Weird events

[jimi]

Went out on boat today and there were 2 strange things , shackle on main sheet block attached to traveller was undone and lying next to traveller, boom wasn’t swinging cos I attach it to side of boat to keep it clear of companionway. 2nd reef was undone where it goes round boom (I use bowline) although sail cover looked untouched. The shackle is whopping big one and has not been undone for at least 8 years! Any logical explanations spring to mind other than some prat pratting around. I did wonder if someone was trying to nick my main sheet block but was baffled by my German main sheet making it very difficult to extract the block from it. The second reef line undoing itself baffles me completely!

 

[Mistroma]

Either event would make me think the shackle or knot was loose and had just come undone. Both at the same time would make me think it would require a recent external event, perhaps human or weather related. I suppose exceedingly stormy weather might have shaken a few things loose at the same time. It's also possible that someone was trying to steal something and was interrupted.

I can't think of an obvious reason to undo just one reefing line and one shackle to steal something. Perhaps someone can come up with a reasonable answer. I suppose the 2nd reefing line might have been accessible and long enough to be worth taking. It might have been someone with no knowledge of sailing and they thought that reefing line connected to the main-sheet.

 

[jimi]

The shackle wasn’t loose, it’s been in place for yonks and I cannot believe that after all the battering it’s taken whilst sailing that it would unscrew itself whilst in a marina berth with the boom fairly firmly lashed in place!

 

[AngusMcDoon]

The shackle wasn’t loose, it’s been in place for yonks and I cannot believe that after all the battering it’s taken whilst sailing that it would unscrew itself whilst in a marina berth with the boom fairly firmly lashed in place!

Put it down to the pilot of the Pinta paying you a visit, the explanation for all things strange that happen at sea.

 

[Mistroma]

The shackle wasn’t loose, it’s been in place for yonks and I cannot believe that after all the battering it’s taken whilst sailing that it would unscrew itself whilst in a marina berth with the boom fairly firmly lashed in place!

Then human intervention would seem to be the most likely cause. It does sound as if someone with little knowledge was up to something and probably disturbed by something. I can't think why someone would start one thing and switch to another unrelated bit of gear unless they were clueless. No way of knowing unless someone at the marina spotted something and eventually lets you know.

 

[claymore]

Then human intervention would seem to be the most likely cause. It does sound as if someone with little knowledge was up to something and probably disturbed by something. I can't think why someone would start one thing and switch to another unrelated bit of gear unless they were clueless. No way of knowing unless someone at the marina spotted something and eventually lets you know.

Poltergeist ?

 

[Porthandbuoy]

If the boom was tied back was the mainsheet shackle not under tension and rattling in the wind? Perhaps an irate neighbour undid it to make things quieter.
2nd reef coming undone? No idea.