In this publication10 photos
18 November 2024. Time to unstep the mast, a necessary part of winter preparations in Germany. A cool day, rain easing and returning as drizzle.
Running rigging first: neatly coiled and hung in the saloon to dry faster. A 17mm spanner disconnected the boom heel from the gooseneck. Boom into the forecabin.
At eleven, I berthed by the mast crane. Electrics first: disconnect every wire from the mast to prevent damage during lifting.
Two DAVIDSWERFT Nord GmbH staff arrived, and work began. Thankfully, the rain stopped. Wire rigging supports the mast: shrouds athwartships, stays fore and aft, sometimes doubled for security. We began with the babystay and lower shrouds from the spreaders. With everything loosened, we positioned the crane arm, wrapped a lifting strop round the mast and hooked on. Raised the hook slowly so the strop slid towards the spreaders without catching lights or other vulnerable fittings, using the spinnaker halyard to pull it clear.
Then loosened the cap-shroud, backstay and forestay turnbuckles. To keep the wires out of the way, we passed 6mm cord through the turnbuckles and tied it to the gooseneck. Once ready, removed the mast-heel pin and lifted carefully onto two supports.
With the mast down, we removed spreaders and cap shrouds, which I stored in a locker. Tied the remaining rigging to the mast every one to one and a half metres, then wheeled it to the shed. I measured it: 12.15m, about 1.8m of that inside the saloon.
Clouds cleared, soft golden autumn sun everywhere. Mast work done, but not the day. Back at the berth, I covered the mast opening with a bag secured by a clamp against moisture, then gave the yacht a thorough wash with my Kärcher K2, removing the accumulated dirt for her winter rest.
Wet but happy, I headed home in autumn sunshine and crunching leaves, leaving a sparkling yacht in a quiet marina. That evening’s invoice: €123 for two people’s 45 minutes. Less than last year.
#maintenance
Running rigging first: neatly coiled and hung in the saloon to dry faster. A 17mm spanner disconnected the boom heel from the gooseneck. Boom into the forecabin.
At eleven, I berthed by the mast crane. Electrics first: disconnect every wire from the mast to prevent damage during lifting.
Two DAVIDSWERFT Nord GmbH staff arrived, and work began. Thankfully, the rain stopped. Wire rigging supports the mast: shrouds athwartships, stays fore and aft, sometimes doubled for security. We began with the babystay and lower shrouds from the spreaders. With everything loosened, we positioned the crane arm, wrapped a lifting strop round the mast and hooked on. Raised the hook slowly so the strop slid towards the spreaders without catching lights or other vulnerable fittings, using the spinnaker halyard to pull it clear.
Then loosened the cap-shroud, backstay and forestay turnbuckles. To keep the wires out of the way, we passed 6mm cord through the turnbuckles and tied it to the gooseneck. Once ready, removed the mast-heel pin and lifted carefully onto two supports.
With the mast down, we removed spreaders and cap shrouds, which I stored in a locker. Tied the remaining rigging to the mast every one to one and a half metres, then wheeled it to the shed. I measured it: 12.15m, about 1.8m of that inside the saloon.
Clouds cleared, soft golden autumn sun everywhere. Mast work done, but not the day. Back at the berth, I covered the mast opening with a bag secured by a clamp against moisture, then gave the yacht a thorough wash with my Kärcher K2, removing the accumulated dirt for her winter rest.
Wet but happy, I headed home in autumn sunshine and crunching leaves, leaving a sparkling yacht in a quiet marina. That evening’s invoice: €123 for two people’s 45 minutes. Less than last year.
#maintenance
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