Morgan, I would say that this instructor is sort of right. Those four-spreader racing noodles are designed to have a main on...and that sail probably won't have a reef, even. The main does support the mast to a large extent. Those boats shouldn't be going out in strong offshore conditions. Witness the Bermuda Race three years ago where even 72-footers didn't start because they thought it was going to be rough. But C&Cs are much more robust. The masts on my 40 and my Dads 27 were trees. The masthead rig on my current boat is less strong, but still designed for use on an ocean going yacht. My plan for very strong conditions is to drop the main completely and run a hank-on storm jib on my inner forestay. To stabilize the mast I will have the babystay and backstay tight enough to induce aft bend but they won't be totally wound on. The running back stays, which support the mast at the third set of spreaders where the inner forestay attaches, will be pretty tight to prevent the mast pumping, keep the inner forestry tight, and prevent the inner forestay from pulling the mast forward. My experience doesn't extend to the Tartan built C&Cs but the others should be just fine sailing without the main in any conditions you're likely to encounter. Andy
Andrew Burton 139 Tuckerman Ave Middletown, RI USA 02842 www.burtonsailing.com http://sites.google.com/site/andrewburtonyachtservices/ +401 965-5260 > On Mar 18, 2019, at 16:18, Morgan Ellis via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > wrote: > > I would love to hear Mr. Ball chime in on this thread, if possible, from a > mast design point of view. I have been told by a very experienced offshore > sailor and the instructor of Offshore Sea Survival courses, that the masts > are designed to have a mainsail hoisted and are not stable or properly > supported without it. The instructor stated that if you were to drop the main > because of high winds that you should be hoisting a storm sail in its place, > if for no other reason than to support the mast. Since then the only time I > will run on jib alone is in light air drifting around the harbour for an > evening pleasure cruise. > > Regards, > > Morgan Ellis > s/v Meandher > _______________________________________________ > > Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and > every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use > PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > _______________________________________________ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
