Baby stay

[jimparnin]

I have an Irwin Citation 38 with a baby stay. Other than fouling my Genoa while tacking what is its real function and is it really necessary. Thanks guys

 

[dscribner]

Is it to bend the mast for better performance? Is it cutter rigged?

 

[31seahorse]

On our Irwin 31 Citation the baby stay (and there is another name for it) was in place and also grabbed the jib when we tacked. People have put a "roller" on that stay by using a piece of bamboo(?), split plastic tubing, or specifically designed round wood that has had the center hollowed out to fit the stay. That helps to limit the grabbing.

Some boats sail without that baby stay. Those sailors do not put too much effort into bending the mast. I think that is for downwind sailing.

 

[All U Get]

I have baby stays with our cutter rig and was told it would reduce mast pumping when the staysail was used with no headsail going downwind. Our mast rarely pumps due to being heavily built. We keep our baby stay pulled forward out of the way.

All U Get

 

[Jackdaw]

If it is of fixed length (not easily adjustable underway) then it is there to stabilize the rig, keep the mast from pumping, or inverting. Typical of cruising boats.

If it is adjustable via blocks and/or on a track like this C&C, then it is for rig tuning. Hardening it bends the mast and flattens the mainsail. Racy.

 

[Sprega]

If it is of fixed length (not easily adjustable underway) then it is there to stabilize the rig, keep the mast from pumping, or inverting. Typical of cruising boats.

If it is adjustable via blocks and/or on a track like this C&C, then it is for rig tuning. Hardening it bends the mast and flattens the mainsail. Racy.

Agreed. Depends on rig design. Often with no forward lowers a baby stay is required to offset aft lower tension and/or prevent mast pumping. Also, even if not easily adjusted, it can still be used for mast prebend. Some rig designs call for this. One of the beauty's of a frac rig is that all of this can be taken care of by the back stay and fore stay. By the way. I like the boat in the above picture.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Yep, to prevent mast pumping in a heavy sea way. On light winded days you don't really need it. But in the heavy stuff, yes. The designer put it there for good reason if it is original equipment.