Great video. Had the same problem one year ago, 38ft yacht. I was alone and it took almost 24 hours to clean the mess and free the propeller from guys and wires, Needed to spend the night anchored in moderately deep water and 4ft waves before I had assistance to remove the broken rig from the water and return to the marina. My mast broke in three parts, exactly the same. A missing clevis in the shroud turnbuckle caused the whole problem.
You should really cut them some slack here. This was a neat video which demonstrates what happens when a mast breaks. Of course they could have asserted that the mast would fall to leeward. Not a guarantee, but most likely the mast will ALWAYS fall to leeward with the sails up. They did a neat experiment and had to consolidate it down to a 15 min. video so that it is watchable. It had my attention the whole way through. TOO critical. You go make a video like this and then let me at the comments
That wire was already half way hacked through if you look closely. It takes a while and it is frustrating to hack saw though 1x19. The best tool is probably the bullet blast thingy. Quick and effortless. The Hydraulic cutters are great but cost about $2k depending on what size wire you need to cut.
Great video - very informative thanks. I broke a mast recently in a laser. Different scale I know but the same issues - big surprise followed by "what do I do now." Managed to sail downwind with scrap of sail and mast left standing.
We have lost mast twice in bad weather conditions. Shure, it was small trimaran (5 meters long) and only 3-5 miles from marina, but we saved the mast, sails and all stuff each time. No cutting. First, set out sails. Second, tie mast to the hull.
+Hilton Libanori What I actually wanted to say was that the mast breaking is a smaller problem when it comes to head injuries and that wearing a helmet is a good idea even when you aren't planning on breaking the mast.
Another great video. What would be nice is a followup video to demonstrate what is needed to avoid something like this. I should imagine it is no fun having a broken mast while in the middle of the Pacific ocean.
Proper safety gear on you and on your boat is a must. NEVER be in a hurry! ALWAYS carry a bit less sail than you would need to max out because when the winds quickly pick up (or gusts) it can make it much harder to reduce sail (safely) and it can also easily create a disaster like a dismasting. Add high seas at night with the husband (or wife) overboard and only the spouse left to do everything and you will have a real disaster. * ALWAYS have fully charged waterproof marine handheld radios on everyone when topside and in heavy conditions or at night, ALWAYS have everyone with their overboard night survival gear either sewn into their Mae West Vest jacket pockets or in a fanny pack (pen flares, strobe and small flashlight, space blanket, large heavy trash bag, thin strong line, signaling mirror, swiss army knife, spare radio battery fully charged etc...
I would like to have had a more formal evaluation of which method was best/ effective/efficient to cut the rigging? It seems like basic bolt cutters worked but took lots of effort? The shooting thingy seemed easiest but least practical for people to carry?
The bottom section goes as well due to the loss of the backstay? Higher on the wind, would the top section have come backwards and the babystay have kept the bottom section up? Obviously more dangerous for the test crew though...A fractional rig would probably just go at the spreaders.
Ok this was a deck stepped mast, what about a keel stepped mast?...It should be a nice disaster as cutting 2 of 3 standing rigging on a side, as soon as they change wind's side the only standind rigging that keep the mast on will break for sure and... what will happens? 1 the mast slide off with minor damage, 2 the mast pivote from the keel, destroying all the roof on a side, very big disaster...
Great videos but more tips would be good ie: Proper safety gear on you and on your boat is a must. NEVER be in a hurry! ALWAYS carry a bit less sail than you would need to max out because when the winds quickly pick up (or gusts) it can make it much harder to reduce sail (safely) and it can also easily create a disaster like a dismasting. Add high seas at night with the husband (or wife) overboard and only the spouse left to do everything and you will have a real disaster. *** ALWAYS have fully charged waterproof marine handheld radios on everyone when topside and in heavy conditions or at night, ALWAYS have everyone with their overboard night survival gear either sewn into their Mae West Vest jacket pockets or in a fanny pack (pen flares, strobe and small flashlight, space blanket, large heavy trash bag, thin strong line, signaling mirror, swiss army knife, spare radio battery fully charged etc...
Great idea to deliberately destroy things on a boat and video it. What’s next? How about blowing up the gas stove to film real experience of dealing with major fire damage, injury and death?
