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We snapped the preventer and then the traveller line in the accidental gybe when the steering failed.
When the traveller line snapped, the traveller car exploded as it crashed into the opposite side
The boom stopped, but the load on the sail bent the boom mandrel and sheared off the aft boom bearing
The mandrel bent and would no longer fit back inside the boom cover
Nikki and I struggled for an hour to get the mainsail down and on deck. It went 1/2 way overboard – twice!
Bent mandrel – Luderitz, Nambia
When the boom cover was stretched, the mid support casting cracked
Detail of broken mid boom support
The front of the boom cover was bent and this caused the stainless steel yolk forward to bend
New mid boom support – It is beefier
Much improved boom bearing. It’s longer
And goes THROUGH the aft plate; welded on BOTH sides. This will NOT shear off again
Old boom plate showing tack weld on one side only
The new aft plate with holes cut out in the unused hydraulic galleys to store the full length spare battens.
Forward Stainless Steel yolk. Old and bent below. Nice and new above
New sail guide rollers are more esthetic as they are located under the boom cover
Sail guides
Sail guides
Ready to reinstall with the main halyard doing the work
Attaching the boom to the articulating shaft
Reinstalling the boom vang
Andre giving it the final touches
Andre reinstalling the boom blocks
As you can see…We received the “Seal of Approval”….:-)
New NON TWIST 2:1 halyard shackle
We end for ended all the halyards and put a stainless steel thimble in the top of the main halyard
Taking a break
Boom reinstalled with Table Mountain in the background
Scott & Nikki at the V&A getting ready to go to MADAM ZINGARA
Isn’t she cute….:-)
Kathy and Steve Searle – Steve was our marine electrician extrordinaire
Steve got “artsy” when we were at the Madam Zingara dinner show
Kathy and Steve
Kathy, Nikki and Scott
One of the “Madam’s” minions
The Madam herself with an admiring Steve
Yes, at least in heels, she was taller than me!
Scott, “The Madam” and Nikki
WE HAD LOTS OF FUN!
The next day, we got our repaired mainsail back from Quantum Sails
They helped me reinstall it on the furling boom
The original mandrel was re-used. Straightened perfectly by Southern Spars. I have no idea how they did it?
The mainsail weighs about 200 pounds or 90kg
The roll must be done carefully as to not tear the sail or damage the feeder. Once we’ve got it set up, it’s easy from there
Yet another….”Seal of Approval”…..:-)
Nikki took advantage of our return to Cape Town to get a monomaran ride
Nikki is very good at provisioning. We had to plan for up to 6 weeks with no real markets
As you can see…this is a BIG JOB
We’re off again to Luderitz…Hopefully there won’t be any more “boom boom” this time. Only 6500 miles to go to Trinidad…..:-)
