Here are the photos I took yesterday of Destiny's new staysail sheet system that was necessary to handle the larger furling staysail after boom removal.  I addition to what I previously stated, the starboard and port cockpit sheet clutches had to be reorganized to accommodate the addition of two new clutches for the staysail.  The staysail sheets run between the forward lower and the upper shrouds.  While furled the staysail sheets will rest against the forward lower shrouds (hence the cable covers) but once unfurled move to their optimum position.  So far the system works great and tacking has never been easier. 

I upgraded the stayail 1/4" stay to 5/16" based on TOG member failure comments.  In coordinating a new set of sails by Carol Hasse of Port Townsend, WA (highly regarded for making the best cruising sails) she recommended going to furling for my Pacific passage and doing away with the boom.  Boom can be dangerous and LIMITS the size of the staysail.  However, larger nonboomed staysail requires a change to the staysail handling system which on my 1979 V-42 with step-up aft deck was a bit of a challenge getting the correct angle due to the heavy use of that area for hatches, dorads, mast pulpits, other lines, etc.  After all is said and done the system works great and is very easy to use plus the staysail was made to be partially furled which gives me another option for higher winds (two sails in one).  Project was more involved than I imagined.  More more time and coordination was put into this staysail upgrade than either the full batten main or the furling genoa.  After reviewing Robert Harris's sail plan for the V-42, Carol believes that the head of the boomed staysail sail is not an optimum design (too narrow) and may actually be negatively affecting the sail's performance.          

~ ~ _/) ~ ~ Mike (mjhirko@aol.com)