Forestay and Jib Halyard

[STB]

My son purchased an older 470 and we are currently rigging. We have many jibs none with a wire luff. Can someone explain the correct rigging proceedures regarding the forestay and jib

[calebcannon]

I have a 1976 vangaurd 470. The forestay attaches to a strap on the mast just above jib halyard exit block. There is a cainplate on the top of the bow that holds the other end. I don't know how to make a jib work without a wire luff. You may want to contact Dave Hughs and buy a used jib that will work. He has good prices on used sails.

[Scott Fox]

The jibs don't usually have the luff wires "pre-attached". It should be a loose seperate wire that gets fed up the jib luff. A small line (1/8" spectra) is used to attach the top of the jib to the luff wire. the bottom of the jib is attached to the jib cunningham. The bottom of the luff wire is attached to the bow chainplate and then hoisted with the jib halyard and tensioned. The forestay will have zero tension on it once the jib is up.