My Hunter 34 is not competative upwind with the other boats (Catalina, Hunter, Irwin etc.) I think there is too much sag in my headsail. I am concerned that if I add a backsay adjuster and/or tighten the backstay too much I will unload the uppers and weaken the B&R rig that we all love so well. Any suggestions to determine how much tension to put on the backstay and aft shrouds? Charlie
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I use a backstay on my H31
I race my H31 and use the backstay adjuster a lot. However, I the forestay is already very tight. Tightening the forestay while keeping the boat balanced is tricky work, but it can be done. (Balance is critical!) The uppers absolutely go slack when the backstay is hardened. But,if they're reasonably tight to begin with, the amount of slack is reasonable. The B&R rig is absolutely the wrong rig if you want to race, but we do it anyway. We see rig tuning and downwind legs as challenges other sailors don't have. Plus, they make good excuses.
I race my H31 and use the backstay adjuster a lot. However, I the forestay is already very tight. Tightening the forestay while keeping the boat balanced is tricky work, but it can be done. (Balance is critical!) The uppers absolutely go slack when the backstay is hardened. But,if they're reasonably tight to begin with, the amount of slack is reasonable. The B&R rig is absolutely the wrong rig if you want to race, but we do it anyway. We see rig tuning and downwind legs as challenges other sailors don't have. Plus, they make good excuses.
Back Stay
You should be able to out point the boats you wrote about. usually our problem is down wind, because you can't swing the boom all the way out. Do you have a vang or Cuningham? I find that these two tools help in getting the boat going & pointing. Draft is really important and or tired sails. And yes we use a back stay adjuster just to get rid of that head stay sag. Did it with our 31' and now the 45' big big helper!
You should be able to out point the boats you wrote about. usually our problem is down wind, because you can't swing the boom all the way out. Do you have a vang or Cuningham? I find that these two tools help in getting the boat going & pointing. Draft is really important and or tired sails. And yes we use a back stay adjuster just to get rid of that head stay sag. Did it with our 31' and now the 45' big big helper!
Not necessary
I have a H31 with an adjuster. I don't believe it is necessary to have the adjuster but it is nice to have it for heavy weather, as I put more tension on the headstay in heavy weather. It is nice to unload the tension when the boat is not in use. As far as depowering the main, I can't tell the difference., perhaps I have already got my rig tight. I don't notice much more mast bend when tightened. What is more important is a good main and a tight headstay. If yours is sagging, then tighten the backstays. If you have a roller furler you can also adjust your headstay length.
I have a H31 with an adjuster. I don't believe it is necessary to have the adjuster but it is nice to have it for heavy weather, as I put more tension on the headstay in heavy weather. It is nice to unload the tension when the boat is not in use. As far as depowering the main, I can't tell the difference., perhaps I have already got my rig tight. I don't notice much more mast bend when tightened. What is more important is a good main and a tight headstay. If yours is sagging, then tighten the backstays. If you have a roller furler you can also adjust your headstay length.
Keep Rig Tight
Leaving the boat with the rig loose will cause more harm than good. A loose rig is subject to fatigue stress as it moves to and fro in waves or a wake. A loose boom or roller furler adds additional stress due to its mass as it swings back and forth. Every swing puts stress on the pins and connections. Recommend the rig be left reasonably tight to minimize fatigue stress. This is what fatigue stress can do. Several years ago a Hunter 43 (home port Port Ludlow, WA) on a cruise through the Pacific while on a passage from Australia to Hawaii lost it's mast about 800 miles from Hawaii due to fatigue stress. The skipper said that the boat was so fast that he sailed with just the main most of the time and left jib was furled up. When the boat is not in use I keep my backstay tightened to reduce the looseness in the forestay and I tie off the end of the boom to prevent it from swinging from side to side.
Leaving the boat with the rig loose will cause more harm than good. A loose rig is subject to fatigue stress as it moves to and fro in waves or a wake. A loose boom or roller furler adds additional stress due to its mass as it swings back and forth. Every swing puts stress on the pins and connections. Recommend the rig be left reasonably tight to minimize fatigue stress. This is what fatigue stress can do. Several years ago a Hunter 43 (home port Port Ludlow, WA) on a cruise through the Pacific while on a passage from Australia to Hawaii lost it's mast about 800 miles from Hawaii due to fatigue stress. The skipper said that the boat was so fast that he sailed with just the main most of the time and left jib was furled up. When the boat is not in use I keep my backstay tightened to reduce the looseness in the forestay and I tie off the end of the boom to prevent it from swinging from side to side.
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