My forestay pin fell out a few years ago while sailing in my M15. Fortunately I noticed the end of the stay swinging around--the jib was holding the mast up. I found a new pin and cotter ring, went forward and reattached the forestay, all while sailing with a rope minding the tiller--a little scary, and my friends Vince & Sharon in their M15 wondered what in the world I was doing! --Gary Hyde N24 'Sailabration' M17 #637 'Hydeaway2' M15 #235 'Vanilla' On Aug 22, 2005, at 9:51 AM, Tom Smith wrote:
Wow Gilbert--close call. Those quick release pins are killers. Not a good idea to use them on any standing rigging. But pins and rings can fail too. I had a ring break on the pin on my headstay on the M15 a couple years ago. I was fortunate to be standing alongside the mast sorting out halyards when it failed and was able to barely avert disaster. My lesson learned is to give everything a quick onceover prior to departure, especially if the boat is slipped. t
Tom Smith Next IT 509-242-0767
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