Reacher (Drifter) sail.

[victore]

I am a new owner of a 2008 M which I have been sailing for several weeks now and am quite pleased. I purchased the boat with a roller furling jib rather than a jenny as I have a beutifull nylon reacher from a previosly owned boat. My question is, would it be safe to install another bail on the mast about 2 ft. from the top of the mast & run another forstay to the pin on the bow pulpit where the mast attaches when in transit? What I mean by safe, would the mast and rigging be strong enough being that high? I would only be useing the reacher in very light air. I have to go up that far on the mast as the luff of the sail is 29 ft. The foot is 18ft. I think it will fit quite well. I was also thinking of the forstay going to the top where there is a nice bolt sticking out of the mast & then also installing stern stays but really don't know what to do. Please don't suggest a spinaker rather than my reacher as I have had it with them.
Any advice would be great.
Thanks
Vic

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[MacMikey]

Teach Me Something...

Educate me on the difference between a "Reacher" and a Spinnaker? I am new to sailing and so many terms seem to be used to describe the same thing, and when it comes to sails...I say confused. Help! Unconfuse me please.

 

[victore]

Reacher vs spinaker

A reacher is shaped like a large jenny but usually made of light nylon, many are also quite colorfull. the reacher flys from the fore stay like a jenny. A spinnaker uses a pole and flys from the bow. I have found spinnakers difficult to operate. I wish I had pix.