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Dose any one run a staysail or a storm staysail?

Alan Nebauer had a staysail. On the cover of his book that he wrote a few decades ago you can just see his staysail above the dinghy. He also had running backstays I think. I too would love to hear of anyone’s experience with such a setup.

The book was a great read.

I can see the staysail but not the running back stay? It is said that the running back stay is to counter pulsing from the staysail? Hope someone can confirm this.

“I had set up an inner forestay for a small staysail that could be slab reefed to storm jib size. This was backed up with simple running backstays that could be set up to help support the mast in heavy weather.“
From the book.

There are four photos in the book in which the runners are visible but not so helpful if details are required.

how often do you use the staysail as a heavy weather sail?

“I had set up an inner forestay ....” is a quote from the book.

Hey guys,

I have been thinking about that too for some time. A dyneema inner forestay (maybe a 2:1 system from the spinnaker pole topping lift sheave).
The mast attachment doesn't seem to be a big issue but where on deck would it work? The anchor locker is so massive that the first opportunity would be nearly half way between bow and mast which leaves very little room.
Proper deck reinforcement and structural changes below deck will likely need to be carried out to support the forces anyway. Not sure if a running backstay is desperately needed when yore so close to the shrouds that have some form of support backwards.
Does anyone have any info on potential attachment options?
I think a stormjib / staysail type would be a great addition to a TopHat

Cheers,
Daniel

Once apon a time I had a set of 5 hanked foresails, one of which was a storm jib.
I also had a triangular storm sail for the mainsail.

Going south to Port Stephens one year I was caught by a black NE'er just on dark and I HAD to change down the sails!

Now over an hour later and completely buggered I had just the storm jib up.

IT WAS STILL TOO BIG!

Today all I do is drop the remaining reef in the mainsail and furl the jib to the size required by the conditions, all from the cockpit

Job done.

Hi Daniel,

I recently added an anchor point for a Solent stay. I located it about a foot back from the forestay. I think this is less than ideal as the rolled up genoa on the forestay will disrupt the air flow onto the sail on the Solent stay. As you pointed out, locating the anchor point aft of the anchor well would leave a comparatively small space between it and the mast.
I ran a stainless bar through the deck and down to the stem. It is bolted to plywood that I epoxied and glassed to the stem. It is also bolted to ply immediately below the deck to stop any movement between the bar and the deck which might have broken the waterproof seal around the bar.
I only day-sail so I don't think I would have bothered with the Solent stay if it wasn't that I already had a storm jib and No.4, and wanted to retain the ability to use them.

Steve

Hi Steve,

Thanks for your reply!
I understand - partly. I had the same idea to add a point just in front of the locker.
How do you attach the Solent stay and tension it?
If you’ve got some pictures I’d certainly be interested to see them.
I assume you’re hoisting a handed on storm jib with the spinnaker halyard or so?

I had considered the option of using a roller furled staysail on a torsion free rope.... just playing with ideas

Cheers,
Daniel