Holt 57mm Organic Ratchet Block with Swivel

Hi JerryWhat you are referring to would be an autoratchet which engages under load (the load setting can be adjusted on some blocks). The Organic block is a manual ratchet which has to be switched off if wanting it to run freely.When engaged the ratchet block will only spin in the direction you pull in, the sheave (wheel part) of a ratchet block is shaped to grip the sheet a little. to ease the rope out the sheet slides over the locked sheave and with the added friction it makes it easier to hold loadsI hope that helpsDavid 

Hi I can confirm it does have a definite click when rope is pulled through it. Hope this helps.

Hi, when the ratchet is flicked to on; the sheave rotates with a click and when the ratchet is flicked off the sheave spins freely both directions with no clicks. Hope this helps Jake

Hi, yes it will help enormously. For it to hold the sheet you just have to hold it with sufficient tension to keep the rope in the teeth of the ratchet pulley and let the sail out simply release the tension