Headstay Sag

[Jim Rice]

I know, I know, for us "3rd coast" folks it's end of season. Just a quick question about headstay sag:We had tightened the 4 main stays down pretty tight, plus equal tension on the fwd and aft lowers. When sailing to weather in 15 kts wind with the stock 110% headsail, the headstay sags. We decided not to put any additional tension on the backstay (via pulling the split part of the backstay closer together with a piece of line). In everyone's opinion, how much should it sag? Stays are new, and are on their second tightening. But we are disinclined to pull the stays racerboy tight, due to concerns with the fact that the U-bolts they are attached to aren't tied to the hull structure, just to the deck.Any opinions? Thanks to all.

 

[Henry Weber]

JimI believe that typical headstay sag is around 1 inch for every 10 ft of stay length. So if your stay is, say 40ft, the sag in the middle of the stay should be around 4 inches.Henry

 

[David Foster]

Minimal visible sag

The way I understand it, there should not be much visible sag in the head stay, and especially, it should not change when you shift points of sail.Sounds to me like you could tighten the head stay or backstay, depending on the position of the masthead. (Mine is tuned so a weight on the main halyard hangs around 7 inches from the mast over the boom.)DavidLady Lillie

 

[JC 2]

Headstay sag is taboo.

I don't think the forestay should sag at all. If it does it is NOT doing its job (and that can lead to structural failure).Tighten the forestay till most of the sag goes away and then take up on the backstay. Leave the shrouds alone till afterwards. If the mast curves, slack off on the forward lowers and take it up on the afters. Mast bend/curve should be imposed by the backstay adjuster, not by standing rigging. The J-boat guys leave the bend in even at anchor (and take a penalty for it in races). But I would not do that with a non-racing boat (and non-racing budget!).The amount of imposed mast rake David mentions sounds a little short for an H-27. Hang a leadline sinker on the halyard shackle and measure it at the deck to compare. I would tend towards 12 inches-- but let me know how it looks (remember I don't have the plans any more either).JC 2