You and your family have been sailing for a week or so on your boat in coastal waters. You are on your way home, and the last time you looked at your charts you noted your home port -- the closest protected anchorage -- was still 30 miles away. Just as you are thinking about all this, the forestay snaps with a loud CRACK and drops overboard, dragging your headsail under the boat. Your wife is pretty good at the helm, but doesn't have much experience in either bad weather or doing repairs. Your children are too young to be much help. What would you do? (By Warren Milberg)
- Status
happened on my first sailboat
I had a headstay come loose instantly on my first boat when I was quite new to sailing. A quick release pin with the ball rusted tight was the culprit and it came loose while we were sailing (reaching). The boat at the time was a MacGreagor 26 (the sloop not the ski boat)with the hinged mast. I can not figure out why the mast did not lay back on us the minute the stay came off since there was nothing else holding us up at the time. I turned downwind so the sails would hold up the mast and carried the topping lift forward to take the place of the stay since we lost the pin. We had just left the marina so it was back to the slip and then on the nearby Worst Marine for a new pin and a spare. My present boat (C350) has a spare halyard to use for a spinnaker so that would be what I would use as a stand-in for a missing headstay. If I was sailing close to downwind I probably would continue sailing but if my course required reaching for home port I would drop all sails to reduce forces on the mast while I was using a halyard for a forestay. The headsail under the boat presents a different problem that I would deal with after securing the makeshift headstay. With the boat stopped it should be possible to pull the sail back on board but if not there is always the snorkel gear and dive knife approach.
I had a headstay come loose instantly on my first boat when I was quite new to sailing. A quick release pin with the ball rusted tight was the culprit and it came loose while we were sailing (reaching). The boat at the time was a MacGreagor 26 (the sloop not the ski boat)with the hinged mast. I can not figure out why the mast did not lay back on us the minute the stay came off since there was nothing else holding us up at the time. I turned downwind so the sails would hold up the mast and carried the topping lift forward to take the place of the stay since we lost the pin. We had just left the marina so it was back to the slip and then on the nearby Worst Marine for a new pin and a spare. My present boat (C350) has a spare halyard to use for a spinnaker so that would be what I would use as a stand-in for a missing headstay. If I was sailing close to downwind I probably would continue sailing but if my course required reaching for home port I would drop all sails to reduce forces on the mast while I was using a halyard for a forestay. The headsail under the boat presents a different problem that I would deal with after securing the makeshift headstay. With the boat stopped it should be possible to pull the sail back on board but if not there is always the snorkel gear and dive knife approach.
Prepare early
I have seen a few things over the years that made me think about safety and what you might be ready for in case of emergency.. I always have a spare halyard in place that is slightly larger than the rest. It can be used for many things in case of emergency. I have not had the headstay break, but I have lost the main halyard right out of the mast. If this happened to me I would use my spare halyard to secure the mast forward. I would then attach a line to the part of the headstay and sail remaining on deck and remove the fasteners to let it go overboard and retrieve it from the stern. Then I would sail home under the main.
I have seen a few things over the years that made me think about safety and what you might be ready for in case of emergency.. I always have a spare halyard in place that is slightly larger than the rest. It can be used for many things in case of emergency. I have not had the headstay break, but I have lost the main halyard right out of the mast. If this happened to me I would use my spare halyard to secure the mast forward. I would then attach a line to the part of the headstay and sail remaining on deck and remove the fasteners to let it go overboard and retrieve it from the stern. Then I would sail home under the main.
Hmmm...
