What's it for?
 

Still getting used to this "new" boat.

On the backstay, just above the helm is a short piece, say 4 feet, of flexible wire. It has been attached at one end with a crimped collar of some kind. At the other end is a quick-release shackle. It seems perfect to hold the boom and I am using it for that purpose, although the boat is equipped with a topping lift.

Others have suggested it might be for a man-overboard pole which many sailors stow on the back stay.

Best answer gets a free set of galvanized dentures.

Your previous post said you have a Pearson 36. Many similar boats from the era of Pearson and Irwin and earlier Morgans ended up with that wire thing on the backstay: it is indeed for hanging the boom from. The idea is that even sheeting down hard against the topping lift allows the boom to flog back and forth in a rolly anchorage, but the shorter, non-stretchy length of wire mitigates that. The best way, of course, is to have a proper boom gallows; having sailed my last boat a lot without a boom gallows convinced me never to put to sea without one again.
Can't wait for those teeth.
Ben

Thanks Benz. Appreciate your help.

I brushed them in diesel fuel. They are in the mail.

that wire, if secured to the backstay with a Nicro-Press sleeve (common) is a source of weakeness in the middle of your backstay cable. Yoy may find, on close inspection , that the lay of the 1by19 backstay cable is very distorted due to the comrpession keeping the fitting in place. IF you must have a short backstay hung pennent, perhaps its better to secure it to the backstay with one of those little 'Johnson' brand flag halyard cleats that has and eye in one end for a pennant or block.

Better still is a real toppinglift, and then a pennent off the stern quarter cleat , or somewhere, that the mainsheet can pull the boom in against and stablize that way...or gallows.