Perhaps my initial posting was unclear. As far as in cloumn see my reponse to Larry's post. As to Journey's End. No, she does not have a backstay adjuster nor a babystay. These devices allow you to bend the mast while underway. The babystay prevents the center of the mast from moving aft while you pull the truck aft with the backstay adjuster. It also stops the mast from pumping. The 2 forward lowers take care of this on Journey's End.
Also, you can rest assured that I spend several days at the start of each season tuning the mast and rigging on Journeys End. My mast is unstepped every year so my efforts includes a trip in the bosuns chair to reset and wire the spreaders.
When it is all said and done IMHO raking the mast is an acceptable fine tuning adjustment. As I said in my reply to Larry, I'm not bending the mast but simpley orienting the truck to put the center of effort where it belongs.
Mike Thorpe
Journey's End
Hyannis, MA
D. Stump, Hanalei wrote: Captain Thorpe,
Captain DeMers has pretty much covered the response, however, if your vessel is equipped with a backstay adjuster, there may be another reason - forestay tension. If you have a large genny, when fully flying in a brisk wind, does it cause the forestay to falloff to le'ward, ie. bag out? Tighten down the backstay a bit and remove the sag, BUT, the mast will remain in column. Actually, this should have been accommplished in initial setup, in other words, if this adjustment is required while underway, the rig was too loose to start with. The mast foot adjustment is only to allow proper set-up in column when initially setting up the rig!. It is NOT an adjustment to REMOVE weather helm. Our vessels are not J-24s that are designed with bendable masts! Heed what Captain DeMers professes.
One question, you mention babystays. Is Journey's End equipped with them? I would venture that they also are designed to keep a longer spar in column, not to adjust any rake to the mast, ie. you are not relying on just forestay and backstay adjustment to hold that stick straight. And if they are too loose, they should be tightened to keep her in column. If all is straight up and down, and your mains'l is not blown out like an old handkerchief she should handle just fine.
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei-30C
Noank, CT
mthorpe@capecod.net