Backstay mounted sheet
Art - There are a lot of boats out there with a sheeting arrangement like yours and if everything is in good shape there tend not to be problems with it. The general issue is that pulling perpendicularly to the stay changes rig tune and if things are loose can really alter geometry. On the other hand boats are built with backstay adjusters to allow you to tighten the stay to windward, the condition you are likely to exert the greatest force during. If things are in poorer shape, the mainsheet rig could precipitate a rig failure but there would have to be other things going on there too. In terms of change, you can install a travler across the aftermost part of the cockpit. You would see substantial performance gains, especially to weather or in big wind, but as a safety issue its probably moot. If things were bad enough the stock system would take the rig down its going to come down anyway - with a hard jibe or similar stress. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
