Donna Lange is finishing up her trip without a head stay and with a jib set
flying as the only masthead support. Being also without an engine should
make closing with the coast a bit of an exercise in a boat that won't point
much above 90 degrees. I hope the blows predicted for the next few days
don't cause further trouble.

Her roller furling had been acting stiff and funky for a few days. Then she
discovered that the headstay had come out of the Sta-Lock fitting at the
masthead. Although I might be wrong, this is pretty easy for me to
visualize. I changed headsails last year and then went to furl the sail
after tensioning the luff and the foil was turning very stiffly and popping
as it went. I discovered that two bolts that clamp it just above the roller
drum had come loose and the friction of the luff in the groove had pushed
the foil hard up into the swage terminal. It didn't take long to straighten
that out.

But, think of that happening with a screwed terminal. Easy to see how
repeated furlings and settings could eventually unscrew the terminal.
Reminds me of a lesson from aviation that unusual behavior or change of
characteristics of equipment should always be investigated. It also makes
me think screwed terminals might be a poor choice for roller furling
headstays.

--
Roger Long