We were dis masted yesterday just off shore from Muskegon, Michigan
yesterday. The starboard chain plate bulkhead failed and the chain
plate pulled out through the deck. The mast snapped at the spreaders
and fell off to the leeward side.
We were in the starting stages of the Jolly Roger Shoreline race. The
conditions changed from about 11-12 kts (true) to 14-15 kts when the
chain plate failed. Waves were about 3 feet. We had been on a beam
reach doing 7.0-7.2 kts and hardened up to closehauled to see if we were
going to be able to point to the turning mark when it failed. We had
about twenty seconds between hearing the pop and having the chain plate
fly out of the deck with the mast failed. Luckily, all were in the
cockpit at failure. I was just starting out to crash drop sails from
the first pop and seeing the slack leeward shroud. The helmsman had
just started turning into the wind.
After about an hour, we were able to get the main off and stowed and get
the jib on deck with the mast lashed to the bow pulpit. Took the boat
back in to Muskegon to Torresen Marine and left it in their haulout well
until Monday when they can start assessing it.
It will come down to economics to see if the hull value will support a
new mast and structural repairs necessary.
The starboard chain plate had leaked in the past and I had glassed in
the bulkhead and added a backing plate when I bought her (22 years ago)
but the wood in the area does not look good.
I will keep the list updated with how things pan out.
Neil Schiller
1970 Redwing 35, Hull #7
(C&C 35, Mark I)
"Corsair"
White Lake, Michigan
(Now residing in Muskegon for the time being)
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