No back stay

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Recently, I was asked the question if the no back stay or B&R rigs are safe.

First, I know of no masts that failed using the B&R rig unless proper maintenance was not performed. I know of no masts on the trailerable boats that failed with a no back stay if properly maintained.

If you simply look at the angle of the spreaders, you will understand. Great for tacking close into the wind and no wire in the back impeding walking around in the cockpit nor bimini. The only issue is a true wing to wing but in most cases, most folks do not sail wing to wing either.

 

[Brian M H23]

My H23 had swept spreaders and a backstay, but after a few seasons of sailing I noticed the backstay never had tension unless I flew the spinnaker. There was more than one weekend where the mast went up with no backstay and stayed that way.
Never worried me at all.

 

[seadaddler]

Racing

I am pretty sure some new racing boats use the B&R setup and some one once told me the B&R is really stronger than a regular bacstay who also have many demastings and because of the B&G setup less prone to loosing a mast.
I recently started racing my H-36 with inmast and 110 jib and got a wisker pole
for wing on wing and yes true cruising with my Gen & davits and lots other extra cruising equipment and all the non imast lovers saying about loss of performance
and a few other Hunters with inmast are doing pretty good at winning.
Just saying for a true cruising boat not bad at all and I am have fun but good crew knowing how to trim those sails is really a big help.
Nick

 

[Jackdaw]

I am pretty sure some new racing boats use the B&R setup and some one once told me the B&R is really stronger than a regular bacstay who also have many demastings and because of the B&G setup less prone to loosing a mast.
I recently started racing my H-36 with inmast and 110 jib and got a wisker pole
for wing on wing and yes true cruising with my Gen & davits and lots other extra cruising equipment and all the non imast lovers saying about loss of performance
and a few other Hunters with inmast are doing pretty good at winning.
Just saying for a true cruising boat not bad at all and I am have fun but good crew knowing how to trim those sails is really a big help.
Nick

No true racing boat designed in the last 25 years has used the B&R rig. Many high performace cruisers (pogo 12.5) used a backstay-less rig with traditional shrouds, with the spreaders swept 27-30 degrees. This allows a fathead mainsail.

True racing boats without backstays will use running backstays to help deal with the load and shape the mast.

As Dave notes the B&R rig is very safe and a good setup for modern cruising boats. You only lose the ability to dynamically tune the rig.

 

[Jackdaw]

Also, everyone should note that this a notable difference between a B&R rig and a standard rig without a backstay. A B&R will have reverse diagonal shrouds between the spreaders that hold the mast in tension without the V1s (deck verticals) attached.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Racers don't want the extra weight aloft. A single backstay and lighter shrouds is lighter than a B&R rig with its more stout shrouds. Makes bending the mast possible also. Can't do that with a B&R no matter how salty you are.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

When Warren Luhrs used to be head of Hunter Marine, he had boats built using new innovative equipment to include the backless stay B & R rigs. He did well racing around the world solo with backless stay rigs. Many will agree and disagree but for most, the B&R rig is a godsend to most boats that pleasure cruise and even some to racing with the bigger mains for more power but no darn backstay which to go around or impede in the cockpit. As for tuning, eve the B&R rig if done right can be tuned for racing but remember that these boats for the majority are for pleasure cruising.

crazy dave condon