Here's how
First loosen everything up (but don't disconnect!) so that the mast is in column (straight up & down). Use the fore & aft stays to get the fore/aft orientation you want, being careful to keep it straight. Remember, moving it forward will decrease weather helm, aft will increase it. If you're fairly new to sailing, just keep it straight up (not fore or aft) and once you're better acquainted with your boat, then adjust as needed. Once you have it where you want, then tension the lower forwards, then the lower afts. Be sure to get equal tension on either side so the mast stays in column. You don't want to crank on them so hard that the mast moves at all. Now sight up the sail track to see if it looks straight. Check especially for a bend at the spreaders. If the bend is BELOW the spreaders, the lower shrouds are out of tune. You can sight up the track & pull on one of the lowers to see if it changes the orientation of the bend. Adjust as needed. If the bend is above the spreaders and it's just leaning to one side or the other, use the uppers (which should be loosened at this point) to fix it. If it's an S bend, you have to readjust the lowers AND the uppers. Once everything is adjusted & looks right, don't reinstall any pins or anything; you have to go sailing first. Come back in & readjust if anything has moved. THEN you can put the pins back in. The safe bet is to adjust & check regularly, like once a year. This takes a lot of running around on deck and lots of patience, but you'll get it. Read as many rigging books as you can lay your hands on, they are a great help. LaDonna
