Lavezzi 40: Screecher ?

[mikereed100]

I would be very careful about mounting a pole without a compression post. Keep in mind that your genny is pulling upward on the crossbeam and the crossbeam rigging is transmitting that force into compression on the crossbeam as intended. A screacher pole, by constrast, will be trying to push the crossbeam back towards the mast, particularly if your whisker stays are led aft to the same bulkhead as the crossbeam is attached to. This will be putting unopposed forces against the middle of the crossbeam. The longer your pole the greater these forces will be. Remember, the crossbeam is what keeps the mast out of the cockpit, you don't want to put it at risk.

[Dragon Lady]

Yes, thank you for your concerns. Whilst not ideal from an enginieering point of view I think the crossbeam can tolerate some aft loading without catastrophic failure.
However after discussion with my sail maker I am now looking at doing an asymetric spinnaker which will place very little aft loading on the crossbeam.
If I decide to go for a screecher set up later on I will have to go for a stronger pole which transfers loading back to the bridge deck structure.