The question of when and how much checkstay to use was a matter of some
confusion to me when I first got the boat, but since my understanding is
that optimal mast shape depends entirely on the cut of the main, I've
learned over time what it takes to adjust the mast bend to optimize main
shape. If the main is cut so that induced mast bend in the upper sections
of the mast effectively flatten the sail, then there's no need for the lower
mast sections to bend forward, which means sufficient checkstay pressure
needs to be applied to keep the mid and lower sections of the mast in
column. If the main is cut (or has aged) to require bending in the mid
sections as well, then the checkstays need to be eased off until the main is
boarded out - with an attendant decrease in headstay tension and less
control over mast pumping, it seems to me. I would think that any new main
would be cut so that mast bending in the upper sections only would be
sufficient to board out the main.
Any comments?
Derek Reijnen
The Reijnen Company
phone: 206-842-4409
email: derek@reijnenco.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Canning [mailto:rcanning@dimeo.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2004 2:06 PM
To: olson911@SailPix. com
Subject: RE: Checkstays
Guys,
Len asked a great question. Here is my response.
Rich
-----Original Message-----
From: Len Kremer [mailto:lkremer@barr.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2004 4:45 PM
To: rcanning@dimeo.com
Subject: Checkstays
Rich-Please send me copies of Ed's pictures that you discussed. How much of
a diference in sailing performance were you able to see with the checkstays?
What was the upper range of the wind speed that you used them? Thanks!
Len Kremer- Owner, Capo 30
Len,
Here is that email with the photos. We typically stopped using them when we
were in blade conditions because you want the main flattened out. We would
put hand tight tension on with the blade up to stop the mast from pumping.
Rich Canning
Received on Thu Jul 15 16:04:45 2004