Inner Forestays: Intermediate vs Masthead

[Charlie99]

Currently working in the V berth on my Swiftsure project, adding an additional beam and tabbing to the chain locker bulkhead to support a deck fitting for a moveable inner forestay. I'm already well convinced of the benefits of such a stay for heavy weather sails, but it got me thinking about future plans for the standing rigging. Seems that many here are of the camp of using an intermediate rig, in which the forestay is mounted between the masthead and the spreaders, with intermediate lowers for aft support, or perhaps running backstays.

From what I've gathered, this is done to provide additional support to the mast. I'm curious, though, what are the realistic chances that this design saves a mast from coming down, vs a rig with only masthead and lower stays? Is there another reason behind not opting for a simpler solent-type inner stay attached at the masthead? To my mind, it seems unnecessary given the requirement for two additional aft stays, chainplates, mast attachment, and decreased boom angle downwind, unless there is some other significant benefit. I say that with a fairly limited knowledge of standing rigging design, and would love to hear the case for the intermediate style of inner forestay.

[atomvoyager]

If you intend to sail the boat mainly as a sloop rig with roller furling genoa rather than a true cutter style with yankee, then the solent stay is the simplest and least expensive option for hoisting a storm jib or even a working jib although it may need to be moved to storage position to furl or unfurl the genoa. With a staysail stay you can leave it deployed and still furl or reef the genoa because of the greater space between it and the furler. Those extra three stays will definitely stabilize and strengthen the rig and even save the mast from falling if another stay breaks in some situations. But there is no guarantee of that due to many variables of wind strength and angle, sea state, which stay breaks, etc. My own experience of rigging and making passages on many boats over the past 40 years tells me those three added stays have a very good chance of prevented loss of the rig. If that is not a priority then the solent is a good choice.

Even though some rigging experts will tell you it is not best practice, my preference now is to permanently attach the intermediate aft shrouds to deck chain plates or pad eyes just a couple inches aft the aft lowers because fussing with running backs is too much trouble and I find the support to be adequate.

[Charlie99]

James

I certainly appreciate your reply. Much to consider, but luckily I have time to think on it. I will take your word that the additional rig security is appreciable. At the very least, I think I'll work in additional support for intermediate lower chainplates before building out the saloon cabinetry so the option is there.

Do you have much to say about sailing boats of this era with a cutter-style rig? That is something that interests me as well, but I simply lack the experience to know if it's worth planning for at this time. I expect to discuss that in depth with a sailmaker when it comes time for that, but if anyone has anything to offer on the subject I'm happy to hear it.

[atomvoyager]

There's not many posters here currently so you might ask about Rhodes 33 cutter rig options on more active forums such as: https://www.boatdesign.net/forums/sailboats/

Maybe there is a facebook group somewhere as well.

I have a slight preference for cutter over sloop and a stronger preference for a version of a staysail sloop. On most boats the mast would need to be moved aft to make a true cutter and then commit to using a yankee rather than genoa. A lot of sailors like that but I prefer the simplicity and performance of the genoa and use a staysail or storm jib only occasionally. Maybe your boat was offered as a cutter option with mast in same place or further aft, I don't know. In your case, it probably is not a big enough difference in performance and ease of usage on how you rig the boat to be worthwhile making a true cutter out of it.