forestays and foils

[clouty]

I heard a story over the weekend of a dismasting due to a failed forestay, and think the scenario should be wider known..

After a fair bit of motoring this season, into head seas and winds (this is the supposed reason), on a beat in a race with only a 3-4 and seas slight, the forestay of a friends boat parted. I saw it happen, from the boat ahead, and the helm on the afflicted boat fell off the wind as the mast gracefully toppled over the side. Quick thinking, no-one hurt. I probably wouldn't describe it like that if I was onboard said vessel, but from 20 boats' length distant...I digress

The cause, according to the rigger, was that the forestay enclosed in the very top of the foil, where you cannot see it, had been so distressed by the attrition of the motion engendered by the
conditions described in my first sentance. It had created a birdcage of the wire, invisible to inspection.

Seems forestays with roller reefing should be replaced much more often that those without. What do you think?


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[kds]

I have no personal experience of this, but suspect you are right - or at least dismantled and inspected regularly ?
Ken

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[bedouin]

I must say I am mystified as to why foils that encase the existing forestay are as popular as they are. The idea of having a safety critical system that is not open to easy inspection (even with the mast down) worries me, and the possiblity of problems with the foil binding on the forestay.

I'm much happier with the type where the foil itself takes the load of the forestay.

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[Talbot]

My foil encloses the forestay, but can easily be removed when the mast is down, (and I always do so). It is a size larger than all the other rigging, and has a centering device of stainless bonded to the stay abt 4" down from the top of the foil. The foil rests against this piece of stainless and cant touch the stay.
A good design, well done rotostay.

How old was the forestay?

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[snowleopard]

just realised that the same happened to me. the lower toggle parted and the foil was damaged. i replaced the toggle, removed the foil and put hanks on the jib. a few hundred miles along, the stay parted 2" below the top terminal. it now occurs to me that this must have been where the top of the foil had been.

fortunately the stay doesn't hold the mast up!

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