Learning to climb the mast

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BlueSkyNick

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One can go on a course for just about anything these days - first aid, VHF, survival training, diesel maintenance - the list is just about endless.

Despite being average height (everybody else is small) I am very nervous about going up the mast. I know I must buy some gear and get some practice before a siutation arises which is non optional. I would really like somebody to show me the essentials, tell me what to buy or not, and give me the confidence to do it. Also with SWMBO to be at the foot of the mast, controlling lines etc.

So where can I find somebody to teach us this stuff, in the Solent area? Any other takers for a one day course?

<hr width=100% size=1>I can't be bothered with a footnote - it's usually rubbish anyway.
 
Nick, I'll sort you out. Stuffs on the (getting fixed) boat at moment will demonstrate & let you have a go when it returns (c 2 weeks).

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I bought a cleat foot bracket arrangement once we discover that SWMBO could not winch me up the mast and SWMBO is scared of heights. Still need SWMBO to take in slack on bosuns chair Rope/halyard and the additional spinnaker halyard I tie under my arms. If later was needed I am sure it could cause some damage but better than falling. PM me if you want to try a demo.

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As I understand it tying a rope under your arms is a no no. Dangling like that for even a limited period of time will cause death by suffocation .. use either a bosuns chair or a climbing harness.

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Suffering similarly as an average height person who is scared of heights, I would gladly join in on any teach-in as well.

Read numerous accounts of climbing gear etc. being used, but not being a climber I don't know my *rse from elbow and don't wish to learn from my mistakes.......

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I've only been up the mast once, but have controlled the ropes for smaller people on a couple of other occaisions. As its always the smallest person who goes up, I'm near the back of the queue. I use a bosuns chair attached to the main halliard round the halliard winch on the mast. I found that coming down is more traumatic than going up, when surging the rope around the winch drum, unless there are two people controlling the descent, when it becomes easy. These things are easier to demonstrate than to explain, Jimi's generous offer should be very helpful.

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Climbing harnesses work well, but you need a less technical harness with wider leg loops for comfort. You can also use Jumars/ Ascenders/ Petzl jammers on a fixed halyard as a safety back up. If you buy two, you can climb and descend on a fixed halyard without help from another person. I think one of the climbing companies is branching out into boat gear- it was in YW last month.

<hr width=100% size=1>Just enjoy it.
 
Nick,
I've got a mastclimber which is the yachtie equivalent of the climber's ascender. If jimi confuses the hell out of your with belays and all that climbing techno talk, you're welcome to play with it.
Chris

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I use a petzl shunt (on 2 ropes) plus ascendeur& footloop on one combines ease of use + safety

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Not the main halyard

Dave,

If you can use a spinnaker hapyard, not a main or genoa halyarrd. Reason is, the main and genny sheave boxes are fixed and designed for a straight pull which is fine with a sail, but if you're swinging about on one of those halyards you might cause it to pull across th edges of the sheave box, causing chafe, causing heavy bruising, broken limbs or something worse. Whereas a spinnaker halyard block is free to float and will self align with the load.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>
 
if you're wary of enroling on brown-nose's brown-envelope mailing list i also have a complete climbing ascender kit ... i regularly pull my svelte frame up the mast but avoid using soft shoes. a hard sole is essential otherwise the foot ascender strap will cut into your feet which will get painful after a while.

the disadvantage for average height blokes like yourself is that you can not physically get yourself much higher than shoulder height at the mast head whereas others with ladder type things claim to be able to get higher but i'm not sure that is entirely true. big advantage is that herself doesn't have to do any work getting you up - you do all the work and herself just secures the safety line eg topping lift attached to your bosun's chair. jimi has a better chair than mine - I think it is a proper "climber" chair whereas I have a compass bosun's chair which although perfectly ok (it has pockets for tools etc) might be less comfortable ....

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Re: Not the main halyard

Which is why climbing ascenders are good because you can use any halyard ( assuming it goes as high as you want to go) and just fix it at deck level then winch it tight- perfect fixed rope with minimal swing.

<hr width=100% size=1>Just enjoy it.
 
Re: Not the main halyard

are you sure, ken?

not in a month of sundays would i use the spinnaker halyard ... apart from anything else, there's generally too much kit attached to the front of the mast ... and would, generally, be wound over the forestay ...

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Re: Not the main halyard

I agree that spi halyard is much better for this reason. As you say should main halyard come out of the sheave it is almost impossible to unjam it and one has to send another line up for the climber to switch onto - not that easy for a nervous person!

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There's an article in Yachting World this month about climbing gear for sailors which makes good reading.

Sounds like Jimi knows his stuff on this one though so take the free demo.

I might come along myself as I've never ventured up the mast and am equally afraid of heights but I know someday I will have to go aloft .

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This has come up before, but I use a TopClimber which is climbing gear adapted for going up the mast. See <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.atninc.com/topclimber.html>here for details</A>. There's a video you can watch.

I can climb the mast without assistance, and stand high enough to service gear above the mast (lights, antennas, windex etc). It's quite comfortable for extended use, but agree with Para about not using soft-soled shoes.

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Re: Not the main halyard

The spi halyard only has full movement if you pull it ahead of the forestay. Pulling from the vertical means it is restricted by the forestay.
i must admit I would like to see it done properly - it is normally a rather scary and grunty experience - so I would love to join your group. Sad thing is, heights never used to bother me - exposure on a rock climb was a kick - but I have lost that now.
Worst experience was with an old skipper on a Flying Fifteen who sent me up to release jammed spinnaker block while we were still in the race - it felt like being at the top of a metronome, but without the security.
Ken

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Re: Not the main halyard

>are you sure, ken<

Yes.

>apart from anything else, there's generally too much kit attached to the front of the mast<

S'arlright, you can go up a shroud if you're on a spinny halyard

>would, generally, be wound over the forestay<

Careless of you !

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Re: Not the main halyard

You are right that it is certainly better to climb from the front using a spi halyard. Usually with a fractional rig - which is I guess is what you are referring to - there is a clean run down beside the forestay to mast attachment. To climb from the other side of forestay one needs to swing the halyard around infront of the forestay. I suppose the most important thing is to figure out a clear run in advance and figure out any expected obstructions! As for mast climbing under sail one always seems to get a good knocking!

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