Running backstays

[douglas_family]

Our new Catamaran has running backstays, of which i have no experience. i understand that i should use them sailing upwind to keep the fore stay tensioned but what about off wind are they a main support for the mast or are they more for tunning? If winds are light say under 10 knots can i not bother with them?

 

[Jonny_H]

What sort of rig do you have, cutter?

We have a cutter rig and the running backs are used to support the mast for the loads the staysail places on it. We leave them permanently rigged up and just slack them off when not needed.

You will know when you need them as the mast will start to 'pant' where the staysail attaches to the mast (the same point the runners will be attached to).

We use them upwind in all but conditions (they are by the genoa winches so easy to pull on - on a cleated pulley) and then offwind if the breeze gets up.

No experience of using them on cats ... perhaps its different?

Jonny

 

[douglas_family]

its sloop rigged with two dimonds and a sat of caps (not really caps as they dont come down via spreaders but essentually the same i think). Seem to have a bit of an issue with lateral movement in the mast in strong winds but have adjusted the tension and i hope this will have improved if not I'll add some inners the runners have to be led forward out of the way to allow the boom to go out off the wind thus my concern if in use and an accidental jibe occurs that the rig may be at risk its a big boat so loads are huge!

 

[Talbot]

not a fan of short handed sailing and running backstays. means that you need additional crew on deck to operate. getting it wrong can be detrimental to your mast!

 

[Capn Pugwash]

Our ketch (Whitby 42) has running backstays for the mizzen. Just sailed her back from Long Island to Portsmouth so gained a fair bit of experience! Most of the time we were beam reaching (longest time on one tack was just over 5 days!) Basically if you are on a starboard tack the port mizzen backstay is tensioned and stbd one is slackened off. When preparing to tack, we slackened both off initially, then tightened the opposing stay. Takes a bit of getting used to but then becomes second nature. Having the adjusting cleat reachable from the cockpit is very desirable! Luckily ours are. Close hauled we usually had the mizzen stowed, main up and cutter rigged (two foresails up). Went like the proverbial off a shovel!

 

[KellysEye]

We also have running backstays on our mizzen. Basic rules are: Use a preventer at all times. Keep the upwind runner tight at all times, slacken off the leeward runner if/as necessary. When changing course release the preventer, sheet the sail into the centre. Tighten the slack runner, loosen the tight runner as necessary, ease the sail over. Reset the preventer.

 

[roly_voya]

Are you near a sail loft? If so most will pop out and take a look and can advise ony any problems and expain how things should be set up. An expert view sounds like it will increase your peace of mind and could save lots of dosh!!!

 

[snorkmaiden]

Running backstays also handy if a shroud gives way!
I hace a single adjustable backstay on Sadler 29. So far have left well alone but in third season with the boat, i feel as though it might be time to tweak.

 

[Tamarisk1]

If on stbd tack then would you not have the stbd runner tensioned as this would be the one to weather???

Apologies if I have misunderstood and am having a senior moment!

 

[Capn Pugwash]

In the immortal words of Homer J Simpson - "DOH"!
/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Absolutely right - Stbd tack tighten stbd runner and vice versa. (It was a long day!)

 

[lawrie909]

I have an old Danson Era Outremer 55, and the running mackstays appear to be factory fitted , on their own chain plates, near the stern. I only use them downwind, but will now start using more often to help support the mast on all directions of sail. I have noticed the lea stay quite floppy at times!

 

[DoubleEnder]

My current boat has no runners and I miss them

 

[ashtead]

I recall they had them on the old Clipper boats and were fine with a full crew as gave work to crew but not certain they make for easy coastal sailing with a small crew -something extra to worry about maybe but if you are stuck with them I would learn to use ideally as I guess they perform the function intended to stop mast bending in unintended manner. I guess a rigger mifght advise if you can replace with a more conventional hydraulic version . You don’t say make of vessel which might attract more learned views though.