Masts ashore.

[Samphire]

I stopped in the boatyard this afternoon for at least ten minutes watching the masts on Fisher 37 ketch bowing like a guitar string.
It was extraordinary,how the bare headsail foil started the whole rig.It was moving at least 6"sideways at the lower spreaders.Now these are not exactly lightweight boats,but a glass of water would not have stayed put on the wide coamings as the whole boat was shaking.Glad it wasnt mine which is afloat on the marina and heels in the gusts as a boat should.

 

[ponapay]

In a chartered Westerly Storm

at anchor in Loch Creran I looked up at the 'naked' foil during a force 10 gust to see it doing the same. The mast was strumming in sympathy.

The foil moved through about 8 feet from one extreme to another. Fitting a tiny 'bikini' of canvas stopped the flutter.

The following day was the only day of that charter that we did not sail - it was Force 11. The whole charter took place in winds of Force 8 and over.

 

[claymore]

The yard at Loch Melfort rightly insists that all masts are unstepped when boats are laid up ashore for the winter.