Take the Mast Off
Ile Jeudi
Bob and Lin Griffiths
Sat 14 May 2011 11:07
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36:49.17W 28:18.53E
Saturday 14 May 2011
We plan to cross the Atlantic this winter and have
been preparing the boat. Some insurers require the standing rigging (the
wire stays - shrouds and forestay - which support the mast) to be changed after
10 years. Our company doesn't but we feel that, as the rig will be 11 or
12 years old by then, we should take the safe option. We got quotes from
several companies last October and decided to use Demir Marine again as they
have done good work for us over the last two winters.
The mast is 18 metres long and quite heavy so the
job requires a crane to lift it off. As the boats are all rather
close together on the hard over the winter the Marina management won't
allow cranes in to do the lift over the winter in case of an accident which
could result in a boat toppling over and taking others with it in a domino
affect. This meant it couldn't be done until we launched the boat
again this spring.
Today is launch day and now the crane can't get to
the launch dock! The management relented and said the crane could work on
the hard as as we have no boats immediately around us now. So, the launch
is postponed until the mast is taken off, new rigging fitted and the mast
re-stepped again.
First, send a man up the mast to tie the crane
cable to the mast:-
 Shrouds detached and mast lifted. Serkan is
stopping the mast swaying away:-
 Lift off:-
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