Hi Grant, regarding critical path with respect to the various stays, the direction of tension is (for all practical purposes) 90 deg to the shroud line tension direction. Therefore, I do not believe it matters if you tension your shrouds first or later. On my ship I finished all shrouds with tautness not tightness prior to setting any back/fore stay lines.
Edit: I did set Fore and main mast backstays prior to the shrouds but it was purely for ease of access.
Edit: I did set Fore and main mast backstays prior to the shrouds but it was purely for ease of access.
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