Well we did it!
Yesterday was a day I probably won't forget in a long time - Karen and I did what I thought we would never do!
Karen put me up the mast!
Some of the technical details...
It is bloody high - close to 20m from the water at the top!
The bosun's chair I bought had a weight limit of 100kg - yes I have lost some weight and scraped in under the limit (I didn't weigh myself - it just didn't break!)
Details of the technique we employed:
1. Fat big boy goes up the mast
2. Tiny little lady mans the winch (with me so far - I didn't think she could do it)
3. Electric winch (forgot that - so she could do it!)
4. Two line system with both the main and gennaker halyards tied fast to me
5. Checked bowlines at least 3 times before I left the deck!
6. Hang onto the mast like it was your last ever lover! I had marks on my heels, soles of my feet, thighs, stomach, and inner forearms - it is amazing Karen could overcome all the friction to get me up to the top
7. Use bungee cord around both legs of my shorts in case it is scarier than I thought ( this was a request of the neighbouring yachts - who had been waiting for me to work up the courage for four days - Thanks Barb for the confidence)
Purpose:
1. Put up the flag halyard I thought I was getting with the boat
2. Check the rigging before crossing the pond
3. Figuring out whether we could actually do this
The real challenge (it is not getting up the mast):
With a $500k life insurance policy - knowing that Karen would get me back down alive and not drop me!
So how was it:
Fantastic! A view like never before. The boat did not move until I asked to come down but our second safety man Paul was half way down the pontoon taking photos of me - then the gusts came up and I moved a bit. Nick - if you are reading this - buy another hull - it was not as scarey than when you went up your mast - and I was down on deck!
And just to prove it here are some pics!
Karen - the winch wench - is she on the phone?
Winch coach Paul - my mistake was setting him the challenge to get me up the pole!
My knee - can you see it shake?
A Relax by the sea
Loving every minute!
Karen put me up the mast!
Some of the technical details...
It is bloody high - close to 20m from the water at the top!
The bosun's chair I bought had a weight limit of 100kg - yes I have lost some weight and scraped in under the limit (I didn't weigh myself - it just didn't break!)
Details of the technique we employed:
1. Fat big boy goes up the mast
2. Tiny little lady mans the winch (with me so far - I didn't think she could do it)
3. Electric winch (forgot that - so she could do it!)
4. Two line system with both the main and gennaker halyards tied fast to me
5. Checked bowlines at least 3 times before I left the deck!
6. Hang onto the mast like it was your last ever lover! I had marks on my heels, soles of my feet, thighs, stomach, and inner forearms - it is amazing Karen could overcome all the friction to get me up to the top
7. Use bungee cord around both legs of my shorts in case it is scarier than I thought ( this was a request of the neighbouring yachts - who had been waiting for me to work up the courage for four days - Thanks Barb for the confidence)
Purpose:
1. Put up the flag halyard I thought I was getting with the boat
2. Check the rigging before crossing the pond
3. Figuring out whether we could actually do this
The real challenge (it is not getting up the mast):
With a $500k life insurance policy - knowing that Karen would get me back down alive and not drop me!
So how was it:
Fantastic! A view like never before. The boat did not move until I asked to come down but our second safety man Paul was half way down the pontoon taking photos of me - then the gusts came up and I moved a bit. Nick - if you are reading this - buy another hull - it was not as scarey than when you went up your mast - and I was down on deck!
And just to prove it here are some pics!
Karen - the winch wench - is she on the phone?
Winch coach Paul - my mistake was setting him the challenge to get me up the pole!
My knee - can you see it shake?
A Relax by the sea
Loving every minute!
well done! good laugh, great photos, u forgot to tell em though, that you went to the loo before - just in case!! or was that just to delay it all a bit longer? get that article written and send it off to multi's! they'd luv it!
Reply to this
Good quality mast
Reply to this
Well done Karen, Im sure the 500K was tempting.
Reply to this
i love your style, karen, on the phone whilst matt's hanging in mid air!!
Reply to this
Awesome photos and commentary. Looks like fun. Ain't life grand. Don't know if I'd trust Kath to noy go for the insurance money
Reply to this
Did you have one to many cerveza before you climbed up there? The bend in that mast thing doesn't look too good. I suggest laying off the cerveza before you go up there again. The next time it may snap. Looks like you having fun though.
Reply to this
Hi Matt,
You are more brave than Jack Sparrow!
Reply to this
But apparently not quite as good looking as him according to Karen.
Reply to this
Oh s**t Matt glad it was you. Wouldn't get me up there for 500k or whateva. Have been busy here WORKING. Glad to see you are both well and planning a trip to USA? A couple of smarty pants u two. I am actually typing and viewing at work at 6.51pm but as I only come in one day if I can manage it (too many quilts to make) Well love to you both. Wendy
Reply to this