Stay let go

[Gaspare]

Some advice. Incase your turnbuckles are not locked with either a lock nut or pinned, take notice. Last week I was sailing from Block Island to Cutty Hunk (open ocean) in 20 - 25 knot winds, squalls, and 6 - 8 foot seas. The sails were reefed down and I was making good headway. Suddenly I look up and the lower aft stay on the lee side of the boat is swinging in the breeze. Apparently the turnbuckle unscrewed itself. I had left them unlocked because I was doing some fine tuning on the rig. Fortunatly I was able to bring the sails down and safely motor to port where I was able to re-attach the turnbuckle. Learn from my experience!

 

[Dave]

Swaying in the breeze

When adjusting your rig, Always be sure You turn ONLY the turnbuckle and not the threaded fitting at the end of the wire. Dont know if this was the case in your near-mishap, but a pointer and warning to others of us who do our own adjusting. If you turn the wire you can induce twists into the stay. When it relaxes on the leeward side those twists will want to come out and the stay will unscrew or over-tighten itself, depending on which direction the twist was done.Not a common occurence, but can happen if the threads are lubed for adjustment and, as you pointed out, the keepers removed for adjusting. Vibration and constant motion under sail can cause any number of 'things' to come undone.fair winds,dave