Before installing the foil put up the headstay and get it set to the presumed correct tension. Measure the turnbuckle spread with a set of digital calipers to get a neutral.
As you sail the boat adjust the tension and just keep a log of the spread on the calipers. This will allow you to fine tune the tension on the stay to the wind, without needing to know the measured tension, just the relative tightness. Once a boat is set up, I actually find this more accurate and repeatable than a loose gauge.
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