H466 Backup Forestay

[aaponte]

Hello dear hunter forum members, we recently suffered a catastrophic dismast caused by a failure in the forestay turnbuckle toggle (Profurl Furler supplied) that broke apart releasing the load.and the forestay.

Lucky thing nobody got hurt thanks to the cockpit arch that protected us during that night cruise disaster.

We are now in the process of getting new spar, rigging and sails.

In your experience with this boat H466, which is the simplest and most economical way to implement a backup forestay to prevent a dismast in a B&R rig.

Thanks in Advance for your help.
Angel Aponte

 

[SVONDA]

Hello Angel Bad luck loosing the rig but the good news is with all new gear you can expect 7-10 years trouble-free with normal maintenance. I have a H460 which we've sailed across the Pacific and cruise extensively on the Australian coast. A good back-up to the forestay is an inner forestay from the upper spreaders to the aft edge of the chain locker. We operate a high-cut working jib on a profurl furler - great going to windwrd in 35 knots with double reef in main. Sail can be rolled to storm jib size if needed. Also when going to windward in a lumpy sea I have running backstays from the upper spreader to a 4:1 tackle on the windward lower step of the targa bar. Stops the rig panting in the seaway. Also good id running downwind in fresh conditions to take a bit of load of the aft-swept spreaders. Works for us. Good luck

 

[aaponte]

Thanks for your advice Svonda, I will follow your advice !