JesseMartin.Net
22nd June 1999
I HAVE had my first real piece of equipment failure after about 15,000 nautical miles. It started when I noticed a grating sound in the furler, which rolls the forward genoa around itself and allows quick and easy deployment of the sail.
I spoke to dad and we assumed it was dried salt. However, the next day the furler had visibly come apart and I could see and feel where the bearing seal had separated.
Dad looked at some of the models and we spoke to the manufacturer about what could be done.
There were two options - pick up a replacement part in Cape Town and forgo the unassisted aspect of the record or take the furler off and hoist the sail in the conventional method.
I decided to remove the furler.
It took a whole day by the time I removed hanks (sail clips) from the spare sails and altered the genoa to slide on the forestay.
To take the furler off I had to undo the forestay (wire holding up the mast) and take the sections of aluminium tubing apart.
Even though the wind was light, there was enough sway up the top of the mast to send the forestay with all its weight wriggling like a snake.
I felt like a fireman trying to control a high-powered hose while undoing impossibly small screws at the same time.
I cried in frustration and wondered how the job was ever going to get done.
There was nothing else to do but cry or persevere and it took too much effort to cry. Eventually I worked out how it was put together and got the whole thing off.
I tell you what though, it was with great satisfaction that I hoisted the altered genoa and Lionheart slowly picked up speed again. I slept like a baby.