Anchoring Solent Stay on Deck
Does a Solent stay need to be anchored to the stem of the boat or would tying into a bulkhead be sufficient? Alternatively could it just be through bolted to the deck? The boat is an S&S Swan 40 and the deck is pretty thick with plywood. My intention is to fly both a storm staysail and a Code 0 on the Solent stay. I am considering using two locations that would require no new hardware installation. I think there might be enough room to fly the code zero just aft of the roller furler where there is a bail to attach it to that is part of the stemhead fitting. The other location is at the fitting for attaching the foreguy. This is bolted through the deck just aft of the anchor locker bulkhead which I think would lend some support. I am also thinking of using Dynema for the Solent stay and tensioning it with a block and tackle. The difference in length to the two attachment points would then not be critical. I am also thinking that having the Code 0 forward and the storm staysail aft would be advantageous in terms of centers of effort in keeping the boat balanced. The one thing I don't like is that the Code 0 would be attached to a very strong point and the storm staysail is attached to a place less strong which is just the opposite of what I would like.
Thank you in advance for any suggestions or comments.
Alan
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