Hi all, I replaced my
rigging approx 18mths ago and have done approx 10k nm since.
The short backstay up top that connects the twin back stays to the
mast was a little long for my liking, it didn't provide enough adjustment for if/when the ringing stretched. At the time of replacement I suggested to the rigger that it was a little long but he assured me it was fine.
I've just crossed the Mozambique channel and are hiding from
weather at Bazaruto Mozambique. The crossing was easy but one day I had to beat 40° off the
wind and I noticed the the top of the
mast flexing forward, considerably more than I would like. Earlier in the year it was tough beat from the
Seychelles and the
rigging has stretched. I have no backstay adjustment left.
I can easily remedy the problem when I reach
south Africa, but that's 500nm away.
Now, I think it will be ok BUT I don't want to risk it. My options are rake the mast forward abit, lossen the aft lowers and tighten the forestay which in turn will tighten the
backstays, this involves dismantling the
furler which I'd prefer not to do in our
current winds. It's easy to do but if I lose something I then have a problem and getting the sail down isn't so easy at the moment.
My other option is to use a couple of blocks as a tensioner, feed a stay through each block (up high) run some
dyneema down through a third block then through several Frictionless rings in a cascading arrangement providing
purchase. By pulling the
dyneema line and then cleating of I should be able to tension the back stays and adjust as nessacary. Something similar to the below.
https://c320.org/article.php/20120828164453754
I have all I need onboard to do this.
I'm interested in any thoughts/opinions regarding these options. Any downside to implementing the tensioner idea?
Thanks in advance.
Cheers Dale
Sukha.