Baby Stays

G

geoffcollins

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7 Nov 2007
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151
Location
Epsom, Surrey, UK
sweden36.blogspot.com
Hello

Our new SY36 has baby stays. These are currently shackled to the base of the shrouds and I suspect not doing anything useful right now. What do I use them for and how do I use them? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Geoff
 
I may be about to display ignorance of a subject I thought I knew a bit about, but did you mean running backstays, or 'runners'?
Many boats have a baby stay running from the mast to the foredeck, a permanent part of the rig.
At risk of digging a bigger hole, I suspect you mean running backstays which are used to help support the mast off the wind.
Depending on which tack you are on you deploy the appropriate runner by leading it back to it's securing point at the quarter and tension it. It helps to resist the forward force of the sails. In lively conditions off the wind it provides a secure feeling.
If there are, in fact, deployable baby stays please ignore the above. I will have learned something new, which is never a bad thing!
 
[ QUOTE ]
At risk of digging a bigger hole

[/ QUOTE ] If a hole it is I'm in there with you!

Or are we talking about lower shrouds taken to the same point as the cap shrouds on a rig with aft swept spreaders
 
The OP stated more than one so I'm guessing running backstays. Not many people's favourite item of rigging!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I may be about to display ignorance of a subject I thought I knew a bit about, but did you mean running backstays, or 'runners'?
Many boats have a baby stay running from the mast to the foredeck, a permanent part of the rig.
At risk of digging a bigger hole, I suspect you mean running backstays which are used to help support the mast off the wind.
Depending on which tack you are on you deploy the appropriate runner by leading it back to it's securing point at the quarter and tension it. It helps to resist the forward force of the sails. In lively conditions off the wind it provides a secure feeling.
If there are, in fact, deployable baby stays please ignore the above. I will have learned something new, which is never a bad thing!

[/ QUOTE ]

Runners have nothing to do with supporting the mast. They are there to tension forestay.
 
[ QUOTE ]

Runners have nothing to do with supporting the mast. They are there to tension forestay.

[/ QUOTE ]

and scare the ***** out of you and make you work very fast if you get an unexpected gybe.

Also remember being in Donald Searle - 75 ft ketch- when she was beating to windward and block of lee runner was banging on deck just above SWMBOs head and making one heck of a noise. She slept thro the lot.
 
Not strictly true. Lots of different types of running backstays, which usually allow forestay tension to be put on, but can (as in racing boats) have multiple lines to provide support to the mast other than where the forestay is.
 
Hmmm - Maybe we are talking about runners. I'd found a clutch marked with what looked like swedish for babystay. I didn't have time to investigate, so I just left it. I know we also have an inner forestay somewhere, so that explains what you suggest.

OK, so if the things attached to the shrouds I've found are runners - what are the implications of just leaving them alone? We're new to the boat and I'm not ready to start trying new things shorthanded... Put another way - Is it just performance benefits or is it safety also? If it is performance, what difference will it make?

I'll have more of a loot around when I'm next there & get some photos to support this discussion.

Cheers
Geoff
 
If they are running backstays (which seems logical on a performance boat like yours) they are there to support the mast and keep the forestay tight when going to wind, particularly in heavy weather. As others have indicated not popular devices on cruising boats because they suggest a high performance rig and a lot of crew work making sure they are set up right after each tack.
 
If you have a demountable inner forestay, which is a significant amount below the normal forestay attachment, then it may well be that there are runners attached at the same point to support the load from the inner forestay.

If you use the former without the latter then the mast might invert /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
Hi Geoff

If it's set up like my SY41 they are for use when you have a cutter sail on the inner forestay and must be used in anything other than a light breeze. Not in use at any other time though..

You connect them (windward one only!) to a padeye which should be on the toe rail on each side
 
[ QUOTE ]
Not strictly true. Lots of different types of running backstays, which usually allow forestay tension to be put on, but can (as in racing boats) have multiple lines to provide support to the mast other than where the forestay is.

[/ QUOTE ]

And those are called check stays which control mast bend.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Runners have nothing to do with supporting the mast. They are there to tension forestay.

[/ QUOTE ]
It depends on the rig set up. On my future boat (purchase pending) there is no permanent backstay, so the runners definitely hold up the mast.
 
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