Tensioning standing rigging

[Jamie]

I recently helped a friend install his new shrouds and forestay on an old gaff-rigged wooden boat. There are no spreaders on the shrouds, they and the new forestay are all the same diameter as the old ones, 3/8", but are stainless wire rope instead of galvanized. There is also a smaller diameter stainless wire stay to the bowsprit end -- this one was not replaced.

We had her out sailing last Sunday and had no problems, but the lee shroud was very loose, and the foresail on the new stay had a lot of sag (we didn't use the outer stay).

I'm wondering how tight the rigging should be, and how to measure it. Also wondering how best to get equal tension on the two forestays so that both will support a sail properly.

It's not a big boat, only 29 feet. The masthead is about 30 feet from the water.

Any suggestions?

Jamie