Just wondering if the owner of Blue Moon in Mattapoissett is on this list? Also wondering what happened to your forestay?
We’re in the same marina.
Riki
“Laisve” 1997 40/40, Hull 27
Hi friends,
We sailed Blue in 15-17 home from Cuttyhunk, last Sunday. Took about an hour (kidding). Then we returned that following Friday afternoon to find the jib on the foredeck and the stay just against the mast.
According to Dan at @riggingonly, the stay probably outlived itself by a good while. It was just long term corrosion. Even the best of surveyors missed it.
We consider ourselves immensely grateful it didn’t happen underway. Can you imagine? It gives me nightmares.
Anywho, it was the right motivation to fly the spinnaker (adorable. Reminiscent of ski wear from the 80s). We’re looking forward to meeting you. Sadly, we’re hauling next week after returning Blue to her “home” port of Riverside, RI.
Will and Kim
This season we noticed our forestay was fraying, so we replaced it. We think it was the original, so 28 years is probably normal wear and tear. We winter in Fall River and will probably be leaving in two weekends, although this weekend was beautiful sailing weather. We’ll likely be in MTP next year, so hope to see you next season!
Riki
Riki
Likewise. We love MBY. It’s our fifth anchorage on BB and until we leave for the USVI, it’s our spot.
Forestay? It’s just in the way.
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I replaced the forestay on my 45 with 13mm dyneema. it goes to the same turnbuckle, and after a few seasons it seems to still be in good shape. If you have a camberspar jib (like we do) I’m surprised the wire headstays don’t fail more often.
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Interesting. She went up the spar, derigged the failed stay and rigged the new one. On the mooring. Boatyard guys think she’s nuts.
The previous owner of my boat told me that a common problem with the carbon spars is that due to their ability to flex and pump in a seaway, they can pop forestays if the forestay is too tight. Some 40/40 and 45 owners have attached running back stays to the spot where the lazy jack blocks mount to counteract the pumping but he said it wasnt that necessary as long as the forestay has some wiggle room. Also, if you do loose a forestay, theres no issue with the risk of the mast coming down. Keep on sailing with just the main.
Yup, did the same, but in a very calm mooring field at Hadley Harbor.
Not sure how loose is too loose, but the new forestay has some slack in it.
We have a spare halyard rigged to the end of the boom as a topping lift and to hold up the aft end of the sail stackpack tubes. I wonder if all that weight counteracts the mast pumping somewhat.
I went up there, Riki was running the winch. It turns out that sitting in the bosun’s chair/harness (I was using both) for an hour+ is not very comfortable when you can’t stand or sit on the spreaders, and juggling the forestay, bolts, wrenches and dyneema backup up there is tricky while being uncomfortable. It was a spectacle for boats moored at Hadley Harbor.