[Jeff_H]

Hi Mike,

The comment that runners are only there to prevent the mast from pumping is true of most Bermuda rigs where there is a permanent backstay holding up the mast. In the case of a gaff rig, especially one as large as the one in question, the loads on the runners are enormous. On a 45 or so foot gaff cutter that I sailed on, there was a 12:1 cascading tackle on the runners and it was all that we could do to get it properly tensioned so as to not damage the mast at the partners.

The reason to hobble the jibs on a boat this large is to prevent them from getting terminally wrapped on their stays during the jibe and to prevent them from wildly filling and jibing causing the boat to unexpectedly veer.

I must say that as much as I enjoy sailing gaff rigs, I cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like to try to handle one that large with just two people.

Regards,
Jeff