6 TH JANUARY 2025
‘ Start time ’ was 7 am and all boats had their mains and headsails set when disaster struck for Heavens Gate . The nut on the gooseneck pin had vibrated off and the boom detached from the mast . First task was to get the gennaker down so that we could head to wind to drop the main . Next task was to drop the main without the boom crashing down onto our solar panels and doing other damage . We retrieved some fenders to put under the boom and we dropped the mainsail boom on the deck . The boom was still rocking and rolling due to the sea state , so we then lashed it to the mast and to the traveller and had to put padding between it and the mast to prevent damage to both boom and mast .
Having secured the boom , we then raised our gennaker again and continued with the ‘ race ’.
Below are the guilty parts and the unfortunate looking boom . I was later chastised by Matt for having a fender unbecoming of an RPAYC flag officer . These guys are hard markers . I think I will be lucky to get a 50 % score from them on this cruise . They even criticised my manner of entry into the harbour and enjoyed great hilarity at my expense just because I nearly got run over by a tanker , again . Look guys , nobody is perfect . Remember Matt ’ s white party debacle ?
Gooseneck fittings