Hi,
I race on an Elan 37 equipped with a good set of tape drive sails. Although we do well at lower winds, as the wind gets above 15knots we get control problems, with the boat constantly broaching into the wind with full main and even
jib no 3.
We are trying all sorts to flatten the main including maxing out the outhaul, cunningham and the backstay but although matters have improved it appears not to be sufficient.
Now I am wondering if we are pulling up on the backstay hard enough. When i do still at the mooring and look up the mast I note that the very top is curving significantly but the middle part of the mast is hardly changing shape. Therefore we may not be flattening the main enough to maintain control.
How does one gauge the maximum amount that the backstay can be tensioned before risking trouble?
I get the impression that the inner stays may be set too hard and therefore they are stopping the mast from curving forward when tensioning the backstay. Is there any advice out there on how hard to set these what is the limit before one can cause damage?
thanks.
xuraax