Hi,
David Doran here. Just to clarify a point, I have not done that much sailing yet in my Wayfarer conversion, so my conversion maybe not the best example to use.
Also, my sail area is approx 10.5 SqM versus 13.5 SqM for the Bermudan rig so it it going to be less stressed anyway.
I ended up with the mast in exactly the same position as the original Bermudan with a steel tabernacle fitting into the original GRP tabernacle and tapering outward above the deck to the size required for the 3" mast and extending above the deck for 0.5M. I actually used a piece of box section steel which I tapered down to fit into the GRP tabernacle.
The entire 5M Aluminium tube is above deck level. The tabernacle is held in place by 3 short shrouds to the original forestay fitting and 2 U-bolts which I bolted through the sidedecks which I reinforced underneath. I built up in front of the mast foot using timber and used the original backstop pin in the original mast foot track.
My current sail balance in front of the mast is 29% sail area and the split and I think that for more positive feathering, which is more essential in an unballasted dinghyy than a keelboat, I will build another jiblet panel to bring that down to 25%.
Though I have to say that when I did manage to keep the centreboard fully down when going upwind (it had a non-functioning friction brake), the boat balance was very good, the tiller was only a couple of degrees off central and I could almost sail it hands-free.
As soon as the board slipped back up a bit, I needed much more tiller to keep it in a straight line, so the hull balance/mast postion seems fine.
I built the rig the size I did because I need a shorter mast to get under a bridge.
It's too early yet for me to say how truly successful my conversion is. I've only sailed solo in it and need to do more sailing until I am fully satisfied that it is safe to carry a passenger with the setup I have. Health and Safety and all that.
Best of luck with the build. Dave.