re Tides ... for some reason over the last few years I have opted to keep a lot of back tension on ALL the time ... to keep the harking roller furling from sagging. {{{I don't even know if it sails better with or without sag ... will have to check this winter}}}
on Rhapsody I am surprised how little tension Bill uses and how straight that mast can be. My harken dates back to my first j30 #327 in 1983 and is probably heavier than it needs to be. So yes the slides seem to work with back tension and drop OK as well ... but with a straight mast it is really nice. but try the straight mast before you invest in Tides. With the Tides I don't think about the backstay tension.
but mast tension is just a pull away ... with slugs I had gotten down to always releasing the back stay before raising the sail and that alone really helps. Sort of part of that check list: vang OFF, backstay OFF, cunningham OFF, cleat ON, sailties OFF.
Vee Jay 2 will be in NPT in May, come on down and sail a bit with us.
v
