swept forward spreaders

[davidsamuelson]

Please enlighten me. [IMG][/IMG]Why are the mizzen spreaders on this boat swept forward?

[Ian McColgin]

Just guessing but possibly no triatic to support the mizzen truck against the pull back of the sail on a beat.

It looks like the lowers do all the work of keeping the deck-stepped mast up with running backs for added gusto.

They probably don't even set the mizzen on anything past a broad reach in moderate wind and with all that pilothouse stuff they sure wouldn't fly a mizzen staysail. So supporting the masthead from behind is not important and this way the uppers do their normal job plus eliminate that often annoying triatic. Still, a bit quirky.

[Brion Toss]

Hi there,
More than a bit quirky. This arrangement simultaneously overloads the forward lower shrouds, diminishes the lateral staying action of the upper shrouds, seeks to invert the top of the mast (actually encouraging it to lurch forward in a breeze or chop), and accomplishes breathtaking ugliness, all while getting in the way of that valuable mizzen stays'l. There are far more sensible ways to eliminate the springstay (see "Mizzens" in the Apprentice).
Fair leads,
Brion Toss