Baby stay for a First 325

[excalibur474]

Hi - i have recently bought a 1987 Beneteau First 325, which has a baby stay tensioned / tailed to the coachroof. Mostly for cruising with a little gentle Club racing. Two questions:

1. has anyone any experience for rig tensioning / mast bend. If so, any rules of thumb, use with backstay?

2. Has anyone set a staysail from the stay?

Thanks in advance
Kevin

 

[cmass]

I have a hydraulic backstay which I never take much over 1,000 psi. If I do not apply "significant" baby stay in adavance, the mast will invert (bend backwards).

As I'm sure you are already aware, the mast is like a telephone pole and will barely bend so this is a little like putting lipstick on a pig.

If you want some Loos tension numbers when in max tension, I can get them for you.

I fly a staysail on medium and long distance races but not from the baby stay as that is way too far aft. We will tack it to the windward rail about the same position as the downhaul mounting point. If the spinnaker is up, we tack it to the downhaul mounting point or (gasp) the leward rail.

Staysail has an integral wire which we tension with the halyard.