H450 staysail

[dehler25]

My 450 has a staysail (sort of), the inner forestay is in place and the sail itself appears to have never been flown. There are no turning blocks or track or for that matter any hardware that would seem to be associated. There also is not an obvious way to stow the forestay around anything to remove the slack to keep it clear. Documentation lists the option and a few elements,but not enough to figure out the proper set up. I have been tempted to simply remove it although I would like to fly it and see if I prefer to use it or not. Tossing it out for opinions pro and con and information about how it should be rigged if at all.

 

[Jackdaw]

Staysails are most often cut with the clew positioned so the sheet can be run through the same leads as the headsail and have a good sheeting angle. Indeed, most owners will leave both sets run all the time as the lazy set never really gets in the way. If the sail is on a furler great, otherwise it is often left in a storage bag on the deck, hanked on and ready to go.

 

[dehler25]

Thanks, it is a hanked sail and my jib track is inboard the inner shrouds (B & R rig). I am not sure how I can use the same leads as the headsail. I am hoping to see a similar boat configured as that would answer my questions instantly!

 

[Rick D]

Not a B&R, but my 40.5 has the option. Do you have a halyard rigged? That would be the first step. The mast block should be just above the staysail stay. Assuming you do, I'd rig it, and use the existing jib blocks. I suspect the sail is cut for it. I leave mine in place for cruising when few tacks are required. When racing, I detach the stay (I have a quick-connect) and wrap it around perhaps six to ten wraps around one of the stays and velcro off the quck connect on the bottom (carefully so that it won't foul). Works fine.

 

[dehler25]

I have a halyard run and the inner forestay is also on a quick release, I had however seen where the stay has a fixed turning point so it could be attached to a padeye forward of the mast. I do have the padeye but not a turning point. It appears the boat has the factory option and that is one reason I am befuddled that it is not complete or maybe it is and it is I that is not complete.