If this had been an actual emergency, what is wrong with cutting all the wreckage loose and motoring away, leaving the broken mast to sink? I would think that saving the rest of the boat would be the priority, and the value of the broken mast would be minimal.
Just by looking at how did the toe rail, stanchions and hand rails ended up, it can be easily extrapolated to the head of any of the crew members. Simply stupid to perform a test in such conditions. You know it will come down, but you don't know how, when or where it will come down. WEAR BLOODY SAFETY GEAR. Also, the helmsman is not using a lifejacket, why? Is he smarter than the rest? Otherwise it is a good video.
If you intent is to provide a mast recovery exercise to novices, great. But if you are honestly looking to understand how or why a rig fails, perhaps you might apply a bit of science and engineering? Contrary to your introduction, it was entirely predictable that the rig would buckle at the lower shroud attachment point when it was in place and the upper shroud parted. It was also predictable that, given no backstay tension and under-trimmed jib, that the mast would fall to leeward. Get serious
Great video. Had the same problem one year ago, 38ft yacht. I was alone and it took almost 24 hours to clean the mess and free the propeller from guys and wires, Needed to spend the night anchored in moderately deep water and 4ft waves before I had assistance to remove the broken rig from the water and return to the marina. My mast broke in three parts, exactly the same. A missing clevis in the shroud turnbuckle caused the whole problem.
Interesting video.
I think I would of had everybody wearing helmets for the mast fall and eye protection when cutting rigging that's under load.
You should really cut them some slack here. This was a neat video which demonstrates what happens when a mast breaks. Of course they could have asserted that the mast would fall to leeward. Not a guarantee, but most likely the mast will ALWAYS fall to leeward with the sails up. They did a neat experiment and had to consolidate it down to a 15 min. video so that it is watchable. It had my attention the whole way through. TOO critical. You go make a video like this and then let me at the comments
That wire was already half way hacked through if you look closely. It takes a while and it is frustrating to hack saw though 1x19. The best tool is probably the bullet blast thingy. Quick and effortless. The Hydraulic cutters are great but cost about $2k depending on what size wire you need to cut.
Great video - very informative thanks. I broke a mast recently in a laser. Different scale I know but the same issues - big surprise followed by "what do I do now." Managed to sail downwind with scrap of sail and mast left standing.
I really love sailing, that sailboat and that condition -> I can look at this vid all day long!
We have lost mast twice in bad weather conditions. Shure, it was small trimaran (5 meters long) and only 3-5 miles from marina, but we saved the mast, sails and all stuff each time. No cutting. First, set out sails. Second, tie mast to the hull.
Thanks for putting together this video!
Crew should be wearing helmets. Recently, during Cape2Rio regatta, one sailor died after the same problem in a Bavaria 55.
+Hilton Libanori You can die if the boom swings over unexpectedly and you get knocked over the head.
+K.H. Sure, but in this particular case the crew knew that the mast should break down at any moment and they could be better protected.
+Hilton Libanori What I actually wanted to say was that the mast breaking is a smaller problem when it comes to head injuries and that wearing a helmet is a good idea even when you aren't planning on breaking the mast.
+K.H. I Agree.
Hilton Libanori But I hope they won't be mandatory on leisure trips though.
You'll see how we did this in the next video in the series: Jury Rigs
Another great video. What would be nice is a followup video to demonstrate what is needed to avoid something like this. I should imagine it is no fun having a broken mast while in the middle of the Pacific ocean.
Proper safety gear on you and on your boat is a must. NEVER be in a hurry! ALWAYS carry a bit less sail than you would need to max out because when the winds quickly pick up (or gusts) it can make it much harder to reduce sail (safely) and it can also easily create a disaster like a dismasting. Add high seas at night with the husband (or wife) overboard and only the spouse left to do everything and you will have a real disaster.
* ALWAYS have fully charged waterproof marine handheld radios on everyone when topside and in heavy conditions or at night, ALWAYS have everyone with their overboard night survival gear either sewn into their Mae West Vest jacket pockets or in a fanny pack (pen flares, strobe and small flashlight, space blanket, large heavy trash bag, thin strong line, signaling mirror, swiss army knife, spare radio battery fully charged etc...
i thought it was interesting that the cheapest, nearly quickest and multi-use tool for cutting the stays was the hacksaw.