My first thought was: Won't the headsail and its halyard hold the sail in place, and support the mast, even if the forestay parts? You could argue that the foresail luff may fail when the load is transferred to it, but the luff is a very strong component, and does offer substantial redundancy. Some careful thinking reminded my that our furler is set up so that the tack of the sail puts a strain on the bow through substantial furler hardware, which is not dependent on the forestay. So I doubt that the forestay would drag the foresail overboard. Any actual data on this likelihood? In any case, we would: - Immediately head downwind. - Secure the spinnaker halyard to the bow cleat, and take a maximum strain on it. (Lacking a spinnaker halyard, we would drop the main, and use the main halyard, extended by the docklines on the bow.) - Clear the wreckage. We carry wire cutters to sever the shrouds if needed. We will bring aboard what we can (especially the sail) but the emphasis will be on safety of the crew and of the vessel. This will involve some serious good seamanship, since we will need to minimize our speed through the water while maintaining some control. Dropping the main, and steering on the hull will probably get us started. Our boathook is long enough to allow us to push flotsam down below the keel if that is needed. Recover the foresail halyard if possible during this process since that will allow us to either increase rig stability, or set a second foresail as needed. - Reset the remaining sail(s), and head for home. David Lady Lillie
My first thought was: Won't the headsail and its halyard hold the sail in place, and support the mast, even if the forestay parts? You could argue that the foresail luff may fail when the load is transferred to it, but the luff is a very strong component, and does offer substantial redundancy. Some careful thinking reminded my that our furler is set up so that the tack of the sail puts a strain on the bow through substantial furler hardware, which is not dependent on the forestay. So I doubt that the forestay would drag the foresail overboard. Any actual data on this likelihood? In any case, we would: - Immediately head downwind. - Secure the spinnaker halyard to the bow cleat, and take a maximum strain on it. (Lacking a spinnaker halyard, we would drop the main, and use the main halyard, extended by the docklines on the bow.) - Clear the wreckage. We carry wire cutters to sever the shrouds if needed. We will bring aboard what we can (especially the sail) but the emphasis will be on safety of the crew and of the vessel. This will involve some serious good seamanship, since we will need to minimize our speed through the water while maintaining some control. Dropping the main, and steering on the hull will probably get us started. Our boathook is long enough to allow us to push flotsam down below the keel if that is needed. Recover the foresail halyard if possible during this process since that will allow us to either increase rig stability, or set a second foresail as needed. - Reset the remaining sail(s), and head for home. David Lady Lillie
Since my jib tack is secured to a different hole
in the stem head fitting it wouldn't be a problem until I dropped the jib. I don't know what would happen if I had rolled furling. I would expect the mast to come down if the forestay broke and the sail went over the side.
in the stem head fitting it wouldn't be a problem until I dropped the jib. I don't know what would happen if I had rolled furling. I would expect the mast to come down if the forestay broke and the sail went over the side.
Since we use a hank-on jib
with a downhaul, we would use the jib to take the initial strain after immediately turning downwind. The downhaul/halyard would serve as a temporary forestay to sail under main alone.
with a downhaul, we would use the jib to take the initial strain after immediately turning downwind. The downhaul/halyard would serve as a temporary forestay to sail under main alone.
Nuts . . . typed a response and got a "404"
George pretty much nailed it. Some others didn't get the scenario correct
George pretty much nailed it. Some others didn't get the scenario correct
Engine iffy
I would hesitate to engage the engine with sailes and possibly lines running under the keel. This happenned to me too, only losing the headstay meant having the entire rig crash into the cockpit. I tied it all off and motored in. However in the case in question I would turn downwind, drop all sail or back the sail(s) and try to retrieve gear. It would depend on weather conditions. If foul, I would just cut it all lose and literally cut my losses.
I would hesitate to engage the engine with sailes and possibly lines running under the keel. This happenned to me too, only losing the headstay meant having the entire rig crash into the cockpit. I tied it all off and motored in. However in the case in question I would turn downwind, drop all sail or back the sail(s) and try to retrieve gear. It would depend on weather conditions. If foul, I would just cut it all lose and literally cut my losses.
30 miles at 5 knots
is 6 hours. At 1/2 to 1 gallon per hour of fuel, you'd need either 3 or 6 gallons. Unless it's a small trailerable boat, most people should have more than that amount of fuel in their tanks at most times.
is 6 hours. At 1/2 to 1 gallon per hour of fuel, you'd need either 3 or 6 gallons. Unless it's a small trailerable boat, most people should have more than that amount of fuel in their tanks at most times.
Headstay gone
If my headsail is in the water I must have been running or on a broad reach. Even so, first priority is to rig the spi halyard to anchor roller and tighten up to support the mast. This happened to me years ago en route from Ireland to France. We We kept a triple reefed main up to steady and motored for 24 hours to the Scilly Islands where we put in for repairs. Needless to say, for such a trip we lots of extra diesel. Fishing the headsail out shouldn't be a problem. If necessary drop some diving weights on a line to free it from the keel.
If my headsail is in the water I must have been running or on a broad reach. Even so, first priority is to rig the spi halyard to anchor roller and tighten up to support the mast. This happened to me years ago en route from Ireland to France. We We kept a triple reefed main up to steady and motored for 24 hours to the Scilly Islands where we put in for repairs. Needless to say, for such a trip we lots of extra diesel. Fishing the headsail out shouldn't be a problem. If necessary drop some diving weights on a line to free it from the keel.
Problem Solving
Is your destination upwind or down? Is there an alternate port within broad reaching range? What is the weather? What sails were you using? What is now holding up the mast? First, put the boat on a broad reach, dragging the jib alongside. Put on a harness, Put someone on the tiller to keep the boat moving slowly as the sail streams alongside. Then, working from the tack, pull it up on deck. Now you must rig an alternate forestay. Is there a second main halyard, another jib halyard, spinnaker halyard? with any of these, you should be able to sail to windward with a reefed main, if not a full sail. Before you come up on the wind, rig the substitute forestay to a winch so you can rake the mast a bit if necessary. Balance the helm as well as you can and sail home. Next time have a forestay as well as using the jib for a forestay, just in case. PS: if it is a howling wind, drop all sail and run or broad reach until it calms down. Bare poles are probably adequate propulsion. If not, storm trysail, but if you did not have backup forestay you probably don't have one.
