Our Sailboat Has Been Demasted!

Our Sailboat Has Been Demasted!

Don’t worry. We demasted it on purpose. Several months ago, we scheduled “No Tan Lines” to go to the boatyard, and have the mast removed so we could have the mast step and stringer replaced. After our last sailing trip, we noticed the mast step was cracked and decaying. The mast step supports the mast. If that fails, your mast can fall and that can be catastrophic, structurally and financially.

Our first appointment was postponed because a hurricane was barreling our way. The second appointment was also postponed because our motor conked out that morning.

Our third appointment was yesterday. The night before, the wind kicked up to more than 20 knots. We knew it was going to be a hairy trip but we did NOT want to postpone again. So, we got up at 5:00 a.m., did the final prep work, donned our all weather gear (it was in the upper 40’s), welcomed 3 of our awesome Dock 4 friends on board (who had volunteered to help), and shoved off.

Capt. Brian Whiddon (who is also the Managing Editor at WritersWeekly and the Operations Manager at BookLocker) immediately noticed a problem with the left bow thruster. It was shorting out. Despite that, and despite the strong northeast wind, he got us out of the slip with no problems at all. Once we got into Tamp Bay, we braced ourselves. There were breaking waves in the bay so it was quite an exciting ride! It only took about half an hour to get to Salt Creek, which is protected from the rough water. However, it was still windy and getting the boat through a narrow channel in gale was another adventure.

Brian got us into the narrow slip at the boat yard with no problems once again, even though we had to veer left to get in there.

The yacht riggers immediately got to work removing all of the rigging that supports the mast.

The crane arrived so they hooked it up to the mast, and got to work jiggling it back and forth until it literally “popped” out of its support.

In THIS VIDEO, you can see the mast popping from the interior of the boat.

In THIS VIDEO, you can see what the riggers did on the outside to break it from from its support. Not very technical but extremely effective, and even a bit humorous!

They then pulled it through the deck, got it on land, and laid it on a large, big-wheeled cart. And, we were then cleared to leave.

Brian backed us out of the slip, and steered far left (still going backwards) to avoid running aground on the other side of the creek. He was then able to use the right bow thruster to get us centered in the creek (think a creative, backwards three-point turn) and off we went, back to the marina.

The wind was blowing even harder now and, without the added weight of the mast, the boat was pitching to and fro quite violently in the breakers. It was a blast!!!! I only had to get up a few times to investigate crashing sounds down inside the boat.

Mason’s closet flew open and his Nerf guns fell out. Max’s Xbox flew off his shelf (oops – I forgot to secure that). The kitchen lamp flew to the floor (my fault on that one, too). The good news is I DID remember to lay down the TV in the salon.

We got back to the basin outside our marina, and prepared for the possibility of a piling collision because we had to turn left into our slip. Two other awesome neighbors I’d texted about our impending arrival, Rhonda and Kelly, were standing by on the dock with boat hooks. Brian steered us into the slip, picture perfect once again. No collisions at all! Everyone on board had been assigned lines to secure and, within just a few minutes, we were safely docked once again. The wind continued to blow all afternoon and, without the weight of the mast, Tanny has been pitching wildly all afternoon and evening.

Next week, the riggers will be here to cut apart the floor outside the boys’ bedrooms to begin the work. It should take about two to four weeks and it’ll be a mess but the mast will be once again safe for sailing after that. Just in time for Spring! 🙂

RELATED

During Our First Real Sailing Trip This Week, We Started Taking on Water!

How Do You Give Your Dock Neighbors Colon Control Issues? Crash Your Boat RIGHT NEXT TO THEIRS!

Minor Surgery Aboard “No Tan Lines” During Tropical Storm Alberto!

Will “No Tan Lines” Tip Over?!

Extreme Excitement and Fear! How We Fared in Hurricane Irma!! (Includes several photos)


Angela Hoy lives on a mountain in North Georgia. She is the publisher of WritersWeekly.com, the President and CEO of BookLocker.com and AbuzzPress, and the author of 24 books.

ANGELA ON TWITTER
https://twitter.com/AngelaHoy

ANGELA ON FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/angela.hoy.750

ANGELA ON LINKEDIN
https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-hoy-39071978/

Angela is the creator of the Original 24-Hour Short Story Contest!
https://24hourshortstorycontest.com/









HOW TO REMEMBER, WRITE AND PUBLISH YOUR LIFE STORY


Angela Hoy's popular online class is now available in book format!


Remember Your Past
Write It and Publish It
in as little as 12 weeks!



Angela Hoy's book will get you started!



  • Using Angela's MEMORY TRIGGERS, recall memories that have been dormant for years
  • Record those memories in chronological order in your memory notebook
  • Using the memory notebook as your outline, write your autobiography!
  • Also works for biographies and memoirs!

Read more here:
https://booklocker.com/books/4764.html





14 Responses to "Our Sailboat Has Been Demasted!"

  1. Pingback: My Foot Found the Hole in the Boat Floor! | WritersWeekly.com

  2. Pingback: Another Falling ON the Boat Accident! (Yes, really…) | WritersWeekly.com

  3. Pingback: Comments From Our Readers – 02/13/19 | WritersWeekly.com

  4. Pingback: | WritersWeekly.com

  5. Doug  February 4, 2019 at 6:31 pm

    Angela —

    I really enjoyed your article! Fun reading about your adventures. But I’m also dismayed… at myself. I have just realized that your name is, ahem, “AHoy”. OMG I’m losing it.

    • By Angela Hoy - Publisher of WritersWeekly.com  February 4, 2019 at 10:05 pm

      I KNOW!! Ha ha ha ha ha!!! 😉

      Big hugs,
      Angela

  6. Pamela Allegretto  February 2, 2019 at 4:22 pm

    I love how you take all of this in stride. It seems each week it’s a new adventure. I loved the videos. I had no idea how big that mast is and how it’s all connected. Very interesting.

  7. Chris Queen  February 2, 2019 at 1:54 am

    Growing up north of New Orleans we had a sailboat on RR Ties in the carport several times over those years. Thoroughly enjoyed reading about your refitting. CQ

  8. Susan K Williams  February 1, 2019 at 5:11 pm

    Angela, Can I share your stories and pics with my friends at Houston Yacht Club? Your old stomping grounds in Shore Acres? I think my sailor friends would find your “adventures” very interesting!!!

    • By Angela Hoy - Publisher of WritersWeekly.com  February 1, 2019 at 5:15 pm

      Absolutely!! 🙂

      Hugs,
      Ang

  9. Michael W. Perry, medical writer  February 1, 2019 at 1:51 pm

    That is one tall mast. I recall only one docked along Seattle’s Montlake Cut that was that tall. And a sailboat where you can stand up inside? That must be marvelous. When I owned a San Juan 21, the interior was crouch-down-only. I bet you even have a shower with running hot water. That’s the way to travel. Mine was more like camping.

    • By Angela Hoy - Publisher of WritersWeekly.com  February 1, 2019 at 5:17 pm

      I think the mast is 56 feet. That means we have to be careful when sailing (researching bridge heights!). 😉 We have two heads (bathrooms). They are tiny but they both have toilets and warm showers. Well, the shower is warm if someone else has not showered in the previous hour. Our hot water heater is small. 😉

      Hugs,
      Ang

      • Brian Whiddon - Managing Editor  February 13, 2019 at 3:30 pm

        66 Feet, actually.

        • By Angela Hoy - Publisher of WritersWeekly.com  February 13, 2019 at 3:37 pm

          Oh. I guess that 10 feet can make a bit of a difference under bridges, huh? 😉