Benefits of an adjustable backstay on a mast head rig

[BlueSkyNick]

I mostly cruise, so I usually pull the backstay on firmly to lessen forestay sag. Then when the day's sailing is over I loosen, to take the strain off the hull structure.

I pretty much "set and forget" the mainsail. I adjust luff and foot tension during sailing if conditions change so as to make them evidently wrong. Otherwise I only change mainsail shape with the traveller and sheet.

Bob, it's always great to get input from the opposite side of the planet to us!
Hopefully, you are not suffering too much with the terrible flooding.

 

[jhr]

I mostly cruise, so I usually pull the backstay on firmly to lessen forestay sag. Then when the day's sailing is over I loosen, to take the strain off the hull structure.

Valid point. My old man (who was a marine surveyor for some years) once came home from a job where a highly competitive owner-racer had neglected to do this and, in consequence, his boat was slowly turning into the shape of a banana

Unfortunately there wasn't much to be done about it. Dad's advice to his client was along the lines of "don't walk - run - away from this one"