Alan Gomes
Sustaining Partner
Thank you, Brad. This is actually very helpful. I do indeed have a backstay tensioner. This confirms my thought that I should back off on those aft lowers compared to where I have them currently set, which is at about 8% of breaking strength. That is definitely tighter than what you describe and considerably tighter, I think, and how I interpret Ericsons guidelines.Alan, do you have a backstay adjuster?? If so I would keep the rears fairly loose , I pretty much stop once the stay straightens with tension, this allows the midpoint of the mast toned forward flatting the main, I inly tighten the uppers and inner stay for racing in 15 knots true or more , I also have running backstays for upwind in 10+ knots of true wind
i’m a bit curious about what you had to say about your uppers and in-line lowers. Are you saying that you only tension them up before you head out to race, and then relieve some tension for when you are just sitting at the dock or just out day sailing? What does your default setting look like?