Inner stay for the H33
I assume you are referring to the Cherubini designed 33. If so, here is what I have done: I have a wire luffed storm jib that matches a wire to rope halyard so that when the sail is set, the wire makes a couple of wraps around the halyard mounted winch, but only line goes over the cleat. This gives maximum strength in the area of the wire to rope splice. The tack of the storm jib is attached to a three legged bridle; one leg goes to each of the port and starboard toerails, at the holes even with the aft bulkhead of the anchor locker. The third leg goes to the stem fitting. These are all strong points. The bridle is wire, with stout shackles at each of the anchor points. the idea is to set up the jib halyard as tight as possible in order to minize sag. The bridle eliminates the need for a chainplate through the deck and the v-berth, and all the associated supports. This sail sets very nicely in decent conditions, but I will admit that I have never had to use it in anger, so how it will do is somewhat hypothetical. I had the assistance and input of a very experienced sailmaker on this project, however, and he thought it would do well, although I might loose a little pointing ability. In fact, I have always managed just fine with some combination of reefed main and partly furled jib, or only one of the two. My full battened main does much better on its own than my previous main, and I can actually heave to quite well under main alone. This was impossible with the original main, where I always needed the jib, as well. Since building this storm jib, I have read a number of articles about the Gale Sail, all of them positive. This includes a comparison by a British magazine, under gale conditions. They were quite impressed, and I have often mulled about getting a Gale Sail. Should I have the adventure of really needing my storm jib, I will report. Unfortunately, you can't truly test these things until you really are in the conditions! By the way, I assume you were not really referring to a trysail, which is flown in place of the mainsail.