Is your destination upwind or down? Is there an alternate port within broad reaching range? What is the weather? What sails were you using? What is now holding up the mast? First, put the boat on a broad reach, dragging the jib alongside. Put on a harness, Put someone on the tiller to keep the boat moving slowly as the sail streams alongside. Then, working from the tack, pull it up on deck. Now you must rig an alternate forestay. Is there a second main halyard, another jib halyard, spinnaker halyard? with any of these, you should be able to sail to windward with a reefed main, if not a full sail. Before you come up on the wind, rig the substitute forestay to a winch so you can rake the mast a bit if necessary. Balance the helm as well as you can and sail home. Next time have a forestay as well as using the jib for a forestay, just in case. PS: if it is a howling wind, drop all sail and run or broad reach until it calms down. Bare poles are probably adequate propulsion. If not, storm trysail, but if you did not have backup forestay you probably don't have one.
Warren, I still don't see how you loose the
jib if the forestay fails. Further why don't you loose the mast if the headsail and fore stay are both in the water? We had a boat from our marina break the forestay turnbuckle and he continued sailing unaware of the broken forestay until he dropped the jib. Nancy watched him let the jib halyard run and watched as the mast came down. The hanks just slid down the forestay as the halyard ran out. About five of the men from the pier helped get the sails and mast back onto the boat.
jib if the forestay fails. Further why don't you loose the mast if the headsail and fore stay are both in the water? We had a boat from our marina break the forestay turnbuckle and he continued sailing unaware of the broken forestay until he dropped the jib. Nancy watched him let the jib halyard run and watched as the mast came down. The hanks just slid down the forestay as the halyard ran out. About five of the men from the pier helped get the sails and mast back onto the boat.
Safety of Crew first priority
1. Give the wife the helm. 2. Drop sail immediately 3. Don't start engine 4. PFDs on and secured if not done 5. take any tension off backstay 6. Use spare halyard and tie off on bow to stabalize mast 7. Securitay to CG to advise position and status only. 8. when everyone is safe, see what can be done, boat hook or otherwise to retrieve the sail and rigging if possilbe. not that important in the grand scheme. No engine for sure until sail/rig is clear.
1. Give the wife the helm. 2. Drop sail immediately 3. Don't start engine 4. PFDs on and secured if not done 5. take any tension off backstay 6. Use spare halyard and tie off on bow to stabalize mast 7. Securitay to CG to advise position and status only. 8. when everyone is safe, see what can be done, boat hook or otherwise to retrieve the sail and rigging if possilbe. not that important in the grand scheme. No engine for sure until sail/rig is clear.
Call your insurance ...
1. If the forestay fails with a loud crack, it was under tension. 2. If the forestay was under tension and the jib was up it would not go into the water, the halyard would prevent it. If the boat had a furling system that does not use a proper halyard (CDI or Spin-Tec) The furler, sail and mast all went over the side (severly limiting your options). As Ross says, there is almost no way for the headsail to end up in the water after the headstay breaks. Even on furling systems that are part of the headstay (Harken, Furlex, etc) the headsail is tacked to the drum and the clevis pin holding the drum to the stem fitting would have to fail. In that case the head of the sail and the mast would hit the water at about the same time. I will assume that since the only possible way to have a loud crack and a headsail in the water includes the rig falling down (even keel stepped masts are likely to fall down if there is enough load to cause the headstay to fail with a loud crack) that that is the situation we are faced with. Make sure that all on board are safe. The boat will be stopped so we can evaulate the situation. If the rig is pounding on the side of the hull, I go to the tool locker and get my wire cutters and cut the remaining rigging and give the rig to the sea. If the rig is not pounding on the hull and trying to hole it, I tidy the rigging and lines, get the sails back on board, and see if I can lash the rig alongside for the trip home. I would switch to my back-up VHF antenna (mounted on the Radar Tower) and call the Coast Guard. I would advise of my position, the boat's condition, my destination, ETA and an estimate of hours of fuel remaining. I'll burn more fuel motoring with the rig lashed alongside so I'll count on burning twice the fuel. If that means that I won't have enough fuel to reach a safe harbour ... I call my insurance broker ... "Paul?" "Yes Randy?" "I'm 30 miles away from Pirates Cove, the mast came down. I've managed to save the rig and have it lashed to the boat. If I try to make port with the mast lashed alongside, I'll run out of fuel. Would you like to pay for a tow? Or would you rather I cut the rig loose and then you can pay for the rig?" Any bets that I get a free tow out of it?
