Its usually there to support the deck where halyard blocks etc. are pulling up but you dont seem to have anything at the back of the mast being used atm. It definately should be there but would be better if it was at the front of the mast where your halyards appear to be running.

Gday Ed,
if your mountings are not broken and it's just the stay, could you replace with dyneema? You could tension it we'll enough by hand pretty easily, you don't want it torqued up while at rest in the dock.
That would allay any safety concerns till you get to a rigger.
Cheers,
SB

When the boat is driving to windward the compression of the mast will want to push the keel downwards. This can cause some panting at the deck. To stop this you could put a bulkhead there - which is over the top or put the wire back on.

If it was me I would Spanish windlass some Dyneema or the stiffest rope you have, or just do daysails inside the heads. It would probably be fine to head along the coast in nice weather. Then fix it up properly when you get time. I think it would be better to loosen the rig before you tried to tension the keel stay but low stretch rope and lashings led to a winch or a lashings and a spanish windlass would be good for a while. But don't go out offshore in a blow and drive hard to windward.

cheers

Phil

stray said..
Its usually there to support the deck where halyard blocks etc. are pulling up but you dont seem to have anything at the back of the mast being used atm. It definately should be there but would be better if it was at the front of the mast where your halyards appear to be running.

+2