srm
Well-known member
I have set up mast head rigs on cruising boats this way for around 50 years. Both single and double spreaders, alloy and one tall tapered wood mast. As we took masts out when lifting ashore every winter to reduce risk of boats blowing over it was an annual ritual for around 15 years. I always put a slight pre bend in the mast as backstays remained tensioned once set up.Personally I have no idea what the “2 metre tape thing is”. But unless I was racing (in which case use proper tension guage and boat specific tuning guide) I just have a heave at the shrouds to assess tension. Get them pretty tight by feel (half inch or so movement), then go sailing in a bit of a breeze, sheet in tight and check the lee side doesn’t go too slack. Not too much science.
Once the internet came along I found the Kemp rigging guide, which was absorbed by Selden when they took the company over. It made a useful point in that it was unlikely you could over tension if using hand tools with no more than about 12 inch (30cm) lever.
When using new wire I have had to re-tension the rig after sailing in fresh conditions which I put down to the wire bedding in and stretching a little. One memorable time in the middle of the Norwegian sea in a F8-9 when the lee rigging looked a bit too loose. Then adjusted the whole rig when in a sheltered anchorage.
Going back to the OP. When was the rig set up as you mention 2021 rigging and after a few months it was not as tight. Have you been sailing with it "not as tight" for around three years or are you referring to having set the rigging up this season. It you think the rigging is slack I would re-tension it, and would not be surprised at new wire bedding in. However, as others have mentioned needing to re-tension older wire could indicate structural problems. Older wood boats might leave their rigs at a slightly lower tension to avoid opening the garboard strake.