I would like to have had a more formal evaluation of which method was best/ effective/efficient to cut the rigging? It seems like basic bolt cutters worked but took lots of effort? The shooting thingy seemed easiest but least practical for people to carry?
I'd like to understand why the mast break was below the first spreaders and not above. Makes me question the integrity of the inner/lower shrouds.
Been in similar situation. Glider 30ft yacht. for real.Start of race Off Penarth. Bristol. Channel. Quite hairy.
The bottom section goes as well due to the loss of the backstay? Higher on the wind, would the top section have come backwards and the babystay have kept the bottom section up? Obviously more dangerous for the test crew though...A fractional rig would probably just go at the spreaders.
Is backstay broken first? What cause actually?
Informative. Now lets see how to stand a mast at sea without a crane
The legend says that these guys were cursed for life by the sailing boats for the suffering involved. As well as all Sun Fizz
no helmets?!
Ok this was a deck stepped mast, what about a keel stepped mast?...It should be a nice disaster as cutting 2 of 3 standing rigging on a side, as soon as they change wind's side the only standind rigging that keep the mast on will break for sure and...
what will happens?
1 the mast slide off with minor damage,
2 the mast pivote from the keel, destroying all the roof on a side, very big disaster...
I can't believe the camera operator missed the mast breaking 🤣
What kind of boat is that. Im
Has anyone designed an unbreakable mast yet?
That's scary, even when you know it's going to happen.
Great videos but more tips would be good ie: Proper safety gear on you and on your boat is a must. NEVER be in a hurry! ALWAYS carry a bit less sail than you would need to max out because when the winds quickly pick up (or gusts) it can make it much harder to reduce sail (safely) and it can also easily create a disaster like a dismasting. Add high seas at night with the husband (or wife) overboard and only the spouse left to do everything and you will have a real disaster.
*** ALWAYS have fully charged waterproof marine handheld radios on everyone when topside and in heavy conditions or at night, ALWAYS have everyone with their overboard night survival gear either sewn into their Mae West Vest jacket pockets or in a fanny pack (pen flares, strobe and small flashlight, space blanket, large heavy trash bag, thin strong line, signaling mirror, swiss army knife, spare radio battery fully charged etc...
Had to laugh a little about your comment. Husband (or wife) already overboard, THEN you will have a real disaster ... Hahahaha
by suprise is an under statement...... dismasted a 20 ft e-boat it was more than a suprise......
OMG! No mast in 30 mph.
Great idea to deliberately destroy things on a boat and video it. What’s next? How about blowing up the gas stove to film real experience of dealing with major fire damage, injury and death?
Top movie. Thanks a lot.
@Waaranti Because he didn't want to? :0)
oops! looks like my own summer-experience at the northsea........
7:00 Perfect time to have a drink of Coca Cola
I guess so:-) Still, it keeps the mast makers in business:-)
everything breaks
If this had been an actual emergency, what is wrong with cutting all the wreckage loose and motoring away, leaving the broken mast to sink? I would think that saving the rest of the boat would be the priority, and the value of the broken mast would be minimal.
If you were further away from land than the fuel in the tanks would allow, one would need to create a jury-rig from whatever could be salvaged.
Maybe not:-)
So "blow boat" is not disrespectful? Gimme a break,dude.
Was all an anti climax, was expecting more drama. Shocking how it just collapses into notjing after one shroud break though.
Just by looking at how did the toe rail, stanchions and hand rails ended up, it can be easily extrapolated to the head of any of the crew members. Simply stupid to perform a test in such conditions. You know it will come down, but you don't know how, when or where it will come down. WEAR BLOODY SAFETY GEAR. Also, the helmsman is not using a lifejacket, why? Is he smarter than the rest?
Otherwise it is a good video.
FIRST!
difficult to understand this guys accent
If you intent is to provide a mast recovery exercise to novices, great.
But if you are honestly looking to understand how or why a rig fails, perhaps you might apply a bit of science and engineering?
Contrary to your introduction, it was entirely predictable that the rig would buckle at the lower shroud attachment point when it was in place and the upper shroud parted. It was also predictable that, given no backstay tension and under-trimmed jib, that the mast would fall to leeward. Get serious
Super movie. Thanks 👍