When can I disconnect my baby stay ?

[Tranona]

BTW the subject of babystays is discussed in this month's PBO in an article on the rigs on Squib/Europa - smaller boats, but same issues

Not seen the article neither Squibs or Europas have baby stays....

You have clearly not read it. Suggest you read the article -pp36-8 before commenting. The whole article is about tuning a Masthead Rigged Europa to compete with a Fractional Rigged Squib.

I am sure David Harding did not make it all up - there are huge photos showing the two boats.

 

[BAtoo]

You have clearly not read it. Suggest you read the article -pp36-8 before commenting. The whole article is about tuning a Masthead Rigged Europa to compete with a Fractional Rigged Squib.

I am sure David Harding did not make it all up - there are huge photos showing the two boats.

I clearly stated I had not read it.....

I have a Squib - it does not have a baby stay.

I thought the Europa does not have one either and took the following picture as my conformation

I too will head to Smiffs and see the article...... Squib tuning is full of muck and mystery even to those of us who sail them weekly

 

[Tranona]

I clearly stated I had not read it.....

Yes, you did - but still better to read it before you comment. The article confirms the "black art" of tuning these boats, but the interest for the OP was the cogent discussion of the pros and cons of the different rigs.

 

[Boo2]

Thanks for that. I'm not at the boat right now but I think my lever is intended to permit the mast to be lowered as you suggest.


I very much doubt that is its primary function

So do you believe the lever is intended to tune the rig for high and low winds as Olewill suggested ? I will have to get up to the boat and see how much it moves/slackens when released...

Boo2

 

[sailorman]

So do you believe the lever is intended to tune the rig for high and low winds as Olewill suggested ? I will have to get up to the boat and see how much it moves/slackens when released...

Boo2

mine has a wheel to adjust as req.
also a quick release snap schackle for pole dipping as req

 

[wklein]

Mast tuning

I am pretty sure that your boat has in line spreaders and lowers. The job of the babystay (which is exactly what you have) is to prevent the mast from inverting (centre of mast aft of heel) which is incredibly dangerous as the main pulls from centre especially when reefed, whereas the forestay pulls solely from masthead.

They are also for adding pre-bend which is to flatten mainsail as a tuning device. I imagine that the baby stay has quick release only as a byproduct of its quick tensioning such as used in inner forestays and not necessary in this application.

It is possible to take it off on some boats and keep a decent amount of backstay tension on at all times, having said this it would be a little dicey on your boat. I think the mast may pump when upwind.

 

[sailorman]

I am pretty sure that your boat has in line spreaders and lowers. The job of the babystay (which is exactly what you have) is to prevent the mast from inverting (centre of mast aft of heel) which is incredibly dangerous as the main pulls from centre especially when reefed, whereas the forestay pulls solely from masthead.

They are also for adding pre-bend which is to flatten mainsail as a tuning device. I imagine that the baby stay has quick release only as a byproduct of its quick tensioning such as used in inner forestays and not necessary in this application.

It is possible to take it off on some boats and keep a decent amount of backstay tension on at all times, having said this it would be a little dicey on your boat. I think the mast may pump when upwind.

One has owned her for 14 yrs, i have just about got the hang of it