Tips for getting on the mast
Over the years, I have seen various people and couples deal with getting on the mast, or “going high” in the language of sailing. The reasons vary: recovering a lost halyard, fixing a weather vane or spreader light, installing a radar reflector, or any of a number of jobs that require essentially working in the air. While most did so safely, it was surprising how many did not seem to understand the gravity of the situation, literally.
The climber has to depend on the ability and alertness of the insurer, so the insurer must know what he is doing. Both parties must also understand that the climber may be in place for some time and will need to have the right tools to do whatever work is required. And both the climber and the belayer must understand the physics of pendulums: any movement on deck, whether in the wake of a passing ship or someone walking, can turn the mast into a jumbo metronome, which presents serious difficulties. for the climber. while trying to get the job done.
Here are some tips on how to upload. My “gender labels” on this list assume that a team of two men and women perform the exercise, with the man climbing and the woman belaying. However, the elements I analyze apply regardless of the gender of the participants.
- Plan the work before the feet leave the ground. Talk about what will be done out loud so that both parties know what is planned.
- If possible, choose a time when everything is quiet. Go high in calm water with little or no boat traffic to minimize boat movement. Unless there is an emergency, avoid climbing the mast in rough water or windy conditions.
- Gather all the tools needed for the job and connect them to something. Put cords on the tools to be lifted and secure them to something else going up: the boatswain’s chair, a bucket, the climber’s belt loops. This will prevent 1) losing a tool due to gravity and 2) losing the belayer to unconsciousness after being hit in the head by a falling piece of metal.
- Prepare two halyards to hold the climber. Do not use halyard shackles, tie the halyards directly to the boatswain’s chair and / or climbing harness. The insurer must be attentive to both halyards at all times during the exercise. Check both halyards to make sure there is no wear that could sag; If the polyester line looks good on the outside, it’s fine on the inside. The two key points to check are the length within a few feet of the shackle and the wire-to-wire splice.
- Use a full climber harness in addition to a boatswain chair. By “complete” I mean a harness system that covers the chest and seat areas. If the system is comfortable to “sit on” while airborne, you could forgo the bosun’s chair, but you would still need to use two halyards (as a safety backrest) and would need to find an alternative to the chair’s tool pockets. .
- Agree on a communication system to use while the climber is in the air and then use it. The ability to speak in full sentences may be impaired due to wind or other factors, so one-word communications must be used for different actions. Make sure you both know what the system will be and what the different words mean; This is not a situation that has a lot of room for miscommunication and misunderstandings. Also, because it is important that the person communicating (be it the climber or the insurer) knows that the other person has listened and understood, it is an excellent idea to discipline yourself to repeat whatever command they hear to indicate that they have heard. understood and are taking the requested action.
- Install a tarp bucket on another halyard or messenger line that can be pulled up and down. This can be used to ship whatever tools or materials the climber finds he needs once in the air, or to ship items if needed. Also, the bucket can be used to hold heavy tools so the climber is not hampered by them.
- Go slow. Whether using mast steps (I’m a big fan of these) or being hoisted by a winch, be patient. The belayer must maintain the slack on both halyards and the climber must ensure that he does not overtake it. Take your time and make sure the climber is safe until the end.
- Once the climber is in position, secure both halyards. The insurer should not rely on self-trailing winches to tie it down. Use cleats for both lines.
- The insurer should minimize deck movement as much as possible to avoid pendulum action at the top. Also, you should move away from the mast after the climber has removed, just in case something falls off that is not tied to it. However, you must remain close and “on guard” the entire time he is in the air.
- When it is time for the climber to come down, secure him slowly and with control. Avoid having the lines pulled down just because of their weight. If you are going down alone (as is the case if there are mast steps), the belayer should pay attention and match the speed of release of the line to your descent. Do not remove winch lines until you are on deck or within easy jump distance.
Dealing with gravity on a boat when someone has to leave the deck and get upright is really an exercise in common sense. After all, gravity isn’t just a good idea, it’s a law!