From Jeff (Hecla) 2010.06.22 1430:

Today I gave a go at climbing the mast at sea, a first for me. The wind was light and a slight swell was running. I took down all sail and proceded up the main halyard with new spinakker block and halyard in tow. With the slight swell and stiff stature of a multihull I was tossed about like one of those elastic paddle ball toys, sustained some cuts and body slams to the mast and was not even two body lengths above the boom. The motion at the top would have been many times amplified, so I quit that attempt. I am still pondering options but really don't have any good ideas at the moment.
Hecla-June 24 11:00

Quick synopsis: I repaired the spinnaker halyard and have the small one flying now. I don't have the strength yet to get the Big Blue whomper chute out of its storage garage (it's about the size of a Smart car).

Late yesterday afternoon I decided my plan B was workable, and as I glide southward the seas would likely get bigger, so time to go. I tied my static climbing rope to the head of the mainsail and rehoisted it, my idea being that swinging in one direction I would hit the sail which is just fine and much better than the alternatives. Also climbing the mast while underway there would be some pressure in the sails, a slight heel to the boat, and a more stable experience. All proved true.

A short distance off of the deck the swinging began, which if left uncontrolled was the paddle-ball experience again, but if I just held onto the mast or something it was fine. This was also true all the way to the top, but it took a great deal of strength to stay under control. There were also the numerous standing rigging attachments to the mast to negotiate. The view from the top was pretty cool, a gentle wake from Hecla trailing off into infinity, deep blue all around dotted with sea trash. There was even a toilet seat and bucket, possible overexuberent result of a bucket-and-chuck-it marine toilet practice. Sorry, getting off topic.

Sure enough the most I could climb on the rope was 10" too little. Aarrgh! Again it took a great deal of exertion to wiggle the foot straps up just a little bit more and stand up on them, where I could reach the masthead padeye where I needed to attach the new block. But only with one hand, and all I have is a loose-pin shackle! I did have a spare in my pocket. I was so exhausted at this point that my legs and arms were shaking like a sewing machine, I commanded them to just stand up, stop shaking and let me get this job done. In true Singlehanded Transpac spirit, I one-handed held the block, inserted the shackle pin and siezed it. Yeah!

The trip down was the most difficult. My arm muscles were screaming in pain and near failure, but with a "there are no options!" attitude I worked it down. From time to time I could hug the mast with my knees and rest.

The round trip took two hours. I missed my email check-in schedule but caught the end of the SSB check-in and luckily could relay my position.

What an experience. Kids, don't try this at home (or at sea).

Cheers, Jeff



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<td style="font-size: 14pt;">jbarthelmass</td>
<td class="smallfont" align="right">10-08-2007 12:20 PM</td>
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<div><strong>Mast Climbing Gear</strong><br>&nbsp;</div>



