400e Inner Forestay - Deck chainplate solution?

Hi Mark - after experimenting with my slide-over-the-jib storm jib it's obvious that its largely a waste of time & space.  Did you solve the issue of strengthening the foredeck, please?  

Many thanks for such a comprehensive reply, Mark; I'm planning the 'winter upgrades' and checking out options.  We've got exactly the same forecabin layout so would face the same issues.  We intend strengthening the area around the (new) forehatch as the wretched thing has leaked consistently due to movement between the hatch and frame so the forecabin will already be having some major surgery.  We're considering cruising the Orkneys & Shetland next year so having a credible storm jib is attractive.  Thankfully, I've access to excellent riggers and S/Steel fabricator.   All the best!

Seriously impressive; many thanks again.  I've relied on a deep 3rd reef that we can rig from the cockpit and (so far!) its been fine up to the top end of a F7 - but I wouldn't like to use it much beyond that.  The trouble would really come if we decided that we were still overpowered as the sail would then have to be physically handed and properly secured to the boom, a risky task in such circumstances in any boat, let alone a light displacement one.  I've only ever set a trysail in anger once on a Victoria 34 for a F9+ on a channel crossing and can recall how comparatively easy it was. 

Hi Neil - please excuse the 'holiday snaps' nature of the pics but they illustrate the concept nicely.  When the transom bar is raised to give access to the stern I secure it to the Arch but it could just as easily be secured to the backstay. This is a very cheap mod that we added almost as an afterthought in the design of the Arch but we've been really surprised by the amount of extra security we feel it gives.  A lot more comfortable too - and safer if a man wants to go 'water the fishes' from the stern.

That's fantastic, thank you.