running backstays

[mrgnstrn]

does anybody have running backstays? i found a great new mainsail. one downside, it has a HUGE roach, like 2' beyond the single backstay.

i know that they are really only for hardcore racers, but it was such a great mainsail......

[Mike Goodwin]

I have had running backstays on several boats, don't do it on an Ariel. I dont trust them with a deck stepped mast . It takes the load of the headstay , so if both go loose while sailing hard , you will probably lose the mast from the load on the headstay.
The racers still have a regular backstay, the runners are for mast control , I had a C&C-40 tall-rig that had them.