The inner forestay and running backstays actually make the mast stronger. The use of and innerforestay and staysail also improve the handling and versatility of your boat in heavy weather. If the runners do not provide enough support, increase the load that you can apply to them. On boats the size of yours and up, we set up runners either 1:1 or 2:1 to a winch so as to be able to tension the inner forestay with them.
I say keep the gear, and add to your sail inventory by getting a selection of staysails, genoa and yankee headsails, a storm trysail, a storm staysail and of course a big reacher and assym spinnaker too !
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Brian Duff
BVI Yacht Sales, Tortola
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