<div>From all of you veterans, what tips do you have regarding mast climbing equipment and techniques for use during the race?<br>
I hope to never need it, But I remember that Jim Tallet climbed his mast three times during the 02 race.</div>
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<td style="font-size: 14pt;">BobJ</td>
<td class="smallfont" align="right">10-08-2007 12:49 PM</td>
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<div>I have the ATN TopClimber which I have used many times in the slip. Like you, I hope I never need to use it offshore.<br>
<br>
The usual warning on this stuff: Always tie knots - don't rely on a halyard shackle.<br>
<br>
My recollection is that Jim went up the rig eight times!</div>
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<td style="font-size: 14pt;">haulback</td>
<td class="smallfont" align="right">10-09-2007 07:08 AM</td>
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<div>My best recollection is that Jim went up once 3 times in one day.
I am not sure anyone knows how many times in total, but for sure in '02
was more than 8 - perhaps 12 or 14??? <br>
I know he went up fewer times in '04 because I lost 5 bucks on a bet
with him over it. He did go UNDER the boat that year, though...<br>
<br>
Jim/Haulback</div>
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<td style="font-size: 14pt;">AlanH</td>
<td class="smallfont" align="right">10-09-2007 10:50 AM</td>
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<div>I have Petzl rope ascenders which are teamed up with a climbing
seat harness and a pair of foot loops which I made myself from nylon
webbing. The system worked well on the Santana, and I went up to the
masthead 4-5 times in the slip with this getup. I never used it out on
the water, though.<br>
<br>
I won't be using it on the SC27....fuhgeddit. 250 pounds of me at the masthead on a SC27? NOT.</div>
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<td style="font-size: 14pt;">dogbark</td>
<td class="smallfont" align="right">10-09-2007 06:13 PM</td>
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<div>I use a pair of Jumar ascenders in a similar setup to AlanH's and
go up the mast regularly in the slip but also one trip each crossing
(04 and 06). When going up underway I also wear padding and a helmet
and set the halyard tight to minimize being thrown around. I also use a
couple of tethers to be clipped onto something else. It is amazing how
much an eighty foot lever arm magnifies the motion! Al</div>
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<td style="font-size: 14pt;">tiger beetle</td>
<td class="smallfont" align="right">10-10-2007 11:37 PM</td>
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<div>I use a similiar rig to Dog Bark, a pair of Jumars for climbing
up the rig, with stirrups for the feet. Make the halyard your
up-climbing on bar-tight, otherwise you fly around too much. It also
really helps to have short lines to loop around the spar when you get to
where you're going to work, as the lines can give you something to
brace against. And make sure the climbing harness is comfortable, as
you can't readily get out of the harness when you're up in the air.<br>
<br>
Jumars are awful to down-climb on. For getting down, it's much nicer to use gravity and come down on a gri-gri:<br>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigri_%28climbing" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigri_(climbing</a>)<br>
One cool part of the gri-gri is it can act as a safety while up-climbing
by attaching the gri-gri to your climbing harness on a caribiner and
running a second halyard through it. Works a treat.<br>
<br>
Another cool way to climb the rig is to have nylon webbing foot loops
sewn to the mainsail luff; the loops act as a ladder, which can be
convenient if you want to go up the rig and the mainsail is hoisted at
the time (as often is the case offshore). You still should have harness
and be clipped in to a halyard to arrest your fall should you become
separated from mainsail loops.<br>
<br>
- rob</div>
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<td style="font-size: 14pt;">haulback</td>
<td class="smallfont" align="right">10-11-2007 07:28 AM</td>
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<div>Not terribly 'racy' but I have always been a big fan of
permanently mounted mast steps for getting up and down the rig. Once
they are on you can wander up and down to your heart's content whether
at the dock, or offshore. No worries about swinging out like a pendulum
and crashing into the rig on your way back in. I have always felt very
safe using them, not a hair-raising experience in the least.<br>
<br>
One added advantage is that they are always ready to use - should
something come adrift up there, you can be on the job in a matter of
moments - no digging stuff out of lockers or rigging-up time involved. <br>
<br>
Also provides additional unrated sail area downwind.<br>
<br>
Jim/Haulback</div>
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<td style="font-size: 14pt;">pfschmidt</td>
<td class="smallfont" align="right">02-13-2008 11:17 AM</td>
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<div><strong>mastSteps</strong><br>&nbsp;</div>



<div>I have mast steps and the ATN mast climber. I have only gone to
spreaders with ATN still getting use to it, but easy. Question is about
mast steps. What recommendations about staying attached to mast.
Should one use harness around the mast, just "free" climb like a ladder,
use in combination with bosuns chair. Any advise from mast step users
would be helpful. Thanks.</div>
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<td style="font-size: 14pt;">haulback</td>
<td class="smallfont" align="right">02-13-2008 12:00 PM</td>
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<div>I free climb for inspections, small jobs and exercise. If I had
something that was going to take a while and conditions were fresh, I
would probably lash myself in place until I was finished, unlash and
climb down.<br>
<br>
The more often you run up and down the rig, the better you get at it,
the more comfortable and confident you become doing so. You will find
that less stuff breaks, fouls or goes wrong up there - because you are
always inspecting it.<br>
<br>
Jim/Haulback</div>
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