrabas' back to the UK via the Russian Arctic. A single-handed sailor relies completely on his gear. If there's a name I can rely on when the going gets tough, it's Barton Marine," says Adrian Flanagan.