Catamaran Standing Rigging

[Palarran]

It really shouldn't be a big concern for you. The Leopard 46's were built well enough and as I remember, they had quite a bit better bridge deck clearance than the 47'.

BVI's to Portugal - should be westerlies but I personally didn't get them. IMO, there are a lot more details to be worried about than putting some type of running backstay on a cat that hasn't show mast failure to be a problem.

[boatman61]

My last couple of crossing have been Easterlies streching as far West as Bermuda and North of 42*N..
One from St Martin and one from Miami..
Mind both were in June and July.. and direct nonstops.

[Bean Counter]

If you really want a storm jib a 100sq ft ATN jib that hanks a pocket around the furled genoa and raised on the spinnaker halyard should do. We bought one - used it once as a test in 30 knots - works fine, never used it otherwise.

[Yes maybe]

Originally Posted by Palarran

It really shouldn't be a big concern for you. The Leopard 46's were built well enough and as I remember, they had quite a bit better bridge deck clearance than the 47'.

BVI's to Portugal - should be westerlies but I personally didn't get them. IMO, there are a lot more details to be worried about than putting some type of running backstay on a cat that hasn't show mast failure to be a problem.

Yes bridge deck clearance is good.
I'm not looking to install back stay. Interest is 2nd forestay and jib on furler.
I single hand Nike mostly and looking at ways to make it easier and more secure. If I could use the existing Genoa and a new Jib for downwind, instead of trying to single hand a Genaker.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Yes maybe

Had a look, interesting. looks like no back stay?
Still thinking, is it better (safety needs to be included, in better) or cheaper?

Adding a back stay is not a big expense...esp relative to modern production cats...most of which cost well into 6 figures, some 7...a few grand to add a back stay is irrelevant.

They dont have them because they are not necessary structurally. They are not needed because of wide beam (20'+) and the side stays being set a bit aft...triangle rig as boatie refered to...backstay is unecessary.

[Palarran]

Originally Posted by Yes maybe

Yes bridge deck clearance is good.
I'm not looking to install back stay. Interest is 2nd forestay and jib on furler.
I single hand Nike mostly and looking at ways to make it easier and more secure. If I could use the existing Genoa and a new Jib for downwind, instead of trying to single hand a Genaker.

I have a self tacking jib so it's relatively small and easy to handle, especially compared to the main, which is much larger than most newer multihulls. But, the point is that if you want something easy to handle for longer downwind passages, then maybe look at getting a second smaller jib where you can fly it wing on wing when going downwind and douse your larger Genoa when winds exceed a certain level.

I don't think that for me, a second forestay would be desired. I believe that many sailboats with in inner stay have to reef the jib in order to tack. And in general, you don't have anything structurally strong enough to tack the stay down to. At least without spending multiple BOATT units.

[MikeFergie]

I certainly have not heard of the Leopard 46 having rigging issues in serious weather. If you look at you sail plan chart you will see main down and a sliver of jib out in 35+ knots. Cats seem to like main down and only jib in strong conditions

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by Yes maybe

Yes, reef when the manual says to, and no question about any rig failing.

SNIP

Wrong, reef early and often.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Triangulating their rigs now beams are much wider allowing the uppers to be moved aft of the masts centre line.. See Hunter 45DS for example..

https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/hunter-45-ds

PS, yellow is a lousy highlight colour on my phone [emoji3]

The B&R rig also evolved from high performance boats. One design objective was to allow a big roachy main. What I dont like about the B&R on a cruising mono is that the spreaders are so far back swept that they affect the ability to trim main off the wind. On a high performance boat this is a non-issue because the apparent wind is rarely aft of beam anyway.

Since the Hunters with B&R rigs dont carry big roachy mains, I think the primary reason they used the B&R rig was to clear the transom for easy access/swim platform.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%26R_rig

[yeloya]

Originally Posted by Palarran

I have a self tacking jib so it's relatively small and easy to handle, especially compared to the main, which is much larger than most newer multihulls. But, the point is that if you want something easy to handle for longer downwind passages, then maybe look at getting a second smaller jib where you can fly it wing on wing when going downwind and douse your larger Genoa when winds exceed a certain level.

100% agree, two gibs wing on wing is the way to go. I made the passage from BVI to Gibraltar and used this sail configuration almost half way particularly when the winds is stronger and AWA between 170-180 degrees. (my gibs were larger and not self tack,ng) It's very easy to reef, you just furl as much as you like.
As far as I know at least some of the old model Prouts have got back stays and these are the only cats I have ever seen with backstays.

Cheers

Yeloya

[Yes maybe]

Originally Posted by yeloya

100% agree, two gibs wing on wing is the way to go. I made the passage from BVI to Gibraltar and used this sail configuration almost half way particularly when the winds is stronger and AWA between 170-180 degrees. (my gibs were larger and not self tack,ng) It's very easy to reef, you just furl as much as you like.
As far as I know at least some of the old model Prouts have got back stays and these are the only cats I have ever seen with backstays.

Cheers

Yeloya

What boat were you on from BVI to Gibraltar passage above?

[yeloya]

Originally Posted by Yes maybe

What boat were you on from BVI to Gibraltar passage above?

FP Orana 44; 14 days from BVI to Azores + 7 days to Malaga. Perfect winds 22-35 kts of true, a lot of surfing.. up to 25,3 kts of speed..
mostly on spi (no main) or twin genoas. When the wind was more on the beam (AWA < 150-160 degrees) , double reefed main and 1/3 rolled genoa.


We didn't stop neither in Bermuda nor in Gibraltar..

Cheers

Yeloya