Page 338 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice
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CHAPTER 9
Emergency Procedures
Problem: When the 55-foot ketch Nabob was off been on the wind this portion of the mast would
the west coast of Africa, its 14–foot long stainless probably have broken off and fallen aft toward the
steel bobstay suddenly parted. crew, taking the radio antenna—integral with the
The wind was aft at the time, but the strain backstay—with it.
on the ⁄2-inch wire was sufficient that the sound
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of its breaking could be heard and felt back in the Response: Even off the wind the situation was
cockpit. With a healthy redundancy of shrouds and serious, since wave action (there was an appreciable
stays, Nabob did not depend on the bobstay for rig sea running) and the aft-directed pull of the main-
integrity to the extent that some craft do, but the sail could unduly strain the mast, so the first steps
accident rendered the jibstay useless and threatened were to lower the main, start the engine, and steer
the mainmast above the spreaders. Had the vessel to ease motion. Next, some way had to be found of
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