Adjustable Backstay for '81 Hunter 27

[John Lynch]

I am enlisting the help of a rigger in a few weeks. He is a sailmaker as well, so the talk turned to fine tuning after I related that "LOTUS" held her own against a Compac 34 and a Freedom 33, the latter of which turned on his motor to prevent hyper-ventilation at being bested by a Hunter 27, and her capable captain on a broad reach.Johnson Marine makes a split backstay adjuster,38 Series, which the rigger will bring along. My question: It looks as if it fits over the two wire shrouds connecting to the deck where 2 blocks would be used to take in/let out the backstay?

 

[Doug T.]

Split backstay

You have a split backstay on your H27???? That's not standard issue on the '81 year model, is it? My '77 has a single backstay.I was also under the impression that the rig on these boats is not really designed for real-time tuning of the mast bend -- it's a stiff mast and with the masthead (non-fractional) rig, it's better to set the prebend (if any) using the forward lowers.What model year was the H27 that was doing so well in the race?