I find that using the plate type sheave only back stay adjuster 38-201 from Johnson http://www.csjohnson.com/marinecatalog/00036.htm does help on upwind work AND going down wind too, as it lets the rig move forward some and the jib can fill better. Going upwind, the forestay needs more tension on it to remove sag, and just cranking the jib halyard tension only seems to actually pull the mast forward which you don't want. As Howard mentioned you do need to have the mast rake set up already. Julie and I were working on an empty 3 buoy triangular course today, and found our leg times were better when we fell off a bit after tacking to get the boat speed back when tacking upwind. Gave the apparent wind time to get forward. Going from down wind to upwind legs a few times repeatedly showed us the value of using the backstay adjuster. Set up with a clamcleat on the stbd leg of the split was very fast and easy to snug up or let off. I would not like to be standing up and spinning a turnbuckle at the Y. I do like the look of the turnbuckle for the forestay when rigging. (no furler here) Don't have a mast head wind indicator or GPS, so can't tell you the exact angles we tacked. Probably 110-120 degrees. Working the pin stop traveller on every tack, convinced me to look at the windward sheeting car mentioned here previously. I never really bothered adjusting the traveller much on the M17 before, but 3 days of sailing this weekend showed me the value in it. We got a much better feel for its use, even with the short length on the cockpit floor. Regards, Bill Wickett Makin' Time M17 #622 On Sat, Jul 9, 2011 at 11:24 AM, Howard Audsley <haudsley@tranquility.net>wrote:
I'm still curious how much pointing ability you gain with a backstay adjuster (to tension the forestay) along with cranking down the tension on the jib halyard? This assumes you also have the mast rake dialed in to give you a bit of weather helm and sheet angles right and sails set to get all the telltales flying the way they should be.
I ask as while I can tack to about 60 degrees to the apparent wind (measured on the masthead wind direction arrow set to a 60 degree angle), I've never been able to tack through 90 degrees actual. GPS tracking tells the tale. Always seems to be a bit of leeway.
On Jul 9, 2011, at 9:37 AM, Joe Murphy wrote:
I've heard a couple of comments regarding the use of a backstay adjuster that squeezes the split stays. Is there some reason not to do this. I have an adjuster on my M17 that is a simple 3 purchase pulley and a cam cleat that works very well but I'm curious why squeezing the split stays is taboo for some. Just curious. Joe ----- Original Message ----- From: Gary M Hyde To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Sent: Friday, July 08, 2011 11:39 PM Subject: Re: M_Boats: M17 backstay
Thanks, Tom. ~~~_/)~~~ Gary ☺
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