Adjustable Baby/Solent/Cutter Stay Setup

[Plumbean]

Question for the rig gurus out there:

I'm interested in setting up a baby stay that is adjustable/removable, with the adjustment being made on the mast. Anyone ever seen a setup like this?

Here is my issue:

I have a 2 spreader masthead rig with a baby stay. The current setup is removable, but it is attached with a huge highfield lever and is not easily adjustable (or capable of being stored properly when disconnected). I would like the ability to adjust the tension in the baby stay so that I can add pre-bend to the mast when conditions warrant, and vice versa. I'd also like the ability to easily remove the stay and store it when conditions allow and I need the space (e.g., putting the dink on the foredeck).

The typical racing setup on my boat (S&S34) is to have the baby stay attached to a tang on the cabin front using a vang type setup, and run the tail end aft on the cabin top to a winch in order to tension it. Unfortunately for me, that setup is typical on the Australian version of my boat, which is made with a different deck mold. On my version (from the UK), routing this system aft on the cabin top is much more difficult due to a different forward hatch and some dorade vents and hand rails. Additionally, I'd rather not add yet another tripping hazard as well as high load stress points on the cabin top if I don't have to.

So what I'd like to do is have the stay attached to the tang with a quick release shackle (like a tylaska snap shackle) and up top have the stay connected to a block system (which in turn is connected to the tang on the mast) that is then routed down the mast to a clutch. In order to tension it, I'd probably run it through an existing mast base turning block back to a cabin winch, but once tensioned, the clutch would hold it and all the load would be on the mast and not the deck (other than at the tank on cabin front). While it doesn't have to be, I'm thinking of doing this with a dynex dux baby stay, tensioned with a dyneema line running down the mast (sheethed for the clutch).

Anyone ever seen a setup like this?

[paulk]

If you're taking it to a winch at the end anyway, why do you need a tackle (block system) at the top at all? If you're going to put it in a clutch that has to be operated at the mast, you'll have to have someone there to set it up and/or release it. Why not have the stay (made of the various line sections you want: dyneema, etc.) simply go from the padeye on the cabintop, up to a hefty turning block on the mast, and down to the highfield lever [I]mounted on the mast[I](which you already own. K.I.S.S.

[tommays]

I think are setup is pretty close to what you want

[LaurenceU]

I agree with Paulk - "keep it simple". I don't see any reason to take the babystay adjuster back to the cockpit. When racing pre-set the baby stay to give you the amount of mast bend you need to flatten the main upwind. Use the backstay to tension the forestay and apply the mast bend. Application of the backstay tightens the forestay and gets the genny working nicely and as secondary effect it pulls against the baby stay bending the mast to flatten the main.
Ok if the conditions change sigificantly then you may need an adjustment of the baby stay length but its not something that needs to be contantly tended in a race.
I'm familiar with the S&S 34 (at least the WA ones build by Swarbricks) and these have the adjustment at the lower end of the stay similar to the set-up shown by Tommays.
However I cant think of any reason why the adjustment shouldnt be at the mast end.
Of key importance is to ensure there is no possibility of fouling the genoa sheets on tacking. One fouled tack can cost you more than all the fine tuning on the baby stay for the full race.
To this end I protect by baby stay with a length of plastic reticulation pipe as shown in the clip submitted by Tommays. In addition at the lower end I've a larger dia retic pipe to enclose the tensioner block. I think I have a 50mm pipe at the bottom connected to a 20 mm by a reducer. All cheap and easily obtained from a local hardware store.

Laurence