Do we need an extra backstay?

[Fourbees]

SWMBO and I have just bought a boat which has a detachable inner forestay, a storm jib to hank on but no running backstay. It's a Malo 36, masthead rig (Selden mast) - do we need to rig some sort of backstay to balance the storm jib, if we ever deploy it?

 

[Salty John]

No, as long as the forestay is attached close to the masthead you don't runners or an additional backstay.