Date: 9/25/2007
Name: Stephen Jensen, San Juan 21 National Commodore
email: Charmedjuan@comcast.net
subject:Fore stay quick release lever
The San Juan 21 National Class has forbidden these devices.Section 3.3 paragraph 7 states; Devices other than turnbuckles for adjusting the fore stay or shrouds are not permitted. Turnbuckle adjustments while underway are permitted. A split, mechanically adjusted back stay is permitted as an alternate to the standard single stay and turnbuckle arrangement. Back stays must be of original sized wire. Non-wire adjustable back stay devices must have a wire "safety" strap in place around the adjustable line. All back¬stay-tensioning devices, when fully "relaxed", must not allow the mast to go further forward than 90 degrees from the water line.
If you plan on racing PHRF or other non Fleet races, you can of course use one. I would get the 1500 lb. unit. I can see the pressure of the wind on the foresaty, plus a fully cranked backstay getting close to if not over 500 lbs. The need for one of these is a question. If you look at the Fleet 1 Website under the rigging ideas and go to the Single handed set-up article, you will find the jib down-haul that also acts as a temporary fore stay. I can put up my mast, have the down-haul hold the mast up while I attach the fore stay. This does require an adjustable back stay that can be loosened up enough to allow the mast to go forward enough for the fore stay to be loose enough to be attached easily.
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