On Tue, 19 Jul 2005 00:33:07 GMT, "Roger Long"
wrote:

Can anyone give me a reason for keeping this set up on a cruising
boat?

With a split backstay and tensioner, you can tension the mast
appropriately for either down or upwind work, the complexities and
rationale of which you can look up.

It's just another sail control but if it isn't broken, I wouldn't
remove it. I would learn how to use it just I I learned how to use the
cunningham, the barber outhaul and the vang.

YMMV,
R.