Boating New Zealand — February 2018

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why. The mast had gone!

The cap shroud chainplate bolts must have sheared clean

off. Clipping onto the jackstay, I crawled along the starboard

deck and saw a gaping hole in the deck. The lower shroud had

catapulted its support block right through the deck.

“I can manage this,” I said, “it’s doable. Winch the mast clear,

cut the rigging away and screw a panel over the deck hole.” But

when I got back to the cockpit the real trouble started. The cabin

sole was under water.

I went for the VHF and put out a Mayday three times, totally

forgetting the aerial was underwater. The unit showed ‘Low Power’

so I went for the handheld in the grab-bag. No lights. It was flat. I

let off two red parachute flares into over 40 knots of wind – would

they be seen? I tried the bilge pump –no change in the level.

The adrenaline was pumping. I stopped myself and said: “If

you let emotion take control, this won’t end well.” I told myself

to think logically, rationally and cohesively. I remember using

those words. I decided not to panic or be frightened or give in.

Then I methodically got the liferaft ready and the grab-bag.

I deployed the raft in case I might need it. Opening the

grab-bag I activated the EPIRB, and threw it into the raft. Then

I went for anything aboard that I thought I might need. Food,

Drink, Comfort was my focus. In went tins of food, bottled

I went for the VHF and put

out a Mayday three times,

totally forgetting the aerial

was underwater.

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