John,

It has worked very well for me. I use the main halyard to raise it up the backstay. It's on a Mark I so, I didn't have to worry about the split back stay. It is the large kit riding sail from Sail Rite that the Admiral and I put together. It's heavy enough that it will last for years and handle high winds , ~25mph. For lake sailing it works great because there are times that we have shallow anchorages and limited room to swing.

Here's a link to a larger picture: [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/c36fleet15/2946205904/in/photostream"]http://www.flickr.com/photos/c36fleet15/2946205904/in/photostream[/URL]

The picture is from one of Fleet 15 overnight anchor off the island gathering.

let me know if you have additional questions.

John - when you figure it out - please share your knowledge. I'm looking into a riding sail for next year and also have the split backstay.

What's the forward corner (called a 'tack' or a 'clew'?) tied to?

The forward point of the riding sail (tack) has a long line on it and I take it forward and tie it to one of the starboard shrouds. I've also tied it to a cleat on the starboard side of the mast.

John and Harold,
I don't think it matters if you have a split backstay or not. A riding sail should work with either. Simply hank the sail on one side of the split, and hoist it up with the main halyard. I also tie mine off to a cleat on the side of the mast. Since the cleat is a fixed point, I use halyard and tack pennant length to adjust the height of the sail, to make it as flat as possible. I don't want the foot or leach to be too tight or too loose.

Ralph,
I THINK the forward part of the riding sail is called the clew. The only reason I would know is that the sailmaker that made mine (as a peace offering for delivering a sail two months after a promised date) said he attached a long piece of webbing to the tack of the sail, to be tied to the pushpit or backstay turnbuckle. When I looked at him with an obviously blank stare on my face, he explained that the parts of the riding sail have the same names as a regular sail, only rigged as if the boat was sailing backwards. The head is still the head, the tack is still the tack, the clew is still the clew.

John

There is an old thread discussing this that might help.

[url]http://www.c36ia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=527&highlight=riding+sail[/... :)

Our own post is here:
[url]http://www.c36ia.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4304&highlight=riding+sail#...

Good luck :)

John, I have the split backstay and have used the large Sailrite anchor riding sail for 5 seasons. Use the main halyard to hoist and tie the tack around the mast.
I found it decreased the swinging angle at anchor in half. Even had it up during a 60 mph blow in the North Channel last July.

Heading north now going up the Michigan coast of Lake Huron. Be in Cheboygan Monday.

Jack F Stewart
1993 C36 #1233 "Windancer"
Port Clinton, OH

[QUOTE=TomSoko;9190]

Ralph,
I THINK the forward part of the riding sail is called the clew. The only reason I would know is that the sailmaker that made mine (as a peace offering for delivering a sail two months after a promised date) said he attached a long piece of webbing to the tack of the sail, to be tied to the pushpit or backstay turnbuckle. When I looked at him with an obviously blank stare on my face, he explained that the parts of the riding sail have the same names as a regular sail, only rigged as if the boat was sailing backwards. The head is still the head, the tack is still the tack, the clew is still the clew.[/QUOTE]

Tom, Thanks for the clarification about the clew/tack. Your explanation makes perfect sense.