My experience in the 1990s when I first started racing keelboats in San Francisco Bay was that everyone took off their baby stays for the reasons people have already shared on this list. I never saw a problem on Santa Cruz, Olson, boats.
My 36-1 has the baby stay removed and has been fine, though sailing on Lake Lanier in Georgia is not a hard core test of boat slamming waves. Thank you to everyone who gave me great info on the rudder squeak. I'm looking forward to visiting the boat this weekend to investigate exactly what it has based on your recommendations. Bailey 1979 C&C 36 Lake Lanier, GA
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