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Dala - This is how a single nut cans screw it all!!



Hi, all (especially the ones of you interested in technical sailing matters),

I wrote a few minutes ago a brief report about our stay in Bermuda and how much we enjoyed it.
In that message I alluded to a serious incident we had with our main sail. For those of you interested in those matters, here's what happened:

1- During the first leg of the crossing, from the British Virgin Islands to Bermuda, the mainsail headboard connector (for my French speaking sailing fiends: c'est la piece metallique triangulaire a laquelle sont attaches trois coulisseaux, qui maintient le point de drisse a la tete du mat) at the very top of the main sail lost its uppermost bolt, and that went of course totally unnoticed.
2- A few hours (or days?) later, the headboard connector, not being held any longer, slipped down progressively until freeing one then the two uppermost cars (French: coulisseaux).
3- Then the headboard connector was maintained by only one car which split and the headboard connector broke on its upper part.
4- Upon our arrival at Bermuda we noticed that the mainsail was very difficult to take down and it's only when we did it, that we finally understood was happened.
5- We also discovered later that two cars lost their bolts and were consequently severely damaged.
6- In addition the uppermost batten (French: Latte) was broken. We are not sure however that this last damage is linked to the above.

Of course, we could not at all consider to continue the crossing without a proper mainsail. So our priority upon arriving in Bermuda was not touring unfortunately but to make a jury rig fix allowing us to continue the crossing. The nice part of the story is that this endeavor made us meet wonderful local people. First we went to the main rigging shop out there and they provided us on the spot with a replacement batten. But that was the easy part.
Then they showed us how to reach a metal parts workshop, and there we found really amazing guys: They custom make or repair any metal part you could imagine. In three hours, our headboard connector was partly rebuild, the five damaged cars were repaired and all this while smiling, working with joy in their hearts, explaining us what they were doing, being very attentive to our remarks and requests, obviously willing to satisfy us and make the best possible work just for the sake of it. What a pleasure to deal with such nice people. The third stop was the hardware shop of St Georges Harbor. There too, we found the additional parts we needed, essentially bolts for the damaged cars and nuts for the main bolt of our rebuilt headboard connector. And because the thread of that bolt was different, they redid it completely. A perfect service I must say, and always smiling and happy to work!
Back to the boat we had to reconnect the headboard connector and each of the cars, that we disconnected and numbered before to go "shopping". By the way if this happens to you (I wish you NOT!!), do no forget to number each car when you disconnect it, otherwise it will be a serious headache to reassemble the whole thing.
I have to say that I was rather anxious since this repair, I was not 100% sure that we did the things right. It's only this morning when we hoisted the main sail that I could say that, yes, it's OK. What a relief!!!
A huge THANK YOU to those marvelous guys in Bermuda: Without you, we would certainly not have been able to sail bound Horta today!

Bye for now,

Albert




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