OK, I talked to Howard. I didn't want to push to hard, as he must gave been feeling quite bad. I know I would have been.
My question is why didn't anyone help him out and get a new set of lines made along with a handle?
That's about a 10 minute job, even if you have to make up a new set of lines (with offset, presumably), and 0 minutes if you can use conventional lines. The wrap or crimp job wouldn't have to be pretty and it only has to last for 3 flights, so crimping it would probably be fine.
Moreover, since it's FAI, you could use conventional lines and add an extender for the offset (since the AMA rule about multiple connectors doesn't apply to FAI). There must be something more to this story.
Brett
p.s. in fact, Howard, tell me what sort of length and offset you need and I can make up a set of lines to use as Golden State, and I already have a Paul handle.