Pensacola FL Sailing Blog – sailingnightwatch

Another education. Most sailboats use the backstay on sloops or the triatic on ketches. My main backstay is split to go around the mizzen. The mizzen does not have a backstay. Because of the height of the mizzen, my triatic is to short. One of those hams who is also a sailor has a ketch with similar problems. He has a rope antenna. He runs his up the mizzen mast then across to the main mast. Works more then excellent. That’s is the type antenna I bought, but I am running mine from about where the main mast backstay runs from the chain plates to the top of the mast. That is 51 feet and I ordered a 48 foot antenna. The supplier suggested 41 feet to stay away from the stuff on top of the main mast.