No Y structure. your pic is of an AC72, check out the AC45
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_83C0d9qWNoU/TTSxNJ9cjCI/AAAAAAAAbsk/FsHxcMc4g3k/s1600/AC45NZ1D6_3772.jpgand GC32
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5e2BSoHy.../gmIks7OFvFc/s1600/GC32AustriaCup189.jpgWhy do these boats have a central cross member?
you said the AC45 and AC72 used understays to "make the entire platform more rigid. It helped carry the headsail loads" -right, that's what i hope to do. All the headsail and forstay loads will be carried by the understay. My alternative if i wanted to keep my NA jib on a furler with an 11.5 foot beam was to build an 8 foot wide bowfoil, which seemed absurd, and was a very heavy proposition.
Because of the severe angle of the understay, for every 1 lb of downward force, i will have 4.88 lbs of rearward force. that means i will have between 700-800 pounds pushing the pole directly back (this is isolated rearward force not total force) do you think i can have that force just dead end into the center of the front cross beam?
As for synthetic rigging, i wouldn't dream of it. i have my 1x19 cable ready to go
