cutter rig

[joeh]

i sail an arpege 30 n thinking of adding an inner forestay. i wonder if the lower aft shrouds is sufficient to counter this ( in light and heavy conditions ) so that i would not have to add running back stays. the mast fitting for the inner forestay is about a foot below where the lower aft shroud join the mast. any opinion or practical suggestion ?

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[AndrewB]

Will you really benefit?

The two main benefits of a cutter rig are (i) split up a large unmanageable foresail area into two and (ii) can be used with staysail or even a storm jib in strong winds and heavy weather, avoiding the need to work at the bows to change sails.

Your yacht is not big enough to benefit from the first. Moreover, with the forestay and inner forestay so close together, two headsails would interfere with one another's airflow.

In heavy weather, the loadings can be very high and supporting runners really are desirable. Its easier than you might think to permanently distort an unsuitable mast. The lower aft shrouds are usually take off too far down to balance a conventional babystay properly. Having said that though, a great many modern yachts are provided with an 'emergency' detachable babystay for the storm jib, without supporting runners.

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[Roberto]

//the mast fitting for the inner forestay is about a foot below where the lower aft shroud join the mast. //

I am not too familiar with Arpege, by memory it has only one set of spreaders: the point you indicate would roughly be at their height, say mid mast height.
If so I would think it too low to rig an inner stay to support a conveniently dimensioned sail, ie something bigger than a very small storm jib.

If you do not want to use running backstays, best thing is probably to fit an attachment point 30/40cm below from the mast head, with a removable fitting at deck level, a bit aft of the forestay chainplate. This if you have a roller furler on the main forestay of course.

Otoh, running backs can also be made with modern high strength rope, which some reckon is somewhat more practical/lighter than ss wire. In that case it is maybe better to provide an attachment point on the mast at roughly two thirds- three quarter of its height; the actual point might be determined by keeping the inner stay parallel to the main forestay, with the deck chainplate fixed to the foredeck above a structural bulkhead of the forecabin.

imho

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