I went sailing a couple of days ago in some 15-20 knot winds. I was on a port tack and I noticed our side stays showed a good bit of slack. Is this normal? Should I tighten my stays? Is there any reference that will instruct me on how to determine how tight my rigging needs to be? Thanks in advance guys.
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Colin: Loose side stays (shrouds) are an invitation to a broken mast. Shrouds should be tensioned to 15% of the wire's breaking load. Go to Borders and get a copy of "Sail and Rig Tuning" by Ivar Dedekam of Norway published by Fernhurst. It will tell you how to tell the proper tension by marking and measuring a two meter length of shroud. You need to to achieve a 3.0mm extension of the marked and measured segment as the two shrouds are alternatively tightened. Do not believe that the leeward shroud should naturaly be loose.
That does follow the Loos gauge instructions too.
But they don't say anything about the B&R rig with the guage instructions. But I tightened as told anyway. Any other opinions?
But they don't say anything about the B&R rig with the guage instructions. But I tightened as told anyway. Any other opinions?
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