Again, on no back stay rig. last one I promise.

[JuanCH]

the fact of "not having a back stay" would it deter you from buying certain yacht? I mean some folks I know, keep looking at my rig like saying, how can you sail without that control? I am sick and tired of that. I am asking you since you live in others latitudes where yachts with no back stay are pretty normal.
Thanks all!

[boatman61]

Having sailed 21-26ft boats with just 3 top shrouds/stays it would not bother me at all.. as long as 'I' considered it sufficient..

[sailorboy1]

sounds like a deal breaker

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

sounds like a deal breaker

Me sailing it..?
Me buying it..?
Or Both..

[psk125]

A boat that needs a backstay should have one. A boat that doesn't need one shouldn't have one. If you can control your sail shape and not have the mast fall down without one, you probably don't need one. My boat has a backstay, but the mast is about 60' long, and I don't think it would stay up without a backstay, especially with the spinnaker up in 30 knots of breeze. If you still have doubts, contact the designer.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by JuanCH

I mean some folks I know, keep looking at my rig like saying, how can you sail without that control? I am sick and tired of that.

When I started sailing, people said the same thing about running back stays.

They were wrong.

[hellosailor]

Juan, if your boat was designed by a mad Englishman in his potting shed, it probably needs a backstay. If it was designed by a trained and experience nautical designer to NOT need one, it probably doesn't. All depends on the design and the rig, which you forgot to mention at all.

[Shanaly]

you can always fit running backstays - vv technical, involves leading a rope or spare halyard from the masthead to the sternsheets. you can add a "V" to clear your outboard boom end if you need to. errr ... thats it

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Juan, if your boat was designed by a mad Englishman in his potting shed, it probably needs a backstay. If it was designed by a trained and experience nautical designer to NOT need one, it probably doesn't. All depends on the design and the rig, which you forgot to mention at all.

LMAO....
There's potting sheds... and Potting Sheds...

[SailFastTri]

Originally Posted by psk125

A boat that needs a backstay should have one. A boat that doesn't need one shouldn't have one. If you can control your sail shape and not have the mast fall down without one, you probably don't need one. My boat has a backstay, but the mast is about 60' long, and I don't think it would stay up without a backstay, especially with the spinnaker up in 30 knots of breeze. If you still have doubts, contact the designer.

Time to strike the spinnaker in 30k

[JuanCH]

my rig is 7/8. Mast is 9 meters high. It has two set of swept back spreaders (27º). Long spraders indeed.

[sww914]

What do you want to do with the boat? Do you want to drink on it or round all the great horns? Maybe something in between?

[JuanCH]

I have just found an article about B&R Rig on sailboatowners.com
Thanks a lot. By the way when I like to read on my boat, and I like to sail with my sails perfectly set. That´s what I try to do, thats why I pose all these questions.

[daddle]

No problem no backstay. For precise sail trim it is not as easy. Racers will change the shroud tensions before a race. They must guess the wind strength at the dock or between races. Some mast bend - mainsail shape - can be had by use of the boom vang. Sometimes the mast base is moved with shims.

The most valuable thing one can do is go sailing with a skilled sailmaker. They can show you what the rig and sails can do.

Small boat masts are very durable. The mast on my 33 foot race boat would bend wildly under the huge spinnaker. Concerned crew once asked what we do about the crazy bend. Insane flexing. I said "I don't look at it." It never broke.

[DivingOtter]

My Santana 2023 has no backstay rather swept stays and a topping lift.