1. If the forestay fails with a loud crack, it was under tension. 2. If the forestay was under tension and the jib was up it would not go into the water, the halyard would prevent it. If the boat had a furling system that does not use a proper halyard (CDI or Spin-Tec) The furler, sail and mast all went over the side (severly limiting your options). As Ross says, there is almost no way for the headsail to end up in the water after the headstay breaks. Even on furling systems that are part of the headstay (Harken, Furlex, etc) the headsail is tacked to the drum and the clevis pin holding the drum to the stem fitting would have to fail. In that case the head of the sail and the mast would hit the water at about the same time. I will assume that since the only possible way to have a loud crack and a headsail in the water includes the rig falling down (even keel stepped masts are likely to fall down if there is enough load to cause the headstay to fail with a loud crack) that that is the situation we are faced with.
Make sure that all on board are safe. The boat will be stopped so we can evaulate the situation. If the rig is pounding on the side of the hull, I go to the tool locker and get my wire cutters and cut the remaining rigging and give the rig to the sea. If the rig is not pounding on the hull and trying to hole it, I tidy the rigging and lines, get the sails back on board, and see if I can lash the rig alongside for the trip home. I would switch to my back-up VHF antenna (mounted on the Radar Tower) and call the Coast Guard. I would advise of my position, the boat's condition, my destination, ETA and an estimate of hours of fuel remaining. I'll burn more fuel motoring with the rig lashed alongside so I'll count on burning twice the fuel. If that means that I won't have enough fuel to reach a safe harbour ... I call my insurance broker ... "Paul?" "Yes Randy?" "I'm 30 miles away from Pirates Cove, the mast came down. I've managed to save the rig and have it lashed to the boat. If I try to make port with the mast lashed alongside, I'll run out of fuel. Would you like to pay for a tow? Or would you rather I cut the rig loose and then you can pay for the rig?" Any bets that I get a free tow out of it? Secure the mast then stop the boat.
Turn the boat down wind to keep forward pressure on the mast and give the helm to the wife and ask her to maintain compass course. Get the kids down in the cabin. Tie spare halyard to a bow fittin or if no spare halyard throw a line over the lower spreaders and create a sling and tie to bow fittin. Once the mast is secured turn the boat upwind and drop the main. As the boat slows down start pulling on the headsail to get it on deck. I would pull the wire up coil and tie and then the headsail. For a roller furling setup it would try to bring the extrusions and sail up as a unit. Once the sail and the wire are secured then I would start the engine and head back home. I was informed by a Hunter rigger that if one of the models with no backstay should loose its forestay that the boat would most likely loose its mast. I would have thought those massive steel supports would hold it up but apparently they don't. So inspect your rigging folks. Every 10 to 15 years remove the furling unit and inspect and replace the wire.
Turn the boat down wind to keep forward pressure on the mast and give the helm to the wife and ask her to maintain compass course. Get the kids down in the cabin. Tie spare halyard to a bow fittin or if no spare halyard throw a line over the lower spreaders and create a sling and tie to bow fittin. Once the mast is secured turn the boat upwind and drop the main. As the boat slows down start pulling on the headsail to get it on deck. I would pull the wire up coil and tie and then the headsail. For a roller furling setup it would try to bring the extrusions and sail up as a unit. Once the sail and the wire are secured then I would start the engine and head back home. I was informed by a Hunter rigger that if one of the models with no backstay should loose its forestay that the boat would most likely loose its mast. I would have thought those massive steel supports would hold it up but apparently they don't. So inspect your rigging folks. Every 10 to 15 years remove the furling unit and inspect and replace the wire.
For Ross...
The one and only time I actually witnessed this happening (on another boat -- a 32-ft Endeavor, I think), the mast did collapse soon after the forestay snapped. It was a real mess and luckily no one on that boat was hurt. The owner of that boat told me later that he thought the snap shackle on the jib halyard was forced open by torque on it aft the forestay went causing his headsail to drop into the drink. Stuff happens...
The one and only time I actually witnessed this happening (on another boat -- a 32-ft Endeavor, I think), the mast did collapse soon after the forestay snapped. It was a real mess and luckily no one on that boat was hurt. The owner of that boat told me later that he thought the snap shackle on the jib halyard was forced open by torque on it aft the forestay went causing his headsail to drop into the drink. Stuff happens...
The event that Nancy watched was on an
unpowered Irwin and the bronze turnbuckle was badly bent. The owner used to manhandle the boat in and out of the marina and we suspect that he went "bump" at sometime. He never expressed any gratitude for the help he got from the other boaters.
unpowered Irwin and the bronze turnbuckle was badly bent. The owner used to manhandle the boat in and out of the marina and we suspect that he went "bump" at sometime. He never expressed any gratitude for the help he got from the other boaters.
- Status