I still have only a slight understanding of the ways to fully adjust the staysail on the cutter but now comes the question as to where the running backstays should be placed on the toe rail. The best i can guess is "as far back as possible" but that would interfear with the boom on any point of sail other that close hauled.. so where on the rail do the rest of you put them, for everyday sailing??? thanks chet p
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Set 'em, forget 'em.
Hi Chet, You are right, move them back where they probably should be and you end up with a worse than B&R problem. And I have seen them mounted as far as six or seven feet aft of the aftmost shroud. Mine are about two feet back from that point and I don't move them all season. It would be unusual conditions to cause me to even consider moving them back. I normally do not sail with both the yankee and the staysail. If there is enough wind to worry about two sails forward then I am more likely going to furl the yankee or drop the staysail. If conditions were right and I had the right crew I might want full sail. Then I would move the running backstays back as far as practical. It would depend upon point of sail. Downwind there is not enough force to worry about. Only my opinion of course.
Hi Chet, You are right, move them back where they probably should be and you end up with a worse than B&R problem. And I have seen them mounted as far as six or seven feet aft of the aftmost shroud. Mine are about two feet back from that point and I don't move them all season. It would be unusual conditions to cause me to even consider moving them back. I normally do not sail with both the yankee and the staysail. If there is enough wind to worry about two sails forward then I am more likely going to furl the yankee or drop the staysail. If conditions were right and I had the right crew I might want full sail. Then I would move the running backstays back as far as practical. It would depend upon point of sail. Downwind there is not enough force to worry about. Only my opinion of course.
Set 'em, forget 'em.
Hi Chet, You are right, move them back where they probably should be and you end up with a worse than B&R problem. And I have seen them mounted as far as six or seven feet aft of the aftmost shroud. Mine are about two feet back from that point and I don't move them all season. It would be unusual conditions to cause me to even consider moving them back. I normally do not sail with both the yankee and the staysail. If there is enough wind to worry about two sails forward then I am more likely going to furl the yankee or drop the staysail. If conditions were right and I had the right crew I might want full sail. Then I would move the running backstays back as far as practical. It would depend upon point of sail. Downwind there is not enough force to worry about. Only my opinion of course.
Hi Chet, You are right, move them back where they probably should be and you end up with a worse than B&R problem. And I have seen them mounted as far as six or seven feet aft of the aftmost shroud. Mine are about two feet back from that point and I don't move them all season. It would be unusual conditions to cause me to even consider moving them back. I normally do not sail with both the yankee and the staysail. If there is enough wind to worry about two sails forward then I am more likely going to furl the yankee or drop the staysail. If conditions were right and I had the right crew I might want full sail. Then I would move the running backstays back as far as practical. It would depend upon point of sail. Downwind there is not enough force to worry about. Only my opinion of course.
set up windward runner
chet, you only set up the windward runner fairly far aft. the leeward runner is carried farward at least to the aft lower so it will not interfer will the boom. only problem is you will have to reverse thr runner positions when you tack. no big deal.
chet, you only set up the windward runner fairly far aft. the leeward runner is carried farward at least to the aft lower so it will not interfer will the boom. only problem is you will have to reverse thr runner positions when you tack. no big deal.
set up windward runner
chet, you only set up the windward runner fairly far aft. the leeward runner is carried farward at least to the aft lower so it will not interfer will the boom. only problem is you will have to reverse thr runner positions when you tack. no big deal.
chet, you only set up the windward runner fairly far aft. the leeward runner is carried farward at least to the aft lower so it will not interfer will the boom. only problem is you will have to reverse thr runner positions when you tack. no big deal.
What kind of nut?
I agree with all that the other guys say. It just depends on what kind of nut you are ... If you are going to weather in 35-40 knots, the cutter rig with running backstays is a big plus. At this point you'll probably be flying just the staysail and maybe two reefs in the main. The mast will tell you to put on the windward backstay: you'll see it pumping a bit above the spreaders in the gusts or in a seaway. Just clip it on the toe rail where you can get at the tail of the purchase to be able to uncleat it from the cockpit. That way, before you tack, you can easily release it. Make sure you have lots of rope on the purchase to let it go slack enough to not interfere with the main when it comes across. Now you set up the other (new windward) runner and off you go. Of course, in this kind of weather, you have lots of searoom, right? Otherwise you'd be tucked in the nearest hidey-hole, drinking rum, right? So, it just depends on what kind of nut you are. (Last sunday I was setting up the runners in 30 - 35 k. and NOT drinking rum - What kind of Nut?)
I agree with all that the other guys say. It just depends on what kind of nut you are ... If you are going to weather in 35-40 knots, the cutter rig with running backstays is a big plus. At this point you'll probably be flying just the staysail and maybe two reefs in the main. The mast will tell you to put on the windward backstay: you'll see it pumping a bit above the spreaders in the gusts or in a seaway. Just clip it on the toe rail where you can get at the tail of the purchase to be able to uncleat it from the cockpit. That way, before you tack, you can easily release it. Make sure you have lots of rope on the purchase to let it go slack enough to not interfere with the main when it comes across. Now you set up the other (new windward) runner and off you go. Of course, in this kind of weather, you have lots of searoom, right? Otherwise you'd be tucked in the nearest hidey-hole, drinking rum, right? So, it just depends on what kind of nut you are. (Last sunday I was setting up the runners in 30 - 35 k. and NOT drinking rum - What kind of Nut?)
What kind of nut?
