GNAV...

Firstly, the picture is Mark's Contender, this is mine and the kicker is atached to a flippin big u-bolt through the mast.

Secondly, I might have the answer - assuming I've understood the question: When I step the mast I attach the forstay, heave the mast onto the step, and attach the looseish lowers. Then I attach the halyard to the outhaul and bang on loads of kicker which 'lengthens' the shrouds and lets me pin them in low enough to get the the rig tension I need (I'm quite big), far lower than I could manage just pulling on the trapeze handle.

From this I deduce that pulling on kicker bends the mast shortening the distance between hound and chain plates and also pulls the mast back because of the control lines being lead back (nothing to do with where the cascade it attached).

Hmm, if your mast rotates in the step on a Contender you are (or soon will be) in a bit of bother.

OK, I thought you meant rotate like a wing mast. You mean the tip rotating about the heel, backwards towards the cockpit, yeah? In which case I agree the bending force would be added to by a rotational one but we're only talking about the forestay being under more tension.

Isn't that where you came in?

Yes, I believe you're right. Not sure what effect that has on my particular class but the shrouds going slack is a bigger potential problem. Can't remember the process in detail but as the wind increases, and I go out on the wire, the rig depowers itself and I have to come back in - somewhat frustrating hence the high rig tension.

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BTW folks kicker can't cntribute that much to forestay tension because its working at a massive mechanical disadvantage due to the length of the levers.[/QUOTE]

Yes to some extent - but you put the rig tension on a 49er with a 5:1 purchase in the boat breaker.  Most kickers that work have some about 16:1 purchase - you can pull quite hard on that...plus if you are looking at hiking classes with typically low rig tension it can be significant.