Near Miss

Yesterday, the third time out on my recently acquired Prindle 19 I had the mast topple down while derigging in Hobie Beach. I was very lucky in that no one was in the direct line of the fall and no property was damaged other than the mast hinge. It was a stupid error on my part as with the boat secured on the trailer, I removed the clevis pin from the port stay and was on my way up the trampoline when the mast came down on the starboard side accompanied by a communal muffled sigh from the nearby beachgoers and the couple on beach chairs 10 ft from the landing spot.

Needless to say I am now scared straight, I used to be just paranoid, about this particular operation. Other than the lack of foresight on my part removing the stay, I must be doing something else wrong as it takes me and two or three others to step the mast. Plus bent/broken hinge pins/hinges and screwdrivers.

Is there any one out there with experience with the P19 that would show me a proper way to conduct this operation? Would beer be enough to show gratitude for this instruction?

Dude...........!If you remove any clevis pin on any part of the shrouds or stays without supporting the mast the sh*t is coming down! Any one of the sailors on the beach will help you, no charge, jus ask. It is a great group o' guys at Hobie Beach.

Of course if he's already offered beer it's hard to pull back now....

I'm not familiar with the P19, but why do you have to disconnect the shrowds for mast stepping? I think I did this once on a smaller Prindle. The shrowds were too tight and the mast would stop about 3/4 of the way up because the shrowds would reach full tension. Maybe you need to loosen these for mast stepping, and then tighten them once the mast is up and the forestay attached.

Last year in Ft. Lauderdale I was setting up my boat, and all of a sudden WHAM!..... a mast came down across my cat from the guy setting up next to me. Ten minutes later, another mast came down on my cat from the guy on the other side!!!! I couldn't believe it!! Two masts down across my cat in a ten minute period and no damage to my boat! I had never before and have never since seen any masts come down that way. The first guy was doing just what I stated above. He had raised the mast and was singlehandedly trying to tension the shrowd. He must have gotten distracted or something, because I didn't even hear him say "watch out!"

The mast on my Hobie 18 is heavy and needs at least 2 people to step (3 of course is always better). I bought an EZ Step to solve this problem since I always have to step the mast solo, and it works great.

BTW, I bit the bullet and bought a shiny new jib, and since the colors were not going to match with my old dilapitated main, I also got a new one of those Should be getting them in a few days.

I removed the pin in order to release tension on the rig, I should have just replaced the pin immediately but was not thinking. I'll try again this weekend, and warn everyone in a 30 ft radius around the boat. I always ask for advice, the first two times there were experienced sailors on the beach.

The beer offer still stands

I think that would be best. Get in your harness and trap out, releasing the pressure on the shroud. Then, move the shroud to the top hole and replace the pin. Do this on both sides, and there should be enough slack in the shrouds to release the forestay with the shrouds still attached.

Just the reverse of how you tension the shrouds...

Key to this is that you release the pin on the side you are trapped out. If you are planning on having someone release the pin on the other side let me know. I'd love to come watch [color:"blue"] [/color]

Don't accept Fred's help; he is always looking for free beer

RAFAEL! How are you!?

Still haven't called the tramp repair person. Thanks for the info. We were headed to the Keys tomorrow for the week, but it looks like our plans are on hold until we know what happens with this hurricane. I got new sails but haven't had a chance to even unroll them yet and was hoping to break them in this week. Hopefully I'll get the chance.

FERMINJ - watch out for getting help from Rafael!! He's a lot bigger than me and can probably put down A LOT more (free) beer!!!!!!! [color:"red"] [/color] [color:"red"] [/color]

All you guys are lightweights... We still need a fun day. A Friday may suit us best to avoid the "element" at H-Beach.

What is the element?

Yeah we definatley need our fun day.

The "element" is people who allow their children to defecate in the sand and just cover it up with more sand instead of cleaning up after them as most people do with their dogs.

Perhaps it is the stereos at max plus max on some latino channel that prohibit me from even hearing my own self think at 9:00 am, or perhaps it is the folks that watch you sail in to the place that you left your trailer several hours ago and act is if you are invading their space when you are just trying to not run over their kids.... you know, that element.... those who leave beer bottles, panties, chicken bones, syringes and condoms all over our precious beach.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh that element! Yes indeed I agree. That is why I havent been back to that beach except for the CABB races. Even the July 30th race aint looking good for me.

Ill see you folks out there.

Let's do it. I'm out for this week because we are going to the keys for a much needed vacation. I'm taking my Hobie with the new shiny sails. Friday the 22nd looks good to me (or anytime that week).

Element- (n.) Any and all persons who are not catamaran sailors and their families or crews, who occupy any portion of real estate on Hobie Beach, and whose presence there affects, alters or disrupts ease of access or exit for all catamarans, catamaran sailors and their families or crews. And who cause noise, as well as other types of pollution which interfere in any way with the natural sounds of the wind, waves, and the occasional dolphin splash.

I got this from my CABB dictionary.

You have a CABB dictionary?! If so, please send it to me. If not, please make one up and send it to me.

Well... it's a one word diccionary, so I guess you have it now. We are taking votes on additional words. I propose adding "CABB". All in favor say Aye!

I wonder if there is a way to stake out a section of the beach for catamarans only, kind of like in Ft. Lauderdale or like at the Hobie beach concession. Maybe putting two giant flags or banners as markers or something.

Of course this would only work for events etc.

I think it is a matter of numbers. In the "old days" (late 1970's and very early 1980's) before Rick and I arrived in Florida, I am told that the Hobies "owned" the beach, like 100 boats for every fleet day, and there was no room for any other "element."

But now we are in the minority and have to fight for space on the beach. We could easily stake out an area farther down the beach, but there are no restrooms there. And if the city puts restrooms there, it will be the same problem as at the other end of the beach.

We just have to figure out a way to truck in and out our own porta potti and have a padlock on it and give keys to all the CABB members.

There are restrooms at Hobie beach? where are those?

Oh great Robi! I guess you're the one Mary saw burying your... well you know what.

Robi...?

I asked because I always crossed over to the marina.

I am not part of the elementhood.

KTHNXBYE!

Hey Bro, there are bathrooms down by the cat rental.

You do know that is ELEMENTAL and alement language called element-speak! LOL

Didnt know we had them down there. I will walk that way from now on, thanks for the heads up.

The ultimate Cuban Youth experience is spending the night on Hobie beach before the M2KL race.You'd think you were stuck in the "El Ronald McDonalds" play section with guest host Sam Kennison stuck in one ear and Quite Riot in the other. Nice job again Craig (team Cyberspeed) talking the tribe down off of the RC30 or whatever the big Red thing was. If you leave your boat on the beach you take a 50/50 chance that its going to look the same as you left it. Next year I'll just bring it down early in the morning or definately take my chances at the yacht club for space. Not much fun being awake all night,I did'nt know there was a problem on the weekends there too!

Hello Fred and am sorry for my belated reply; I've been out of the country (on and off) since you and I saw each other at the MKL race.

It interested my your story on the hotel at Key Largo and the charter of the Corsair 31; where did you charter the boat from; do they have a website ?

I will be racing on the 30th so I hope to see you then.

So long and fair winds.

Rafael

Hi Rafael,

The website is www.mikescharters.com. They sail out of Key Largo (MM 102 I think). It is not a bareboat charter, it is captained by the owner. We went early in the morning and the wind was 0, so we initially motored out to the reef. On the way back we sailed with the hooter up. Light wind also, but sailing at least. It was nice.

We'll be at the race on the 30th. So we'll see you there.

Take care.

Fred