Posted by Tom Vesey (tvesey@…>)
I’ve just had an e-mail exchange with Patrick Moulligne, owner of the Freedom 44 Frog Kiss, which lost it’s forward mast during the second leg of the Bermuda 1-2 race in June (after winning the first leg).Patrick writes: "My forward mast was, at some point prior to the demasting, hit by lightning. The hit was not strong enough to show any visual effect anywhere, however it was strong enough to “cook/heat” the resin beyond its Max temp capabilities (could be as low as 250degF.) around the gooseneck collar and weakened the laminate in that area. They were some evidence of this in the laminate as the resin was very brittle and fibers very dry in that area. After a lot of research that was the conclusion of several experts in that field. It makes sense to me as there was no other way I can think of the mast would have come down under normal sailing condition, 20knts true wind, tight reach, one reef in the main and one reef in the mizzen, perfect F44 sailing conditions…"The good news is that Frog Kiss is back in action. Patrick said hew as able to get a basic Freedom 45 mast and modify it to work fine for the Freedom 44… and plans to head south to the Bahamas for the winter.I had a great summer aboard my own Freedom 44, Jackrabbit, sailing from her home in Bermuda up to Halifax, then east along the Nova Scotia coast, through the Bras D’Or Lakes, then along the south coast of Newfoundland to St. Pierre & Miquelon…and then back to Halifax. I’m heading up there this weekend to saill the boat down to Rhode Island, to get some work done her supervised by Paul Dennis at Warren River Boatworks.Tom VeseyF44 Jackrabbit
Posted by ron barr (rwhb@…>)
I believe that’s the Freedom 44 that is for sale on Yacht World?
Ron
Newport RI
From:
FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Tom Vesey
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 7:10 PM
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Frog Kiss Mast Loss - Lightning
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I’ve just had an e-mail exchange with Patrick Moulligne, owner of the
Freedom 44 Frog Kiss, which lost it’s forward mast during the second leg of the
Bermuda 1-2 race in June (after winning the first leg).
Patrick writes:
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"My forward mast was, at some point prior to the
demasting, hit by lightning. The hit was not strong enough to show any visual
effect anywhere, however it was strong enough to “cook/heat” the
resin beyond its Max temp capabilities (could be as low as 250degF.) around the
gooseneck collar and weakened the laminate in that area. They were some
evidence of this in the laminate as the resin was very brittle and fibers very
dry in that area.
\
After a lot of research that was the conclusion of several
experts in that field. It makes sense to me as there was no other way I can
think of the mast would have come down under normal sailing condition, 20knts
true wind, tight reach, one reef in the main and one reef in the mizzen,
perfect F44 sailing conditions…"
\
The good news is that Frog Kiss is back in action. Patrick
said hew as able to get a basic Freedom 45 mast and modify it to work fine for
the Freedom 44… and plans to head south to the Bahamas for the winter.
\
I had a great summer aboard my own Freedom 44, Jackrabbit,
sailing from her home in Bermuda up to Halifax, then east along the Nova Scotia
coast, through the Bras D’Or Lakes, then along the south coast of Newfoundland
to St. Pierre & Miquelon…and then back to Halifax. I’m heading up there
this weekend to saill the boat down to Rhode Island, to get some work done her
supervised by Paul Dennis at Warren River Boatworks.
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Tom Vesey
F44 Jackrabbit
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