Rotating mast sailing technique

[Tumblewoods]

Hi
Our cruising cat has a rotating mast and I want to be sure I don’t overstress it.
When I’m tacking should I fix the mast then tack or can you leave it to rotate when you tack ? Hope this is not an idiotic question, I’ve just never used the system before.

[shaunno71]

Typically you don’t have to fix rotation before you tack. On our Corsair trimaran, typically use about 40-45 degrees of rotation when gong upwind, but allow full rotation downwind, esp if flying a spinnaker. The greater rotation angle with a spinnaker up helps the mast deal with the forward pressure from kite better. Centering the rotation will also depower somewhat in higher windspeeds.

[Tumblewoods]

Originally Posted by shaunno71

Typically you don’t have to fix rotation before you tack. On our Corsair trimaran, typically use about 40-45 degrees of rotation when gong upwind, but allow full rotation downwind, esp if flying a spinnaker. The greater rotation angle with a spinnaker up helps the mast deal with the forward pressure from kite better. Centering the rotation will also depower somewhat in higher windspeeds.

Thanks for your reply. I was just a bit concerned that the pressure of the sail & boom swinging through the tack might stress the unit