Rig Tension with Adjustable Forestays

[jonathantwite]

So, having come 3rd in a very light wind general handicap race last night (basically the entire fleet bunched and there wasn't enough wind for the fast boats to get away for the lead they needed), I have a question on rig tensions with an Adjustable Forestay.

I have been trying to set the boat up with the tensions mentioned on the online guide but if I get the tension to 60kg, there is no way I can pull more forestay on for the downwind legs. Do people use less rig tension upwind when they rake back? or does the force of the wind when sailing downwind help you pull on more forestay? Also, how loose should the windward shroud be when going upwind (the mast is a needlespar)

Unfortunately I haven't had any 'normal' conditions to play in and although the low tension has apparently worked in the F1 winds last night, I am worried that the mast will bend sideways too much in more standard conditions (or does that not effect a BM much?)

Thanks for any advice

[bassatoogaweda]

have sent you a personal message#
Bassa

[paultp]

I think this would be a good topic for a talk at the nationals and/or a piece for the website.

I personally would like to learn how to rig and use an adjustable rig, it might give me an advantage over the Streakers on Wednesday nights. At the moment it is only them that beat me unless I make a mess of things (which I do far too often!).

[polyfiller]

I would never look to pull on forestay tension downwind .....because my most moth spreaders are set to encourage fore / aft bend. Diwnwind you typicalky want to power up by straightenjng the mast. By adding more rig tension to forestay the opposite would tend to happen. I've always avoid running anything more than nominal rig tension on a moth mast, especially a needlespar. Upwibd the rig tensions itself through use of the kicker, causin winward shroud and forestay to tension up and leeward shroud to become slack. The reason folk started to use more rig tension than I recommend was the introduction if overly stiff masts like the proctors and super spars ....the tension was needed, combined with spreader rake, to induce fore / aft bend.

I use a "prodder" control to straighten up rig downwind.....does take some work to manufacture but it is very effective at straightening the mast.

Final thought.....it woukd ge preferable to de-tension shrouds than forestay diwnwind... Which is why some biats had shroud levers 20 ir so years ago...make that 30 years.

[polyfiller]

and it looks like I need a new kwybroad.

[polyfiller]

and it looks like I need a new kwybroad.