- I've had the boat for 3 weeks now, but have so far only used it under power.Like a good boy, I read the manual - which I have to say, to a civilian is fairly confusing. However, I rapidly reached the conclusion that I had no backstay, no masthead assembly, no spreaders and no vang (although one was included in the inventory). So I contacted the guy who sold me the boat - who had himself never used it (and the previous owner has died in between times).
His response was
“Some early MacGregor 19's had a three-quarter rig. The forestay did not connect to the top of the mast, but about three-quarters of the way up, resulting in a smaller jib. The 3/4 rig MacGregors also did not have a backstay, spreaders nor the second set of shrouds that connect midway up the mast. We've got evidence of a 1993 MacGregor 19 with a 3/4 rig.”
1. Does this make sense to you people who know about such things?
2. If it is indeed so, is it correct that the very top of the mast should just end in an open tube, with no stopper, closure or "end"
3. What does this tell us about likely sailing performance?
4. How the hull do I get the mast to stay up without crashing onto the foredeck?
As ever, all thoughts, ideas and views are gratefully welcomed, though I have to say that I don't think the traditional "You should buy a 200hp outboard" answer is likely to solve this particular problem.
) with only 3/4 of a proper rig 
