Tuning question

[seawolf]

Hello all,
I am helping a friend tune his 26' Ranger.
Unlike the rig on my Columbia 29 which has upper shrouds in line with the mast and a baby stay forward of the mast, this rig has upper shrouds in line with mast and lowers forward of the mast. No aft lowers.
There is no turnbuckle on the jib stay.

My two questions are:
1-Since the forward lowers arrest the mast at the spreaders, is this set up to allow for a little more bend at the top of the mast, with the backstay, along with keeping the mast to pump in a heavy chop?

2-Are the forward lowers a little more effective than that of a single baby stay in front of the mast?