From: bocmunro@bnr.co.uk (Bruce Munro)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Re: Running Backstay Question
Date: 10 Nov 92 19:08:39 GMT
Organization: BNR Europe, New Southgate, London.
NNTP-Posting-Host: bnsgs179.bnr.co.uk

In article <1992Nov9.211851.17066@nas.nasa.gov> blake@wk60.nas.nasa.gov (Matthew W. Blake) writes:
>
>I am considering purchase of a Beneteau First 375 with running backstays.
>Although we will race it occasionally, we will mainly be cruising, weekend
>sailing in the San Francisco Bay.  I would like opinions/discussions on
>running backstays (which this boat has).
>
>Specifically, if we are short handed, can we just sail without them?  The
>boat does have a central adjustable backstay.  
>
>What are the penalties or dangers to the rig of sailing without setting 
>these running back stays?
>
>I believe if the running backstay is set and we accidently jibe we will
>probably lose the mast.  Is this true?  

It depends on the mast and spreader setup. Some fractional rigs, especially
on more "cruisy" type boats would have a reasonably solid mast and swept
back spreaders so that the shrouds provide fore-aft support to the rig. The
runners in this case are just for tensioning the forestay when going to
windward. I race a boat like this and can assure that we've had a few
Chinese gybes with the kite up in heavy blows and the rig is still up there.

The more "racy" boats will likely have a thinner mast section that is
very bendy and will not have swept-back spreaders. In this case the
runners provide all the support for the mast from aft. A boat like
this would also most likely have check stays for control over the bend
of the middle of the mast. Boats like this do have a tendency to lose
rigs in Chinese gybes, although it's by no means 100% certain that it'll
happen. In fact my (limited) experience of such disasters on boats like
this hasn't resulted in the rig coming down yet. Probably more luck than
anything else though. You probably wouldn't want to cruise a boat like
this unless you were pretty experienced, and had experienced crew.

>Can the boat be re-rigged without the running stays?  How do other high
>performance boats get the same stability without the running stays?

They either have masthead rigs, or use swept-back spreaders to hold the
mast up downwind. Not having the runners will sacrifice the ability to
tension the forestay, but for crusing this might not be an important
consideration. Then again if the runners are only for this purpose, and
not for also supporting the rig, then they're not that much extra-hassle
anyway. You don't need to rush to put them on after tacking or whatever, just
wind it in when you've done everything else. One thing to watch out for is
that in a blow if you tack without releasing the "old" runner then it'll
hold the mainsail in and prevent you from bearing away. Not a happy state
of affairs when short-tacking in the Round the Island Race amongst a fleet
of 1500 boats! :-( Can you say 720? I thought you could. Luckily the
collision was very minor! :-)

>How about a discussion on the matter.....

Good idea.

-- 
Bruce Munro.  <B.Munro@bnr.co.uk> || ...!mcsun!uknet!bnruk!B.Munro
BNR Europe Ltd, Oakleigh Rd South, London N11 1HB. | Note the change
Phone : +44 81 945 2174 or +44 81 945 4000 x2174   | of e-mail address.
"There are no strangers, only friends we don't recognise" - Hank Wangford
Newsgroups: rec.boats