Roger Long wrote:
If the inner stay is removable and is only there to give you the
option of having a low, more inboard rig, for heavy weather, I would
probably go with just runners and set them up whenever the inner stay
was set. The original poster though said that his mast was pumping.
That indicates a serious need for some intermediate support. I
wouldn't make the inner stay removable in his case. It makes tacking
a bit of a pain with big jibs but also provides a great hand hold on
the foredeck and the ability to have a double head rig in lighter air.

The tracks you have are a nice refinement but not something I would
suggest in the "keep it simple, keep it inexpensive" department. It
takes a lot of structure and planning to support the full strength of
the backstays all along a track even though it does spread the load
out a bit.

My reasoning was, since the rig is designed as a sloop, and sailed as
one for 25 years, the mast is going to stay up. Putting the inner stay
on is a bit of a gimmick that the previous owner did because he thought
the mast was pumping. I finished the runners to support the inner stay
and keep the luff tight. I don't think the mast will ever come down
now. It is a lttle extra insurance but not critical.