There is a variety of opinion on this subject and how you set up your boat will be influenced by your sailing style, crew weight, mast rake, etc. In moderate wind (5-15 kts.) the concensus is a fairly tight jib halyard that will give you 1-2 inches of deflection in your shrouds. In light wind and heavy wind the opinion begins to diverge. I back off the halyard tension about 1 inch in light winds and 1-2 inches in heavy winds. In the heavy winds, you will now see the jib luff start to bow a little. This decreases pointing ability but I feel more is to be gained by footing and sailing fast.



As you back off the halyard, the mast will rake further back. Your ability to fully sheet the main may become an issue (main blocks are block-to-block). In SF it is essential that you have a 6:1 main sheet system.



Mast rake and halyard tension are probably the two most "individual" settings on a H16. Talk to other skippers and see how they set their boats up then experiment on your own boat to determine the right settings for you. Have fun!



I don't think there is a prohibition against adjusting the halyard during a race but it is not practical on a H16. Adjusting between races is permitted.