Bobstay failure- dismasting

[fried fish]

Hi guys,
Reading the account of the CP16 dismasting made me think of a recent issue I had on my CP23.
I was getting ready to sail in a regatta event as my crew and I were checking all rigging.
As we were test furling and unfurling the jib at dock, we noticed the bowsprit bobbing up and down as we sheeted the jib in and out.
Upon further inspection, the SS bobstay had rusted in two and broken where the cable and the swagged lug were compressed together.
Nonetheless, salt water had taken its toll. Only the weak tension of the flexible bowsprit was holding the mast in place.
The day we would have sailed for the race, 20 knot winds and 3-4 ft swells in the inlet.
For sure would have been a dismasting .
It turned out, we drank bloody marys instead.
I was disappointed about the race but happy with a warm glow instead.
Guys, check your bobstay!

[MacGyver]

Glad it wasn't a catastrophe!

Atleast if say it were to happen on the water, a fix could be made by using line in place of the rigging. My boss talks a lot of using a halyard to act as a forestay, and even a side stay to help in a emergency.

I check my rig every start of the year, mid and end. Good practice to make certain you are in the best shape you can be. accidents can and will happen, but it is always good to lessen the chances.

Mac

[skip1930]

I was sailing once and noticed that my bow sprit was hopping up and down a bit.

The dolphin stay from tip-O-sprit to bow eye had parted.

I Heaved Too, put on my PFD, made a grab line just in case I fell over board and made a two pass line fast between the bow eye and bow sprit.

Got home, went to GLYS and had them make me a new dolphin without a turnbuckle.

It was a half a pin's width short, so that two pass line from the bow eye to the bow sprit was harpooned with a big `O screw driver and twisted until it pulled that dolphin half a pin tighter.

I have no idea when or how the piece of rigging broke.

skip.

[NateD]

Your forward lower shrouds were also holding the mast up, I'm not sure the bowsprit without the dolphin stay (and without the lowers) would standup for very long. It's nice to sail an "over-built" boat, the double lower shrouds may add some extra weight and windage, but it's a worthwhile tradeoff.