Removing Retro Fitted Cutter Rig

[Deleted member 36384]

Hello,

My Rival 41C was originally a built as a standard Bermudian Sloop Mast Head Rig: Forestay, Backstay, Cap Shrouds, Single Straight Spreaders, forward and aft lower shrouds from below the spreaders; mast rake is about 12", straight mast.

Later an inner forestay was added about half way between the spreaders and the mast head, backed up with additional aft spreaders starting in line with the inner forestay hound and terminating about 2' behind the lower aft shrouds.

The rig is probably very stable and strong. However, my new vectran roller reefing genoa has torn on the inner forestay when tacking. The tear is about 20cm and looks like the genoa has back folded on itself around the inner forestay, then when the wind caught it to complete the tack, a small section of sail got bound tight then pulled free. There is a scrape and scuff mark each side of the tear.

The boat's mast will be taken down this week and I am wondering if I should rig up the cutter stays at next mast up. The mast will obviously have the slots for the shrouds and inner forestay still in place.

Current sailing is coastal, don't mind heavy weather (because I am away a lot, so when home will sail in strong winds if that is the weather). What do you think? I think the slots in the mast wont be an issue because the mast shape does not get adjusted when under sail i.e. no back stay tensioner. I also think, that if I go sailing on longer voyages I can add in the cutter stuff if I wish.

Note the genoa is not yankee cut, standard roller furling genoa shape.

Wondering if I may miss something, so opinion appreciated.

Thanks,

BlowingOldBoots

 

[Ceirwan]

A picture would help.

I wouldn't worry about the slots in the mast, as its already full of them anyway, as long as you can achieve the stability you need through the original shroud setup.

 

[lw395]

In one (dinghy) class I've sailed in, flash fibres in jibs have mostly gone out of fashion because damage from hitting the mast and lowers etc outweighs the benefits. Dacron rools KO.

Maybe a foil for the staysail would do less damage than a bare wire for a hanked on sail?
Maybe you can hoist something up the inner forestay to protect the genoa?
Maybe you need to reef the genoa every time you tack?

 

[Deleted member 36384]

..... Maybe a foil for the staysail would do less damage than a bare wire for a hanked on sail? ......

I think you have hit the nail on the head here, use the stay sail to prevent inner forestay wrap by the genoa. Currently hanks on teh stay sail, but a foil would be easy to fit.

 

[LadyInBed]

Another option would be to shorten the inner forestay and add a highfield leaver to make it removable.

 

[Biggles Wader]

Would you still have somewhere to set a storm jib if you remove the inner forestay?

 

[Kukri]

A vote for the Highfield lever.

Love my inner forestay and hanked on staysail. A V. famous sailmaker cautioned me against putting the staysail on a furler, as he says he is constantly repairing roller staysails which been bashed about by the jib clew and sheets.