<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META content="MSHTML 5.00.2614.3500" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi Guys,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Double parallel headstays were popular in the U.K.
during the '60's.... rarely seen now because it is nearly impossible to keep
sufficient and equal tension on them. We carry triangular plates that were
used to terminate them top and bottom... but in practice they don't
work.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Most common problem is as follows - the stay
carrying the sail sags and allows the hanks to clip themselves onto the stay not
under load along its length. Yes, piston hanks do this. Result is that you
cannot lower the sail. Also, while use of the plates helps keep the twins
apart - their presence caused the top and bottom assemblies to rotate up to 180
degrees when load is transfered from one to the other. This stresses the
tang at the masthead and bowplate, loosening turnbuckles (if you've gone for a
single under the stays) etc.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A much better system is to use a modern headfoil
such as racing sailors use, but instead of fitting a luff tape to your
headsails, put mains'l type slugs on them. The result is all the
advantages our forebearers hoped to get from the twin stays without the
disadvantages that caused them to discard the system. Whenever we are
asked about twin headstays, I ask if the customer has any books by Hiscock
(Published in early '50's). The answer is usually yes. I've got the
books too - Hiscock tried the twins because in the days of his early trips good
spinnaker gear and self steering devices were not available. He used the
twin stays to set boomed out jibs off the wind.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Gord</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>#426 Surprise</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A href="mailto:dpinson@attbi.com" title=dpinson@attbi.com>Dan & Gay</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
href="mailto:public-list@alberg30.org"
title=public-list@alberg30.org>public-list@alberg30.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, January 15, 2002 5:28
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Alberg30] Parallel
Headstays</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=916592122-15012002>Has
anyone installed parallel headstays on their A30? I'm referring to having two
run side-by-side (athwart). I'm looking for advice on design/mods needed to
connect them to the bow. Does the metal piece (whatever it's called) on the
bow? That would seem more secure than attaching something to that which then
attaches to the headstays. One less connection.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=916592122-15012002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=916592122-15012002>Thanks in advance.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=916592122-15012002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=916592122-15012002>Regards,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=916592122-15012002>Dan
Pinson</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=916592122-15012002>Dulcinea
#78</SPAN></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>