scotts_mist
Active Member
We had a little mishap at Port Edgar at the weekend. Thankfully, a passing marina user offered some advice that got us sorted. As I didn't get a name, I thought I'd post in case someone heard of the tale (he was on his way to the yacht club) and can pass on my thanks.
SWMBO and I had a nice couple of hours out on the Forth on Sunday. On returning to Port Edgar, the furler jammed - or more accurately, the halyard managed to tangle itself around the stay and would not budge. No idea yet how that happened but suspect we'd got some slack in the halyard. We could pull the headsail out, but couldn't get it more than a third away.
Anyway, as it was a bit blowy, I didn't fancy trying to dock with the extra windage of the flapping headsail. So, we let it all out and took it down. So far so good. Except in a moment of madness, and to cries from SWMBO along the lines of "I told you to secure the other end", headsail halyard and shackle shot up the mast. Back in port, no amount of shaking would bring it down. SWMBO climbed atop the boom, with a boat hook, tied to a broom, tied to a mop (we're 25ft so mast isn't huge) but couldn't quite reach it.
During our deliberations on what to do to retrieve the line a chap walked past us several times. Finally he offered, "would you like a suggestion". Option 1 was to borrow a bosun's chair. We rejected that as (1) we don't have tailing winches and have no clutches on any lines (Scott's Mist is very old school in that respect) and (2) we'd have had to use the main halyard as the hoist line leaving only the topping lift (which is very light weight) as the backup line.
However, his other suggestion we did follow. We motored around and moored against the pier. Then, took the main halyard around a bollard up on the pier. Winched her over which leaned the top of the mast close to the pier (though must have looked very odd to any day-strollers on the pier). From that position, we were able to lean out with boat hook (tied to mop) and snag the pesky line.
If anyone knows who it was who stopped to help, please pass on my thanks. It always takes a little courage to interrupt a couple having a fraught discussion to offer a suggestion but as we were out of ideas, I'm so pleased he did so.
SWMBO and I had a nice couple of hours out on the Forth on Sunday. On returning to Port Edgar, the furler jammed - or more accurately, the halyard managed to tangle itself around the stay and would not budge. No idea yet how that happened but suspect we'd got some slack in the halyard. We could pull the headsail out, but couldn't get it more than a third away.
Anyway, as it was a bit blowy, I didn't fancy trying to dock with the extra windage of the flapping headsail. So, we let it all out and took it down. So far so good. Except in a moment of madness, and to cries from SWMBO along the lines of "I told you to secure the other end", headsail halyard and shackle shot up the mast. Back in port, no amount of shaking would bring it down. SWMBO climbed atop the boom, with a boat hook, tied to a broom, tied to a mop (we're 25ft so mast isn't huge) but couldn't quite reach it.
During our deliberations on what to do to retrieve the line a chap walked past us several times. Finally he offered, "would you like a suggestion". Option 1 was to borrow a bosun's chair. We rejected that as (1) we don't have tailing winches and have no clutches on any lines (Scott's Mist is very old school in that respect) and (2) we'd have had to use the main halyard as the hoist line leaving only the topping lift (which is very light weight) as the backup line.
However, his other suggestion we did follow. We motored around and moored against the pier. Then, took the main halyard around a bollard up on the pier. Winched her over which leaned the top of the mast close to the pier (though must have looked very odd to any day-strollers on the pier). From that position, we were able to lean out with boat hook (tied to mop) and snag the pesky line.
If anyone knows who it was who stopped to help, please pass on my thanks. It always takes a little courage to interrupt a couple having a fraught discussion to offer a suggestion but as we were out of ideas, I'm so pleased he did so.
