Running Backstay setup

[Auspicious]

From a sailing point of you, think about how you will use your winches on each tack and how you will get from one to the other. Make sure you have enough and lines lead fair to primaries and--if you have them--secondaries.

We ran out of winches on a Beneteau 50 and ended up with the spinnaker flying from the masthead otherwise unsupported. It was quite a night, and a wonderful bar story. Not so good at the time.

[hnoor0077]

thank for sharing this
I'm emphatically with Brian on this one; on the mizzen, all the runners do is to keep the head of the mast from popping forward in a chop, or from the minor strain of a mizzen stays'l. On the main you are expecting them to do for the forestay what the backstay does for the jibstay. You probably would never even consider having a mere 4:1 purchase on the backstay, right?????

[FecklessDolphin]

If I read Brian's post correctly, he is advocating for a running backstay system composed of a single Dyneema line led to a block on the aft quarter and then to a secondary winch. Prior to reading this, everyone had steered me toward a 4:1 system with fiddle blocks. I like the idea of keeping fiddle blocks out of the air above my head. It also gives me another excuse to get secondary winches. The problem is that I do not have a spot for a rope clutch so that on port tack my secondary winch could not be used to reef my jib because the running backs would be using it. I have a new to me Morris Justine that I plan to sail offshore. Running backstays have been highly recommended. I have a thick mast (Metal Mast) with double lowers.

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
If I understand you aright, you want a rope clutch on the starboard side, so you can reef the jib, but there is no space for a clutch. First, on a boat that size, a cam cleat should be plenty to belay the furling line. Second, do you really need a winch to reef that jib? Optimal lead blocks, intermediate blocks, ratchet block aft, rig tune, etc. should make for minimal furling effort.Third, you don't actually need secondary winches; the weather primary is free of sheet.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

[FecklessDolphin]

You're right -- I should not need to winch the jib to reef it and should not plan on that option. And maybe I can try a first few passages without running backs or secondary winches. Thanks for your thoughts. I'll go back to reading your book.