forestays

The forestay is a piece of standing rigging on a sailboat that runs from the masthead to the bow. It provides forward support for the mast and serves as the attachment point for headsails such as the jib or genoa. The forestay is the forwardmost stay on most rigs and is often referred to as the headstay.

Forestays are typically made of stainless steel wire or wire rope, though modern boats may use low-stretch synthetic fibers such as Dyneema. They are connected at the masthead to a terminal, shackle, or toggle, and at the bow to a stem fitting or chainplate, usually with a turnbuckle or other tensioning device to adjust length and tension.

In operation, the forestay works with the backstay and other rigging to keep the mast upright and aligned under sail loads. Tensioning the forestay influences the shape of the headsail and, with mast bend, the overall sail performance. On many boats the forestay length is fixed, but some rigs employ removable or adjustable forestays to accommodate different sail plans or downwind gear.

Maintenance and inspection involve checking fittings for corrosion or wear, ensuring the turnbuckle threads are clean and secure, checking for frayed strands, and replacing the forestay if elongation or damage is observed. Regular rig checks during maintenance cycles are recommended.