Adjustable Inner Forestay

[fastforward]

Hi all -

I have recently upgraded from a 25' full keel to a 33' Carter and the rig is much more complex.

While most of it is straight forward, the new boat has an adjustable inner forestay, which is on a track with a guide sheet back to the cockpit. Can anyone enlighten me as to how this is best used to tune the rig - eg do you pull it forward in tandem with putting tension on the hydraulic backstay to get bend in the mast in heavy weather? Or is that completely wrong?

Advice gratefully accepted!

BL

[daddle]

Is this inner stay only

[fastforward]

Hi - no it doesn't carry sails is standing rigging only. Its rigged with a single backstay that is hydraulic -

[cal40john]

A babystay, what I've always known as what you are describing, is typically used to bend the mast on a masthead rig. Most of the time that you want to bend the mast you also want to tighten the backstay to straighten the forestay, but not necessarily in all cases.

John

[daddle]

Basically, it's there to make the mast bend appropriately and remain stable. More a rig preservation item than a sail trim function. Moving the car on the deck effects a tightening action. It will be mostly useless on the typical stout cruiser mast. On a performance-type mast it might be used to prevent pumping in rough seas. Presumably there are runners too? If it's rigged in the lower half of the mast, as cal40john points out, it's known as a babystay. It has the same purpose. I have both here. The baby has a hydraulic cylinder. The inner is mostly to prevent pumping. The PO had put a small roller-furling 50% genoa on the inner stay. 100% an abomination: But hey! Looks cruisey! Made proper rig tuning impossible because it was not readily adjustable. Both are stored below unless horrid conditions are expected.