Beneteau first 305 ?? mini forestay ?

[aevans692]

Hi

I have just looked at this boat as we are thinking of buying something else , and whilst looking over the boat I noticed that it was fitted with a mini forestay from halfway to three quarters up the mast and can be tensioned on the fly .. I asked the owner what he uses it for , its purpose and he didnt know ? I wondered if it would take a storm jib , but seemed a tad bit short for that ..

so wondered if anyone knows ??

Cheers guys . .

 

[Bobc]

Probably a baby stay for putting bend into the mast.

 

[Channel Sailor]

Probably a baby stay for putting bend into the mast.

And maybe to reduce or remove any pumping of the mast in a seaway, particularly if a single spreader rig and when the mainsail is deeply reefed.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

If it attaches at the spreaders it's an owner-added device to restrain the mast or add bend because he read about it in a book somewhere. If it's 3/4 of the way up he'd read a different book about heavy weather sailing and was going to fit a tiny storm jib.

I know the 305 very well, and it doesn't need any of that, it's a strongly-built boat with a tough rig that sails pretty well in all conditions.

 

[aevans692]

ok sure ..

Thanks for the info ..

 

[RadiumRob]

My First 325 has a demountable inner forestay for flying a storm jib. It is too short to reach the fitting it attaches to, which is just aft of the anchor locker, but that allows it to be stowed under moderate tension next to the starboard shrouds when not in use (i.e. always in my case). A short strop would be added to extend it for use.

There were pics on the web showing a First 325 for sale in Plymouth sailing under cutter rig and it appeared to work well. If I can find them again I'll post.