I agree with all that the other guys say. It just depends on what kind of nut you are ... If you are going to weather in 35-40 knots, the cutter rig with running backstays is a big plus. At this point you'll probably be flying just the staysail and maybe two reefs in the main. The mast will tell you to put on the windward backstay: you'll see it pumping a bit above the spreaders in the gusts or in a seaway. Just clip it on the toe rail where you can get at the tail of the purchase to be able to uncleat it from the cockpit. That way, before you tack, you can easily release it. Make sure you have lots of rope on the purchase to let it go slack enough to not interfere with the main when it comes across. Now you set up the other (new windward) runner and off you go. Of course, in this kind of weather, you have lots of searoom, right? Otherwise you'd be tucked in the nearest hidey-hole, drinking rum, right? So, it just depends on what kind of nut you are. (Last sunday I was setting up the runners in 30 - 35 k. and NOT drinking rum - What kind of Nut?)
I agree with all that the other guys say. It just depends on what kind of nut you are ... If you are going to weather in 35-40 knots, the cutter rig with running backstays is a big plus. At this point you'll probably be flying just the staysail and maybe two reefs in the main. The mast will tell you to put on the windward backstay: you'll see it pumping a bit above the spreaders in the gusts or in a seaway. Just clip it on the toe rail where you can get at the tail of the purchase to be able to uncleat it from the cockpit. That way, before you tack, you can easily release it. Make sure you have lots of rope on the purchase to let it go slack enough to not interfere with the main when it comes across. Now you set up the other (new windward) runner and off you go. Of course, in this kind of weather, you have lots of searoom, right? Otherwise you'd be tucked in the nearest hidey-hole, drinking rum, right? So, it just depends on what kind of nut you are. (Last sunday I was setting up the runners in 30 - 35 k. and NOT drinking rum - What kind of Nut?)
Back stay shock cord
I've sailed my cutter in all wind condition up to 45 knots and have rigged the running backstay thru a set of blocks with a 4/1 purchase and clam cleat. I attact them just foward of the cockpit and have a shock cord permanently attached so that when I release to leward stay the shock cord pulls it up to the aft, lower stay. this system works great. I also had a rigger suggest that I run the line thru a snatch block and use my leward and empty winch to put some real leverage on it when needed. I have two winches on each side of my coaming. I have used both systems but I always use the shock cord.
I've sailed my cutter in all wind condition up to 45 knots and have rigged the running backstay thru a set of blocks with a 4/1 purchase and clam cleat. I attact them just foward of the cockpit and have a shock cord permanently attached so that when I release to leward stay the shock cord pulls it up to the aft, lower stay. this system works great. I also had a rigger suggest that I run the line thru a snatch block and use my leward and empty winch to put some real leverage on it when needed. I have two winches on each side of my coaming. I have used both systems but I always use the shock cord.
Back stay shock cord
I've sailed my cutter in all wind condition up to 45 knots and have rigged the running backstay thru a set of blocks with a 4/1 purchase and clam cleat. I attact them just foward of the cockpit and have a shock cord permanently attached so that when I release to leward stay the shock cord pulls it up to the aft, lower stay. this system works great. I also had a rigger suggest that I run the line thru a snatch block and use my leward and empty winch to put some real leverage on it when needed. I have two winches on each side of my coaming. I have used both systems but I always use the shock cord.
I've sailed my cutter in all wind condition up to 45 knots and have rigged the running backstay thru a set of blocks with a 4/1 purchase and clam cleat. I attact them just foward of the cockpit and have a shock cord permanently attached so that when I release to leward stay the shock cord pulls it up to the aft, lower stay. this system works great. I also had a rigger suggest that I run the line thru a snatch block and use my leward and empty winch to put some real leverage on it when needed. I have two winches on each side of my coaming. I have used both systems but I always use the shock cord.
Tacking the running-backs
(no, that's not a football tactic!) Some racing guys attach the runners to a piece of genny track on the side deck and actually do 'tack' them exactly as one would a headsail. Of course this seems like more work! --you have two headsails and now this?? But running the track slide to a winch and hauling it aft just like you'd adjust a boom's traveller makes sense, can have good mechancial advantage, and takes the guesswork out of how to deal with them. Remember though that to impose mast bend you need to slack one or both of them to get the masthead to come back. Anyone with a hydraulic backstay adjuster could do major damage by leaving the runners too taut! JC 2
(no, that's not a football tactic!) Some racing guys attach the runners to a piece of genny track on the side deck and actually do 'tack' them exactly as one would a headsail. Of course this seems like more work! --you have two headsails and now this?? But running the track slide to a winch and hauling it aft just like you'd adjust a boom's traveller makes sense, can have good mechancial advantage, and takes the guesswork out of how to deal with them. Remember though that to impose mast bend you need to slack one or both of them to get the masthead to come back. Anyone with a hydraulic backstay adjuster could do major damage by leaving the runners too taut! JC 2
Tacking the running-backs
(no, that's not a football tactic!) Some racing guys attach the runners to a piece of genny track on the side deck and actually do 'tack' them exactly as one would a headsail. Of course this seems like more work! --you have two headsails and now this?? But running the track slide to a winch and hauling it aft just like you'd adjust a boom's traveller makes sense, can have good mechancial advantage, and takes the guesswork out of how to deal with them. Remember though that to impose mast bend you need to slack one or both of them to get the masthead to come back. Anyone with a hydraulic backstay adjuster could do major damage by leaving the runners too taut! JC 2
(no, that's not a football tactic!) Some racing guys attach the runners to a piece of genny track on the side deck and actually do 'tack' them exactly as one would a headsail. Of course this seems like more work! --you have two headsails and now this?? But running the track slide to a winch and hauling it aft just like you'd adjust a boom's traveller makes sense, can have good mechancial advantage, and takes the guesswork out of how to deal with them. Remember though that to impose mast bend you need to slack one or both of them to get the masthead to come back. Anyone with a hydraulic backstay adjuster could do major damage by leaving the runners too taut! JC 2
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