What about a cutter stay on a fractional rig?

[jwdorst]

Thanks for the qick reply Brion to my earlier post about a Solent stay on a fractional rig.

As an alternative, will a stay attached to the mast just above the upper spreaders (in an aft swept double spreader rig), and run more or less parallel to the forestay down to the deck (I guess this is a cutter stay, without being intended for a cutter sail plan, but as an inner forestay intended for a second smaller furling jib), work?

My rig has intermediate shrouds running from the chainplates, through the ends of the lower spreaders, to the attachment points of the upper spreaders on the mast. My understanding is that these prevent the mast from bending too much (basically acting, partially, in the opposite direction of the cap shrouds and back stay. Will they be able to keep a second furler in check?

In a way, it would seem to me that the aft swept spreader set up is more suited to a cutter stay than the more traditional masthead rig with in-line spreaders, as the aft swept spreaders have some running backstay action 'built in'. Does this make sense?

Mast length (deckstepped) is approx. 53.5 feet. Forestay attaches at approx. 48 feet. So I guess this would be called a 7/8th rig. Upper shrouds are at approx. 32 feet from the step.

All comments appreciated.

JW