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Re: Tuning the Rig For a New Mains'l
That's one way you could do it, but a masthead-rigged boat is not an ideal candidate for mast bending, the benefits are small and the drawbacks to a baby stay are considerable. A baby stay stands in the way of an overlapping jib and will greatly complicate tacking the boat. If you're racing a one design fractional rig boat, you have to learn about prebend because it's inherent to a fractional rig, and everyone will be doing it. With a masthead rig, almost nobody will be doing it because it's less beneficial and generally not worth the hassle.
If your goal is to point higher and sail faster, your better choice is to be more meticulous in prepping your boat (bottom prep, rig tuning) and especially in sail selection, sail handling and sail trim, and in helmsmanship. A high degree of skill in those functions will put you among the leaders of most masthead fleets.