"Gordon Wedman" wrote
"Gordon" wrote
In Johns book "The Seaworthy offshore Sailboat" he states on page 35,
"an
inner forestay needs to be opposed by running backstays."
On page 41 he states "every stay on the forward side of the spar must
be
backed up by another aft of the mast. So if you have an inner forestay
that does not go to the top of the mast, you will need to rig two
running
backstays to counteract its forward pull, one for each jibe."
What is he saying?
All cutters must have running backstays?

Gordon

What is he saying?
All cutters must have running backstays?

Well it sounds like that is what he is saying but there are cutters with
no
running backstays, Valiant 40 for example. Then some people add running
backstays to sloops to use in heavy weather so it depends on the boat
design
and conditions you sail in.


The statement in the book is not totally correct. But, it is most of the
time.

If the mast is quite stiff it may not need RBstays - the regular back stay
will take the load. Same is true if the attachment point is close to the top
of the mast.

Some rigs may have swept back upper stays with a spreader not far from the
inner stay attachment - again this may provide enough support.

The statement is a bit like saying that all fractionally rigged boats
require running back stays and of course many do not have them.

It's all a matter of design.

But if you retrofit an inner stay to a mast not designed for one, it would
be prudent to add the RB stays and use them in all but light airs.