I see a lot of "backstay battens" these days that hold the backstay off of the leach and have considered making one. With the batten, the backstay could just get blown quickly and re-tensioned during/after a tack. Mostly seem them on Melges and Mumms, although there were several on Tripp 26's last week and Annapolis Race Week. I'm also considering putting a 1" diameter shroud roller high up on the backsaty to see if that will roll the top batten off during a tack or jibe. Anybody ever try either of these?

:: Paul came up with the idea at the Detroit NOODs this
:: year. We used it during pre-start practice and it worked
:: well. The breeze picked up and we just left the string
:: attached and it did not effect anything, so you could
:: leave it on all the time if you want.
::
:: :: That's a much better explanation.
:: ::
:: :: :: You take a piece of string and tie it 1-2 feet above the
:: :: :: main top block on the wire of the back stay and wrap
:: :: :: rigging tape around the wire just below it a bunch of
:: :: :: times so it does not slip down the wire. Then you run
:: :: :: the string through the stern cleats on either side up to
:: :: :: the traveler cleats on either side. Tie the string to
:: :: :: those horseshoe shaped pieces of metal on top of the
:: :: :: traveler cam cleats. Now when you do this make sure that
:: :: :: the backstay is at the light air setting as not to
:: :: :: effect the tension of the backstay or the string. It
:: :: :: should be snug. After tacking the helmsman eases out the
:: :: :: main sheet out a foot (in the sheet or traveler) and
:: :: :: yanks the windward string at the same time. This whips
:: :: :: the backstay to windward as the main drops to leeward.
:: :: :: This keeps the crew from jumping on the stern and allows
:: :: :: the helmsman to be minimally distracted.