For those sailors that prefer the smells of hydrocarbons to the sound of the wind against the sheets; Harken is a company that makes high-end winches, blocks, and other sailboat products. Heres the story from www.harken.com, a la LadyFish
<br />------<br /><br />SECRETS REVEALEDTHE TORLON® DISCOVERY<br />Many many years ago in a strange and bizarre land called Pewaukee, the Harken company introduced a new block using top-secret ball bearings called Torlon® that revolutionized sailing. Now, the time has come to reveal the secret and true story behind Torlon bearings.<br /> <br />It all came about one day while Peter was on one of his many travels, visiting the volcanic island of Tor Hulani in the South Pacific. He had heard a myth about a sailboat with a perplexing blunt bow that was capable of incredible speeds.<br /><br />While talking to one of the villagers in hopes of finding one of these sailboats, he noticed that the big heavy carts loaded with sugar cane only required one small goat to pull them instead of a team of oxen. "How odd", Peter thought to himself, mesmerized by the goat pulling the cart down the dirt road. <br /><br />Peter tapped an old man selling pottery on the shoulder and asked him how one small goat was able to pull such a heavy load. The man smiled a toothless grin and said, "Tor Hulani".<br /><br />I don't understand, Peter said shaking his head.<br /> <br />Tor Hulani, the man said again. Then he reached for one of the clay pots and spilled out a handful of perfectly round balls that were the same color as the local coconuts. Then the old man pointed a bony finger at the wheel on the cart. Peter quickly understood as he realized they were using Tor Hulani balls as cart bearings.<br /> <br />Where does Tor Hulani come from? Peter quizzed the man. The old man didn't say a word, but instead motioned for Peter to follow him. They walk clear across the village until they came to a field where row after row of many leafy bushes were growing. The old man bent down and turned over a leaf, and there on the underside were two perfectly round Tor Hulani balls for which the island was named.<br /><br />
<br /><br />Peter looked at the Tor Hulani balls and suddenly realized the magnitude of this discovery. If one small goat could pull a heavy sugar cane cart, just think how much sail area one person could pull by hand if these balls were engineered into a sailing block.<br /><br />How do I get one of these Tor Hulani plants? Peter asked the man. <br /><br />A smile grew across the old man's weathered face as he raised his hands to the heavens, First we must drink to the Gods. And the rest, as they say, is history. <br /><br />The first years of growing Torlon were lean, as Peter and Olaf were better boat builders than they were farmers. However, the people of Wisconsin knew alot about this industry, and the two brothers made the wise decision to turn Torlon growing and harvesting duties over to a local Pewaukee farmer called Sven. He quickly turned the fields into a lush countryside of Torlon bearings.<br /><br />
<br />Today sailors from all over the world can enjoy easy sailing because of the smooth rolling Torlon bearings in their blocks. To celebrate this great discovery, every year on April 1, the employees of Harken go into the fields and plant the Torlon seed that helped found this company.
