Staysail Forestay Quick Release Suggestions

[pvisich]

Dear All,
Getting tired of dealing with the headsail getting caught up with the staysail when tacking a lot and come to the conclusion I need to be able to quickly release the staysail forestay to avoid the constant catching of the head sail on the staysail. Love the staysail sail when on long runs, but not so much when tacking a lot. In saying that, would appreciate any suggestions on purchasing a quick release for the staysail forestay.
Thanks, Paul

Grateful; CD330, 1986

[jbenagh]

I used a Wichard part. Not cheap but it works great. I have a loop in the deck fitting and secure it out of use to a shroud base.
Jeff

[Jim Walsh]

Dear All,
Getting tired of dealing with the headsail getting caught up with the staysail when tacking a lot and come to the conclusion I need to be able to quickly release the staysail forestay to avoid the constant catching of the head sail on the staysail. Love the staysail sail when on long runs, but not so much when tacking a lot. In saying that, would appreciate any suggestions on purchasing a quick release for the staysail forestay.
Thanks, Paul

Grateful; CD330, 1986

Just for clarity, what is it exactly that is “getting caught up”? Is your yankee failing to go through the slot defined by your headstay and staysail stay, or is it something else?
Is your yankee a standard yankee with a relatively short foot and a high clew or do you have an oversized yankee with the clew much closer to the deck? I have a standard yankee which never fails to slide through the slot and I have a large yankee which will occasionally fail to slide through fully but only in very light winds. I learned years ago that if your staysail isn’t set you can have difficulty because a large yankee needs the staysail to help it slide through the slot when tacking in light winds. If the staysail isn’t set you’re bound to have issues.
Another alternative, if you have a furling headsail, is to partially furl it before you tack. Costs nothing and you never leave the cockpit.

This is a standard yankee and will never have issues when tacking.

IMG_2423.jpeg

This is a large yankee and can have issues in light airs.

IMG_4246.jpeg

[pvisich]

Hi Jim
Yes, it's the yankee getting caught on the staysail sail when its out. I have to go up to the bow and pull it around the staysail forestay, it seems to be a constant issue in light and strong winds. I would assume my yankee is a bigger, based on your pictures. I begin to wonder if its a timing issue on when I am releasing the sheet for the headsail when I am tacking. Either way, I have used the technique of rolling in the headsail before tacking, but have to admit, it's challenging when its somewhat windy and you are trying to roll up the headsail before you tack.

[John Stone]

Dear All,
Getting tired of dealing with the headsail getting caught up with the staysail when tacking a lot and come to the conclusion I need to be able to quickly release the staysail forestay to avoid the constant catching of the head sail on the staysail. Love the staysail sail when on long runs, but not so much when tacking a lot. In saying that, would appreciate any suggestions on purchasing a quick release for the staysail forestay.
Thanks, Paul

Grateful; CD330, 1986

Paul
I wrestled with the same thing. I solved it by going to a synthetic forestay and a simple tensioning setup that uses a dyneema pendant run to my windlass rope drum. It has worked perfectly. Would not change a thing.

The attached article explains the details.

https://farreachvoyages.net/2017/10/23/ ... se-device/

[pvisich]

appreciate this device. Sounds like it is working well. Happy Holidays!

Grateful 330

[Steve Laume]

Raven usually runs the standard cutter rig. It creates no problems tacking as long as the staysail is set. Let the jib back wind a bit before releasing and it will slide right through on the staysail. It works even better with new and slippery sails.
I do have a detachable inner stay and have used it only when I briefly switched to a Genoa. It was much harder to depower the boat and visibility was horrible, so it has never gone back on.
The original rig is pretty wonderful the way it is.

[pvisich]

Thanks. I need to try to let the yankee back wind, then release. Maybe that is the primary problem. Thanks again. Paul