Yachting Monthly — November 2017

November 2017 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com 39

LEARNING CURVE

When the riggers replaced the
forestay, they put the clevis pin in
from the port side, with the split pin to
starboard. On Penny Lane the anchor
chain goes over the starboard roller,
and it had presumably fouled the split
pin, and eventually straightened it. Of
course, I should have seen this, but
because, in coastal cruising mode, the
anchor is stowed in the roller ready
for use, it hid the problem. The riggers

n Make regular checks. You need

constantly to be aware, and, at least

mentally, monitoring all the boat's

systems. But the rig, and probably the

engine and hull too, need special

attention. You need to be entirely

familiar with all your boat's systems,

so that when trouble occurs you

already have a head start.

n Be prepared for the unexpected. In

those idle moments when there is half

an hour to spare before the end of

your watch, why not ponder what you

would do in some imagined dramatic

circumstance?

n Rolling puts an amazing strain on

the rig, even with no wind. It can put

shock loads on the boat, which I

imagine can be greater than those

imposed by steady strong winds.

n Keep a line handy for that

emergency. We keep about 5m of

10mm line in a cave-locker in the

cockpit coaming. Its normal job is

lowering and hoisting the outboard,

but one day you will need it.

n Be aware of this the next time your

mast is stepped. Whenever anyone has

done work on the boat, check to see

that it’s been done well, finished

properly and that they’ve cleared up

properly afterwards.

Lessons learned

PHOTO: JEREMY EVANS/YM

could, and should, have seen this – the

gypsy on the anchor winch is directly

in line with the starboard side of the

bow roller, though the anchor was not

there when they refitted the forestay.

I can’t and don’t blame them, but I

have told them of this incident in the

hope that they will pay attention to

this possibility in future – I’m sure

they will. We were lucky to get away

with it! W

With the anchor unshipped, there’s
no obvious reason not to slide in the
clevis pin from the port side – until
you notice the gypsy

It’s easy to see how the anchor chain

can, and did, foul the split pin, bending

it open and letting the clevis pin out

Penny Lane scythes solidly upwind in

a decent sailing breeze, but it was a

fickle breeze and a swell that rattled

her rig almost to breaking point