Hunter europas are fitted with an inner forestay. Is this only to prevent the mast "pumping" when flying the?

A forestay wont stop mast pumping .

Spinnakers are grossly unseamanlike sails which came into mainstream sailing , as did may other undesirable features , from serious racing boats .

Hobby sailors are often deluded into believing that these things make them look " Sharp "

You'd do far better with the big fat-cut foresail called a cruising 'chute nowadays , once known as a " Yankee "

Stowable inner forestays are very good things for wild weather , as you can set a Storm Jib on those where the sea cant jump up and burst it , but you have to make sure that the stanchion UNDER the deck that takes the strain is a good beefy one , otherwise your jib will sag out to L'ooard while your deck wibbles up and down in the process of seperating from the hull moulding .