I have just bought a 16, and very new to cat sailing. I have done a bit of mono sailing in my younger days. the person i bought the boat off, suggested that leave the sidestays on the same setting (hole 4), step the mast and he just tied off the forstay about 4 inches short of the adjuster. Then he tensioned the mast with the jib. To me this didn't seem correct. the rigging seems further back than it should. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Cheers Dave

Raking the mast back is a good thing. I have two chain plates on my bridle wires, so that I can pin my forestay.

David

If I understand your method correctly you may be asking for trouble. I would move the stays up a hole or two (or one side up to the first hole) and attach the forestay to the bridle, not tie it off. You would then tension the shrouds with either the trap wires and a harness or the main sheet pulled over to one side. IMO if you just tie off the forestay to attach it later after putting the jib on would not be too safe.

Clayton

Thanks for the replies, you have confirmed my gut instinct, unfortunatly its winter here and there is no -one sailing here at this time, hence no advice. The way the guy selling the boat said to set it up, left the rigging all a bit loose. I will set it up today with those changes.

Many thanks Dave

the purpose of the forestay is to keep the mast up until i raise and set the jib. when the jib is up all the load should be on the jib luff wire, otherwise the luff will sag and i will be slow upwind. if i use good quality line (2-3 loops of 1/4" dacron?) and can tie reliable knots- a bowline on one end and three half hitches on the other- then i would be able to sail with confidence that even if the jib wire fails my 3 loops of 1/4" line will keep the mast up until i can return to shore.

We had one of the top hobie sailors in the world visit our club and he rigged up one of our club boats as described to free up all of the holes on the plate for the jib. It's fine as long as the mast is not too far back when rigging as the mast may pop out of the housing, so just keep the line in good condition and fairly short.