I’ve been taking advantage of the summer like days here on Long Island to prep the boat for winter storage. It’s October and Nor’easter storms can’t be far off. I want to reduce the windage on deck in case a storm heads this way while I wait for the boat to be pulled which looks like it’s about a month away according to the boatyard. I was going to drop the wishbone while the boat is at the mooring but, I’m wondering if it’s better to leave it up for now to keep the weight on the mast while I wait for haul out when the mast will be unstepped.
Here’s a thought: Do drop the boom into its "winter position. Then, find a way (there are several), using your main halyard, to “tie your mast back” (put aft tension on your mast) to approximate the same slight bend that the mast would have IF it was suporting both the boom and the sail. Here’s the best way: Remove your mainsheet and substitute a short piece of line to simply tie your boom taut, straight aft, attaching it to your mainsheet block. Now, there you are with (I believe) the longest line on the boat, maybe over 100’. You tie a loop in the middle of the mainsheet, hook your main halyard to the loop and fly it the top of your mast. You, now, have 2 long equal lines from the top of the mast. Attach the ends of each of the lines to the port and starboard stern quarters and you have created a “tripod” of the mast and two lines, all taut, preventing the boom from oscillating on it’s own. it’s as if you suddenly have some “standing rigging” (and the mast is slightly bent back). You can even adjust each line seperately.
I hope this makes sense. I used this rig last year when I broke the Nonsuch rules by storing the boat, on the hard, with the mast up. I guarantee that the mast never swayed an inch all winter.