How to rig a storm jib without an inner forestay

Before setting off to cruise the Pacific, John Marley found a smart way to rig a storm jib.

There are many opportunities for envy in sailing. One I've always had, when it comes to rigging a storm jib, is for a cutter rig with an inner forestay. Our sloop-rigged 2012 Bénéteau Oceanis 37, despite her model name, was fitted out for coastal cruising. We were equipping her for Pacific Ocean passages and reefing was a concern.

We solved the trysail problem by adding a deep third reef to the mainsail. We have a trysail, but to rig it we'd have to use the mainsail track, which means standing on the coachroof and wrestling with the mainsail in a gale. So far we've not had to do that, giving thanks for our deep third reef on many occasions.

The problem of rigging a storm jib remained. With a sloop rig, you have to take the genoa off its furler to hoist a storm jib. Foredeck work in heavy weather has never been attractive and has become even less so with age. The usual solution is to set a storm staysail on a removable inner forestay, which gives you a flat-cut sail nearer the boat's centre of effort, like a cutter rig. However, a better solution was at hand.

Meeting the man with the plan