The popularity of flying a code zero or asymmetric sail increased tenfold in 2018, with the trend set to soar in 2019 as more and more sailors take advantage of these high performance sails.
Faster and more manageable, these sails sit forward of the forestay, requiring an attachment for the furling drum in front of the bow, known as a bowsprit.
Whilst most modern, performance cruising boats will have a permanent bowsprit, older boats will be required to retrofit a bowsprit in order to enjoy the use of a code zero or asymmetric.
In our previous Trogear blog, we explained how the Trogear removable bowsprit could help you do just that; developed in 2012 by Henry Dokonal, the bowsprit combines minimum weight with maximum strength and is ideal for shorthanded sailing.
But – if you’ve already purchased your Trogear bowsprit and are ready to reap the benefits – how on earth do you rig the bobstay?!
The purpose of a bobstay is to counteract the upward tension on the bowsprit, caused by the flying sails and the torsional stay.
The bobstay is connected to the tip of the bowsprit and routed to a u-bolt, which is attached on the bow. Assuming the sails are deployed and the bowsprit is horizontal, the bobstay should achieve an angle of 45 degrees or more, to provide enough downward force to counteract the loaded sail.
The following instructions illustrate how to assemble a common bobstay set up for the Trogear Bowsprit:
First, here's a diagram:
Short Dyneema® Strop
Bobstay 2:1
Control Line
Bowsprit Height Control
Line Recommendations
Based on a SK78 core, we recommend the following diameters for the single braid 2:1 bobstay section and the double braid line back to the clutch/winch:
Trogear Model |
2:1 Single Braid Diameter (mm) |
Double Braid Dia. (mm) |
AS30 |
4 |
6 |
AS40 |
5 |
8 |
AS50 |
6 |
10 |
Atlas 50 |
6 |
10 |
As the forces on the bowsprit are relatively high, the materials used must be correctly sized, installed and maintained, with checks made regularly. All materials should have a minimum safety factor of 2, and Trogear recommend rigging the bobstay in such a way that compression forces act in a straight line from the tip towards the attachment.
If you have any questions about Trogear bowsprits, please feel free to email us at support@upffront.com, or click the link below to see our full range: