Mast broken

Oct 2, 2014
46
Benneteau Oceanis 361 from 2001 Gruissan, France
I bought a 361 from 2001 8 months ago and went on a small cruise. One day we went out to see how 30-35 knots wind felt in the boat. We had 5 m waves.

The next day we were out in 20 knots wind and 2 m waves and suddenly the top of the mast came down in the water on the starbord side and a tenths of a second later the whole mast came down, laying out over starboard side.

I tightened it up and placed fenders under it to minimise the damages to the boat.

The only security item I still had not bought was a wire cutter. I deployed my sea anchor, because only 2,5 miles to shore and some wire was stuck in the rudder. The rescue guys came out and with my metal saw, they cut the wires and we dropped the mast and sails.

The repair will run up in 30.000 euro, which the insurance will pay.

So remember to check your wires regularly all the way up and bring a wire cutter.

Has anyone tried the same?
 
Oct 29, 2006
388
Beneteau 381 Olympia, WA
So sorry to hear about your rig loss, I hope everyone is ok. I've never been in a dismasting or seen one close but it must be terrifying moment for any sailor. I do carry wire cutters and they're labeled next to the fire extinguisher so I guess I'm ready but still not sure I'm fully prepared for such event.

If you find the reason for the top sailing I'd sure appreciate if you posted. We have a baby stay that I disconnect when putting dinghy on deck but always put back on when sailing upwind so if anything like that could have caused it I'd be interested in knowing.

Hope you get your 361 back on the water soon!
 

JRacer

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Aug 9, 2011
1,365
Beneteau 310 Cheney KS (Wichita)
No, but I've pitched a few foredeck crew over the side over the years.

Hope all are OK at your end.
 

AndyR

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Oct 13, 2007
26
Beneteau 393 Blairgowrie Vic Australia
mast adrift

Hi Claus
I sympathise
Managed to hang a shroud on a channel marker in our B393 couple of years ago. fortunately the mast hung up on the piling till the rescues boat (with wire cutters) cut it free and we put the mast rigging sails etc overboard.
total cost (insured0 $A 60,000+)
silly mistake on my part I was unsighted by the jib, didn't allow for the tide, no excuses it was only 10kn of wind.
But no one got hurt and lesson learned
 

Attachments

Oct 2, 2014
46
Benneteau Oceanis 361 from 2001 Gruissan, France
No I do not have any idea which wire or where it broke, because I could not examine the rig, because it was laying overboard and the top was hanging deep down in the water.

I would not dare to sail with a loose baby stay here in the Middelterranien, because the weather can change very quickly here.

The scary thing was that the rig was banging against the boat, so I was nervous that it would make a hole, but it did not happen, so now I know I have a very solid boat.

Andyr: How long did it take them to repair the boat? I thought my estimated price for the repair is high, but yours was double, so it is probably cheep.
 

AndyR

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Oct 13, 2007
26
Beneteau 393 Blairgowrie Vic Australia
[
Andyr: How long did it take them to repair the boat? I thought my estimated price for the repair is high, but yours was double, so it is probably cheep.[/QUOTE]

sorry for the late reply

It took forever cos I tried to get an original B393 mast but it wasn't going to happen so we went for a local Ozspar mast and rigging which turned out ok.
We were out of service for 3 months of the summer so it meant an entire charter season gone for us but we have new rigging and sails.
Insurers here are requesting new rigging after 10 years anyhow so maybe it wasn't such a bad thing ( I had just passed full rig inspection the week before the mishap)
 
Oct 2, 2014
46
Benneteau Oceanis 361 from 2001 Gruissan, France
That was a tough request from the insurance company, but it must mirror, that it is not that unusual to have a mast failure, or just an insurance company, that doesn´t like to give out money:)

BTW I am going to have new sails fra UKsailmakers. The most important thing for me is strength and durability. It looks as if their Tape Drive sails are stronger than the ordinary dacron sails. Does anyone have experience with them?

Would be nice with a light sail in light wind.
 
Jan 6, 2014
35
Oceanis 351 Helsinki
It is hard to believe that repair costs would go that high (30 000€) if you need to buy only new mast + sails. I broke my mast (31 ft boat) few years ago and new mast was 7000€. I was able to use old sails with new mast.
 
Oct 2, 2014
46
Benneteau Oceanis 361 from 2001 Gruissan, France
This is the price before the insurance company has evaluated the damages, so I guess it will come down a few or five thousand euro. All rigging, blocks, lanterns and some damages on the deck is all running up.