Backstays and Their Importance

Backstays are something that you have watched skipper and crew teams mess with in the past few seasons. I have watched some of the teams just take them right off of the boat while others tape them down to the base of the mast in the light conditions and then use them in the heavy stuff, while other teams use them all of the time. What is the right thing to do with them?


The answer is, backstays are not as important of an item as they used to be. The masts have changed from wood to aluminum and finally a new shape and different inner core construction. This has eased the need for backstay usage. Many teams want them out of their way and do not use them at all in light conditions. This is a positive because the skipper and crew do not get tangled up in the Spectra backstay lines that most teams are using. There might be a time when in very light air and heavy motorboat chop that you would like to have the backstays for downwind to keep the rig from shaking in the chop.


In the medium conditions, backtays can get forgotten and the next thing you know, you have thrown that quick jibe and now your boom won't go out and the boat wants to round up and tip over. I have watched more than one top team tip over around a weather mark because of the leeward backstay being cleated. Although it seems that the mast will not fall down in the medium or for that matter heavy air conditions, it is nice to have the backstay there for easing the shock lead to the rig on jibes.


When it is really windy, many people will use them all the time downwind and I agree that it is a smart idea to have them in use for that scenario.


There are some things that you can do to avoid having backstay mishaps. First, have communication from skipper to crew and decide what your procedure will be. Many skippers release the backstay and the crew pulls it on after tacks and jibes. On the other hand, skippers can have too many things on their minds and the crew may have to carry both ends of the backstay issue. The biggest thing about the backstays is to have a plan and use that plan all of the time.


Good luck with your use of backstays and please call Quantum Sails if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Zack Clayton