Set the turnbuckle to the desired length. I have found, after many hours ot tuning and testing sails, that the Capri 22 sails fastest with the turnbuckle extended to the maximum class legal length. This leaves enough thread showing on the turnbuckle to allow a ring-ding to be placed in the holes on the ends of each threaded screw post. If your boat is a wing keel version, the mast should have very little rake. In fact, some people sail the wing keel with zero inches of rake. The best way to measure the amount of rake is to hang a heavy object from the main halyard at the height of the gooseneck fitting. The best way to get an accurate rake measure is to perform this task with little or no wind.

Tension the upper shrouds by placing a 50 ft. tape measure to the main halyard shackle and hoisting its length to the top of the mast. Measure from the top of the mast to the chainplate on both sides of the boat to insure the mast measures the same on each side. Next, start to tighten the upper shroud turnbuckles; first, one side three or four turns and, then, the same with the opposite side. Keep checking the tape measure to make sure the measurement is the same on both sides of the boat. Use a Loos Model-A Tension Gauge to set the shroud tension at 450 lbs. You will notice a 2 inch to 2 1/2 inch mast pre-bend, when sighting up the back of the mast, with the upper shrouds set at the proper tension. Re-install the turnbuckle ring dings and wrap each turnbucle with rigging tape for sail protection and safety. If you think you'll experience a heavy air day, take a couple extra turns on the upper shroud turnbuckles to prevent the mast from bending to leeward as the upper shrouds load up and stretch.

The next step, after tightening the upper shrouds, is to set the tension on the lower shrouds. First, tighten the lower shrouds to take the slack out of them. Next, hoist the main and pull the backstay to the point where you set it in moderate wind. At this point, I feel it is best to fine tune lower shrouds while sailing. The primary function of the lower shrouds is to control the amount of bend in the lower part of the mast. If the lower shrouds are too loose, a large over-bend wrinkle will develop from the clew of the mainsail to the luff at about four feet above the boom. The wrinkle becomes more noticeable as you increase mast bend with the backstay. You remove this wrinkle by tightening the leeward lower shroud. After tightening the leeward shroud, tack and see what the mainsail looks like. If the mainsail has too much draft, then the shroud is too tight. The mainsail should have a consistent sail shape when the lower shrouds are set properly. Now, tighten the backstay to where you sail in heavy air. At this point, there should be a slight over-bend wrinkle developing from the clew of the sail. After you have set the lower shrouds, again, re-install the ring dings and wrap each turnbuckle with rigging tape.

The Capri 22 has a large mainsail with six different adjustments: outhaul, cunningham, mainsheet, traveler, backstay, and boomvang. The backstay is a very critical adjustment in that it effects headstay sag and the shape of the headsail. As the wind builds, the backstay needs to be tightened to flatten the mainsail and reduce the amount of headstay sag which also flattens the headsail. As the wind lightens, ease the backstay to make the mainsail more powerful and also induce headstay sag for a more full and powerful headsail. When adjusting the backstay, the mainsheet and genoa sheet will need to be adjusted at the same time. Place a couple marks on the backstay for a quick visual reference.