Snapped forestay

[mike_k]

I was out on my 23-footer last weekend in Southampton Water when the forestay with roller furling snapped at the top of the mast with the genoa fully rolled out.
Fortunately, the mast stayed up and we were able to get the main down and genoa rolled in VERY quickly - while trying not to panic /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Was I lucky in that the mast stayed up, or is the positioning of the side stays to do with it ? The mast is deck stepped on a tabernacle.
The side stays didn't seem any slacker or tighter than usual, and I left the genoa halyard up to give some support, although that was very saggy. The backstays have always been a bit slack - something being fixed with the new rigging being done at the moment.

Would a snapped forestay always cause a mast to come down or like most things in life - does it depend on many different factors ?

 

[brianhumber]

Had a weld fail on the mast connection couple of years back - lost the forestay and sail/halyards overboard. Spun round down wind and rigged up jury stays with blooper and topping lift so saved mast and was pleased with myself. This feeling lasted untill the bloody insurance surveyor loss adjuster got in on the act. He claimed it was all age fatigue and who did I think I was I claiming it on insurance. All this before he had even sighted the mast -Grrrrr. I had to point out that as a C Eng mechanical I knew a chicken [--word removed--] weld when I saw one and threatened to expose him up in court. He then started to advise the insurance co that they could repair the mast with a bloody great heavy doubler plate 18 metres up the mast as the mast wall had clear stress fatigue and bent out in the fractional forestay attachment area but he refused to get his repair scheme sanctioned by mast manufactuer or provide new calcs - boy was I ever mad. In the end I compromised in getting major contribution to a complete new mast with new rigging and sails.

All this still rankles hence this rant - hope your repair goes better

 

[sailorman]

the genny halliard acted as a forestay

 

[Graham_Wright]

Helps to justify my fitting twin forestays;- thanks!

 

[mike_k]

I thought the halyard probably helped but it was very very slack and didn't look to be taking any strain.
Anyway - an interesting experience and hopefully one that won't happen again ! A friend who usually sails with me but couldn't that day said he wished he had been there for the experience /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Some strange people about !

 

[graham]

Im guessing that your boat has 2 lower shrouds each side as well as the cap shroud?

If the genoa halyard didnt take the weight then the forward lower kept the mast standing .I think you were lucky (or quick) to save the mast .

 

[beneteau_305_553]

Which piece actually snapped?

 

[davidpbo]

How were your sails set when it went?

I would imagine that the mainsail would tend to push the mast forward and that that helped the mast stay up.

Glad you were able to get back without too much trauma.

David

 

[mike_k]

Thanks for the comments.
The main was fully raised and we were unfurling the genoa when it went.
It looks like it was the forward side shrouds that kept the mast up - setup is as guessed.
I don't know exactly what went, I'll check with the riggers when I pick the boat up.

I was hoping I'd be as lucky with my lottery tickets, but wasn't !