Is there a problem sailing downwind with only the jib or spinaker (no mainsail) on thr B&R rig? With no backstay I was wondering?
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some boats
Some boats have a problem with just the headsail. I know my 376 fractional B&R rig with just a 110 job doesn't have any problem at all. Wednesday I was out with just my jib in 19 knots true and going in all directions without a problem. If you want to know if your boat is going to have problems, try it and look at your mast. Those that have problems report that the mast starts to wabble in the middle and eventually snaps. I don't think mine is going to be a problem because my shrouds connect to the mast at the same place as the forestay so they offset each other and the mast is pretty strong too.
Some boats have a problem with just the headsail. I know my 376 fractional B&R rig with just a 110 job doesn't have any problem at all. Wednesday I was out with just my jib in 19 knots true and going in all directions without a problem. If you want to know if your boat is going to have problems, try it and look at your mast. Those that have problems report that the mast starts to wabble in the middle and eventually snaps. I don't think mine is going to be a problem because my shrouds connect to the mast at the same place as the forestay so they offset each other and the mast is pretty strong too.
I do it all the time
I unfurl my jib and sail with it without unfurling the main much of the time in all types of wind. I also motor sail with the jib flying to steady the boat a bit. The B and R rig is much like a three legged stool--there is enough pressure on the aft part to counter the head stay. A few years back I had Brion Toss (well known rigger in the northwest--see his books and DVDs) tune my B and R rig and in the course of his working on my mast said that this type of rig is the strongest available and it would his rig of choice for long distance sailing. I have lost a different mast in a major NW race and I know what "pumping" is all about. The B and R mast does not know how to pump. It is solid.
I unfurl my jib and sail with it without unfurling the main much of the time in all types of wind. I also motor sail with the jib flying to steady the boat a bit. The B and R rig is much like a three legged stool--there is enough pressure on the aft part to counter the head stay. A few years back I had Brion Toss (well known rigger in the northwest--see his books and DVDs) tune my B and R rig and in the course of his working on my mast said that this type of rig is the strongest available and it would his rig of choice for long distance sailing. I have lost a different mast in a major NW race and I know what "pumping" is all about. The B and R mast does not know how to pump. It is solid.
sometimes yes, sometimes no
Hi Bob. Long time no.... No worries as far as the BnR rig. However, this is something you only want to do in light air. Once it gets heavy, a downwind boat with no main is much more prone to a death roll. Learned this the hard way. The nice thing about a main is that you can tuck the chute into its shadow if things get nasty. Many fin-keeled boats become unstable in anything over 10 knots apparent downwind with just a chute.
Hi Bob. Long time no.... No worries as far as the BnR rig. However, this is something you only want to do in light air. Once it gets heavy, a downwind boat with no main is much more prone to a death roll. Learned this the hard way. The nice thing about a main is that you can tuck the chute into its shadow if things get nasty. Many fin-keeled boats become unstable in anything over 10 knots apparent downwind with just a chute.
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Just rig a temporary running backstay
The true-and-tried solution to protect the mast while running off under jibs only is to use running backstays. Although a B&R design does not need these, the consequences of a B&R upper or intermediate carrying away while sailing downwind under jib(s) alone are pretty scary to contemplate.... So, if you are going to sail a long downwind stretch on jib(s) alone in a pretty stiff or gusty wind, take a long and strong Dacron line just forward of the mast, tie a figure 8 loop in the center (or a bowline on the bight), clip the spinnaker halyard to the loop and hoist the bight about 3 feet below the upper spreaders. Next, throw the working ends over the lower spreaders, one on each side, and tie each end off on the corresponding stern cleat. Now all you need to do is tighten up on the spinnaker halyard and you have created a temporary running backstay. This kind of temporary backstay is especially well advised in case you decide to use the very best downwind configuration for a B& R rig, namely a double headsail rig (e.g. two jibs wing-on-wing or jib and staysail wing-on-wing). The two main downsides of this temporary set-up are: (1) tying up your spare halyard; (2) risking excessive chafe on the spinnaker halyard where it runs over the mast sheave. However, in case one of the uppers or intermediates on your B&R rig suddenly carries away, a temporary running backstay can buy you the precious 20 to 30 seconds needed to turn into the wind before the mast goes overboard. Fair winds and following seas; Flying Dutchman
The true-and-tried solution to protect the mast while running off under jibs only is to use running backstays. Although a B&R design does not need these, the consequences of a B&R upper or intermediate carrying away while sailing downwind under jib(s) alone are pretty scary to contemplate.... So, if you are going to sail a long downwind stretch on jib(s) alone in a pretty stiff or gusty wind, take a long and strong Dacron line just forward of the mast, tie a figure 8 loop in the center (or a bowline on the bight), clip the spinnaker halyard to the loop and hoist the bight about 3 feet below the upper spreaders. Next, throw the working ends over the lower spreaders, one on each side, and tie each end off on the corresponding stern cleat. Now all you need to do is tighten up on the spinnaker halyard and you have created a temporary running backstay. This kind of temporary backstay is especially well advised in case you decide to use the very best downwind configuration for a B& R rig, namely a double headsail rig (e.g. two jibs wing-on-wing or jib and staysail wing-on-wing). The two main downsides of this temporary set-up are: (1) tying up your spare halyard; (2) risking excessive chafe on the spinnaker halyard where it runs over the mast sheave. However, in case one of the uppers or intermediates on your B&R rig suddenly carries away, a temporary running backstay can buy you the precious 20 to 30 seconds needed to turn into the wind before the mast goes overboard. Fair winds and following seas; Flying Dutchman
No need for runners.....
If you are really concerned in real heavy air, just use the main halyard and attach it to one of the dock cleats at the back of the boat. No need to pull any real tension on it. As the masthead moves forward naturally, it will self tension.
If you are really concerned in real heavy air, just use the main halyard and attach it to one of the dock cleats at the back of the boat. No need to pull any real tension on it. As the masthead moves forward naturally, it will self tension.
Try this...
Here’s an easy-to-make bowsprit, seats in the anchor locker. This will throw the spin ahead of the main, less blanketing. Tack line and 2 sheets permanently deployed for quick setup. (Note that the link here has 2 pages of pix and directions.)
Here’s an easy-to-make bowsprit, seats in the anchor locker. This will throw the spin ahead of the main, less blanketing. Tack line and 2 sheets permanently deployed for quick setup. (Note that the link here has 2 pages of pix and directions.)
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