034-037 JURY RIGGING.Indd

PRACTICAL SEAMANSHIP DismastingDismasting checklist DISMADISMASTEDSTED – IMMEDIAIMMEDIATETE AACTIONCTION It is vital that the moment the mastmast goes overover rig, and where the mast and boom are lying. been cut away fi rst. You may be able to save the the side someone, preferably the skipper, or • If the mast is overboard with a sharp, broken jib; you are unlikely to save the main. a crew member with previous experience, end there is a real risk the hull could be holed. In • If the mast has fallen on deck, secure it takes charge. The yacht and crew are in grave big seas it will almost certainly be too dangerous immediately. Then attend to any sails that have danger in the immediate aftermath. Here is a to try to secure the mast and boom or to lift fallen overboard. Dump them rather than risk suggested plan of action. them on deck, so cut the rigging and let it sink, or crew injury trying to recover them. • Don’t panic. Don’t start the engine – there will stream it as a sea anchor if conditions allow. • Check there are no wires, ropes or sails left be wire and rope in the water. • In calmer conditions anything you can save, in the water to foul the prop. You can now start • Hold an immediate roll-call, check for particularly the boom or a substantial length of the engine. personal injuries and assess the physical and mast, may be invaluable for a jury rig. Use rope • Depending on howhow ffarar youyou areare fromfrom a safsafee mental state of the crew. slings to secure spars alongside and parbuckle✱ haven, you can either motor in or consider a • Make an assessment of the damage to the them aboard. This will be easier if the sails have jury rig. CALLINGCALLING FORFOR HELP OFFSHORE • CarryCarry an emergencyemergency radio aerial. • If you are voyaging beyond motoring RIGGING KIT YouYou will lose youryour main radioradio aerial with range, you should carry a 406 EPIRB but Any skipper planning longer passages the mast. don’t set it off until you really need outside offshore should carry equipment to cope • A dismasted yacht within motoring distance of assistance. with a dismasting and to put up a jury rig. safety is not strictly a MAYDAY case but a PAN • Don’tDon’t taketake to the lifliferafteraft unless the boat has PAN call would be appropriate if you’re in range. been holed and is sinking. MUST HAVE • Wire cutters (Note: many domestic SAVINGSAVING THE RIG bolt croppers will not cope with stainless- steel wire) In almostalmost all cases, when partpart ooff the rig which may transfer the load from the good • Lump hammer or the mastmast ffails,ails, the rig goes byby the stay back to the broken one. • Hacksaw board.board. Occasionally quick action can savesave the • If the backstay fails upwind, don’t ease the • Large adjustable spanner with pipe to situation, at least temporarily, and maybe long main. The leach combined with the mainsheet extend handle enough for an emergency repair to be made. and kicker will keep the mast up almost • Sharp cold chisel • Steer away from the failure. If a windward indefi nitely. • Marlin spike shroud fails, tack leaving the genoa sheeted • A spare halyard or the topping lift can make • Sharp knife so that you heave to. This will stop the boat, an excellent temporary stay. • Selection of shackles reduce pounding and put the load on the other • If your course is to windward make progress • Long lengths of rope, preferably non- shroud. If a forestay fails, steer down wind and in a series of broad tacks to reduce the shock stretch of the Spectra type vice versa for the backstay. loads of pounding into waves. • Toggles • Having stabilised the rig, don’t reduce sail • If you see the rig start to fall, steer so that • Bulldog clamps too soon unless over-pressed. The sails will the mast drops over the side rather on to the • Long bolts dampen motion and prevent the boat rolling, deck where it might injure crew members. • Blocks/snatch blocks large enough to take a rope the size of a genoa sheet or CAUSESCAUSES OF RIG FAILUREFAILURE rope halyard • Seizing wire • MostMost dismasdismastingstings areare caused byby the • If the mast fails before the rigging, it will • Selection of split pins and rings failure of a rigging terminal. Stainless-steel probably be due to fatigue in the alloy caused • Insulating and duct tape wire very seldom breaks except where it by excessive ‘panting’. Panting, the fore and • Machine and self-tapping screws enters a terminal. aft movement of the centre section of the • T-ball terminals are more likely to fail than spar, occurs in heavy seas when the mast CONSIDER CARRYING tangs. is insuffi ciently well supported along its • Riveting kit • Many terminals fail because of poor length. If you are concerned that your mast is • Handy-billy tackle✱ alignment between stay and stemhead or panting, use the spinnaker topping lift as an (useful for tensioning rig) shroud plate. Make sure you have toggles emergency inner forestay. In the long term, fi t • Swageless terminal kit which allow alignment both fore and aft and running backstays or checkstays. • Zinc chromate paste athwartships.athwartships. (for insulating dissimilar metals) • Mast sleeving kit YM wouldwould like to thank • At least one length of wire longer than Peter Ellis and The British and as big in diameter as your largest stay Offshore Sailing School or shroud (BOSS). Contact: www.boss-sail.co.uk JANUARY 2006 • www.yachtingmonthly.com 37.

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