Day 2 with more breakdown drama, but no towing required by the sounds of it.
https://m.facebook.com/GreatTexas30...08551/?type=3&source=48&__tn__=EI'm not a metallurgist, but that rust spot inside the break makes me think there was at least a hairline fracture there, ultimately leading to the failure of the component (albeit with disastrous timing for your quest for regatta glory).
Great job on the at-sea MacGyver-ing!
Mike
I'm not a metallurgist either...got some of it in school though; no question it was fatigue related...lots of factors there contributing. Weld looks like it was partial on both sides and was trapping moisture inside (more rust there). Then you have hardening of the material from the weld heat (making it more brittle). Hard to tell from the angle of the photo but the weld may have also undercut the structure of the shackle slightly and weakened it on the far side where the fatigue looks to have started. Introduce the repeat cycle stress of the downhaul, wind, and waves...snap.
Which reminds me that it's probably time to inspect all of mine!
