Dan, in the 10 years I've sailed my 44 I have rarely found I need to use the running back stays. In those few time I needed them the wind was blowing hard and I had a lot of the back stay on to bend the mast to shape the main and straighten the forestay. At the same time we were sailing into good size waves that caused the mast to pump forward every time we bore into one. Remember you will only use one running back at a time. You will have to switch sides each time to tack. You can further stabilize the mast by using the baby stay, A word of caution, if you have a lot of back stay on and a lot of running back on and baby stay on after you have dropped the sails be sure to ease the running back, as suddenly releasing it can bring the mast down.
Fred Hazzard S/V Fury C&C 44 Portland, Or <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=icon> Virus-free. www.avast.com <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=link> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> On Mon, Aug 28, 2017 at 12:10 PM, Dan via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > I just started sailing Breakaweigh and I've been slightly tensioning the > twin adjustable backstays with each tack thinking there is a reason for > doing this but it was brought to my attention by a fellow sailor that these > extra backstays are not necessarily needed unless I'm running a stay sail > or adding some other form of forward tension to the middle of the mast. > There is an inner forestay that only goes a short way up the front of the > mast and is not meant to be used for a stay sail and I have no spinnaker. I > only plan to cruise this on this boat for now and I will be reefing from > time to time which could create more force lower on the mast. How important > are these adjustable backstays or should I just clip them off to the side > and clear them from my everyday rig? > > Thanks guys, > > Dan > 1986 C&C44 > Halifax, NS > > _______________________________________________ > > This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you > wish to make a contribution to offset our costs, please go to: > https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > > All Contributions are greatly appreciated! > >
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