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Unstepping the mast
Preparation
Monday, 3 November 2025. Yard help booked for the morning, mast crane by ten. Alexander’s words from the recent berthing seminar came back: ‘If you’re approaching alongside at a steep angle and your hair stands on end, count to three and turn.’ I laughed inwardly. True.
Before they arrived, I disconnected wiring, removed the mast-heel split pin and wooden wedges, and released the lower shrouds by the spreaders. Robin and Anton arrived. Strop beneath spreaders, slight tension, remaining shrouds undone and gathered, lift. I held the mast below while they raised it and guided it to supports. Smoothly done.
Wooden supports
I said she’d winter ashore. They offered simple wooden supports for the mast beneath the tarpaulin. Robin went to make them; Anton and I wound a halyard along the mast to gather loose rigging.
Twenty minutes later: a small bow-rail piece, a middle upright, a cockpit cross. Robin asked for old rags beneath to protect the gelcoat. Funny how yesterday’s rubbish becomes engineering.
Mast onto supports. Robin said smooth side up, groove down, for better load support. Old mooring lines secured it; supports tied to rails.
Ninety minutes. Invoice almost immediate: two people, an hour and a half, €276. A sigh. With supports built and mast returned aboard, reasonable. Indoor storage would cost much more.
The small surprise
A week before, I’d helped Grigory with his mast. Excellent aft support on the bathing platform, simple to dismantle, solid. I’ll copy that next time.
Leaving the quay, the usual perfect-day surprise. Starting the turn, a dull knock. Masthead against the crane. New dimensions caught me out. Electronic wind sensor damaged, bracket slightly bent. Another repair. Only then did I think to bag masthead and heel against moisture at the contacts. Should have done it immediately.
End of the day
The mast blocked the bow completely. Normal bow-first berthing became a puzzle. Stern-to instead, first time in a couple of years. As confident as if I did it daily.
Now wait for Friday and lift out.
#maintenance
Preparation
Monday, 3 November 2025. Yard help booked for the morning, mast crane by ten. Alexander’s words from the recent berthing seminar came back: ‘If you’re approaching alongside at a steep angle and your hair stands on end, count to three and turn.’ I laughed inwardly. True.
Before they arrived, I disconnected wiring, removed the mast-heel split pin and wooden wedges, and released the lower shrouds by the spreaders. Robin and Anton arrived. Strop beneath spreaders, slight tension, remaining shrouds undone and gathered, lift. I held the mast below while they raised it and guided it to supports. Smoothly done.
Wooden supports
I said she’d winter ashore. They offered simple wooden supports for the mast beneath the tarpaulin. Robin went to make them; Anton and I wound a halyard along the mast to gather loose rigging.
Twenty minutes later: a small bow-rail piece, a middle upright, a cockpit cross. Robin asked for old rags beneath to protect the gelcoat. Funny how yesterday’s rubbish becomes engineering.
Mast onto supports. Robin said smooth side up, groove down, for better load support. Old mooring lines secured it; supports tied to rails.
Ninety minutes. Invoice almost immediate: two people, an hour and a half, €276. A sigh. With supports built and mast returned aboard, reasonable. Indoor storage would cost much more.
The small surprise
A week before, I’d helped Grigory with his mast. Excellent aft support on the bathing platform, simple to dismantle, solid. I’ll copy that next time.
Leaving the quay, the usual perfect-day surprise. Starting the turn, a dull knock. Masthead against the crane. New dimensions caught me out. Electronic wind sensor damaged, bracket slightly bent. Another repair. Only then did I think to bag masthead and heel against moisture at the contacts. Should have done it immediately.
End of the day
The mast blocked the bow completely. Normal bow-first berthing became a puzzle. Stern-to instead, first time in a couple of years. As confident as if I did it daily.
Now wait for Friday and lift out.
#maintenance
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