RS Venture: Mast Rigging

This section describes both the Stepping of the mast (inserting the mast into the boat) and also completing the standing rigging attached to the mast, particularly the gennaker launch line standing rigging. Before starting this work make sure that the rigging emerging from the upper sections of the mast will be accessible and properly positioned when the mast is raised, nothing more annoying than realising that the main halyard, upper shroud fastenings or launch line bobbles are misplaced and out of reach after raising the mast. Use cable ties or bungee cords to temporarily hold this rigging in place.

At the bottom of the mast is a potential tangle of ropes; main halyard, Jib tensioner, Kicker line, Gennaker Launch line. Before raising the mast tidy these ropes, keeping them separate to make the rigging task easier when the mast is in place, it will also avoid the possible need to remove the mast again to release a trapped loop in a rope.

Stepping the Mast

This task involves lifting the mast vertically into the boat and securing it in position. Choose a sheltered location. This task requires two people and can require strength in windy conditions.
Initially the mast should be brought alongside the boat with the foot of the mast adjacent to the mast step bracket in the boat. The mast should then be raised to the vertical at a position alongside the boat and as close as possible to the final mast position. This is best done by a person placing a foot against the bottom of the mast resting on the ground while an assistant lifts the top of the mast and 'walks' his hands along the mast until it is vertical.

The next stage is for a person to step into the boat keeping his/her weight well forward of the hoop to avoid the boat suddenly tipping backwards. A third person sitting on the bow is a useful precaution. Use a carpet offcut or similar to place on the forward section of the seat to protect it from scratching as the heel of the mast is rested temporarily on the seat. Check that the mast step bracket is clear of leaves and debris. The assistant, always keeping the mast vertical, then lifts the mast into the boat. Both persons need to work together to lift the mast. The person outside the boat grips the mast at it lower point with the other hand gripping the mast at body height. The person in the boat grips the mast with one hand slightly below that of the assistant and the other hand roughly waist height. Both then lift the mast together but keeping it vertical. Rest the mast momentarily on the protective pad on the seat while both persons change grips before placing the mast in the centre of the boat just to the rear of the mast step bracket.

At this stage the assistant takes hold of the end of the forestay wire, making sure it is clear of any other rigging / shrouds etc.
Make sure the mast gate latch is open. The person in the boat now adjusts his/her grip and lifts the mast (still keeping it vertical) into the step bracket, ensuring the heel of the mast slots between the stainless steel bracket pins. Do make sure the mast is correctly seated between both sets of locating pins. The mast is then pushed into the fully vertical position in the slot at the rear of the fore deck and the assistant then clips the end of the forestay wire into the retaining ring in the centre of the fore deck. The person in the boat can now safely release the mast and lock the mast gate into position. Finally connect the shrouds to the port and starboard shroud rings. The mast is now secure.

Purpose and Fastening of the Forestay

The forestay is only in use when the boat is NOT in use. As soon as the mast is stepped (installed in the boat) the forestay should be lightly (slightly slack) fastened to the fore deck ring. This will give back up support to the mast whilst the shrouds are being fastened. When the Jib sail has been installed and tensioned the forestay must be removed from the foredeck and refastened to its keeper ring at the back bottom of the mast. If it is not removed it will foul the jib sail and give big trouble during an attempt to tack. As soon as sailing has finished the forestay should once again be fastened loosely to the foredeck and all tension released from the jib wire and shrouds. The boat should never be left in the boat park with the rig under tension and ideally whenever there is an interlude in sailing the jib tension should be slackened to remove strain on the hull.

Installing the Gennaker Standing rigging

The Gennaker launch line is threaded through the centre of the mast. When the mast is removed from the boat the launch line and other mast related rigging is left in place on the mast. The launch line is not removed from the mast unless it is being renewed. This section describes the process of linking in the gennaker launch line when the mast has been stepped.
Make sure the end of the launch line that is normally attached to the Gennaker Head is tied off securely to the spinnaker ring on the front of the mast otherwise it may disappear to the top of the mast out of reach. The launch line emerges from the bottom starboard side of the mast. It needs to be fed into the adjacent saddle eye and forward under the foredeck, through the floating pulley block and then back again into the launching cleat.
From the launching cleat the line is passed over the centreboard casing, through the retrieval pulley block and then passed into the chute and tied off temporarily to the shackle on the furler unit. TIP: If the line is tied to the Tiller Extension it can be pushed up to the mouth of the chute.