Dismasted!

[topcat0399]

it's only bad if you have to cut 6"off your mast... like I did... after I get the mast back up, I said oh crap, now all my cables are too long... I made a platform and added 4-5" underneath my mast... that made the cables the right length again... well close enough...

LOL!

I would have used a similar approach...

 

[Johann]

Thanks to everyone for their help and advice, and especially those who had similar "experiences", who helped me feel slightly less like an idiot.

Nice recovery.

Count me in as one who made a similar error on my 23.5. Thankfully without a crosswind...

 

[Rick Webb]

I Forgot Mine Once

Averted disaster but since then when I remove them from the mast I attach them to the Gin Pole. If I ever am so absent minded so as to try and raise or lower the mast without the gin pole it is time to give up sailing.

 

[sesmith]

I can unfortunately say from experience, that it's even more exciting when the mast comes down while you're sailing. We had that happen out in the middle of Lake Champlain in 20 knot winds, a few years ago, when the forestay broke on the 23.5 we used to have.

Luckily, the mast survived, the sails survived, and most importantly, we survived. The mast foot did not, and luckily a sail loft in Burlington saved our vacation by securing one and replacing the forestay while we spent a couple of days sightseeing.

The moral of that story is check the swaged t fitting, on the top of the forestay, next time your mast is down. Any fraying of the cable could be hidden by the furler as it likely was on my boat. I know now what I didn't know then (and now you all know as well)

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Also look for rust as well and yes I have seen it in stainless as some impurities do get thru.