Comments on: The Dismasting of the Pride of Baltimore II http://www.socalsail.com/wp/2005/11/08/the-dismasting-of-the-pride-of-baltimore-ii/ Just another WordPress weblog Sat, 22 Nov 2008 23:50:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: John Callender http://www.socalsail.com/wp/2005/11/08/the-dismasting-of-the-pride-of-baltimore-ii/#comment-3622 John Callender Sun, 08 Oct 2006 14:15:39 +0000 http://www.socalsail.com/wp/?p=7#comment-3622 My experience with being dismasted is fairly limited, and probably doesn't have a lot in common with a 17th-century dutch galleon. For what it's worth, though: Typically, the broken mast isn't going to need to be prevented from drifting away to sea. It's already going to be attached to the boat by a large number of lines. Especially in an older vessel, which used rope for the standing rigging, there's going to be an awful tangled mess of lines connecting the wreckage to the boat. Indeed, in rough sea conditions (often present when it's been windy enough to be dismasted), the immediate concern is often getting _rid_ of the mast. That's because a mast plunging up and down in the water alongside the boat, secured loosely to the boat by a lot of lines, represents a serious risk: the mast can damage the hull of the boat, even punching a hole in the boat, leading to a sinking, which is (obviously) much worse than a dismasting. When our boat was dismasted, we cut the mast free and let it sink as quickly as possible for exactly that reason. It was crunching against the side of the boat every time we rolled on a wave, and doing a lot of damage. In a situation like the one you describe, where the boat is far from shore and will be dependent on jury-rigging a way to sail to get back to where more-permanent repairs can be made, the crew would certainly prefer to keep the broken mast rather than cutting it free, as long as the conditions allowed that. But basically your description sounds correct: The crew would want to secure the mast on board (if possible), clear away the tangled sails and rigging, and, when conditions were calm enough to allow for it, erect some kind of jury-rigged mast and rigging to allow for sailing. Basically, the longest spar (or spars) that they have left would be hoisted via lines led from the deck into a vertical position. That's tricky to do at sea, so in many cases the jury-rigged mast you end up using is significantly smaller than the vessel's normal mast(s), with the result that the boat has to sail somewhat slowly, "limping" into port for repairs. They might splice two sections of mast together to get a taller mast, but that falls outside my personal expertise. The Horatio Hornblower novel "A Ship of the Line" ends with the Lydia being dismasted during a naval battle. That might be an interesting account for you to read, if you haven't. My experience with being dismasted is fairly limited, and probably doesn’t have a lot in common with a 17th-century dutch galleon. For what it’s worth, though:

Typically, the broken mast isn’t going to need to be prevented from drifting away to sea. It’s already going to be attached to the boat by a large number of lines. Especially in an older vessel, which used rope for the standing rigging, there’s going to be an awful tangled mess of lines connecting the wreckage to the boat.

Indeed, in rough sea conditions (often present when it’s been windy enough to be dismasted), the immediate concern is often getting _rid_ of the mast. That’s because a mast plunging up and down in the water alongside the boat, secured loosely to the boat by a lot of lines, represents a serious risk: the mast can damage the hull of the boat, even punching a hole in the boat, leading to a sinking, which is (obviously) much worse than a dismasting.

When our boat was dismasted, we cut the mast free and let it sink as quickly as possible for exactly that reason. It was crunching against the side of the boat every time we rolled on a wave, and doing a lot of damage.

In a situation like the one you describe, where the boat is far from shore and will be dependent on jury-rigging a way to sail to get back to where more-permanent repairs can be made, the crew would certainly prefer to keep the broken mast rather than cutting it free, as long as the conditions allowed that.

But basically your description sounds correct: The crew would want to secure the mast on board (if possible), clear away the tangled sails and rigging, and, when conditions were calm enough to allow for it, erect some kind of jury-rigged mast and rigging to allow for sailing. Basically, the longest spar (or spars) that they have left would be hoisted via lines led from the deck into a vertical position. That’s tricky to do at sea, so in many cases the jury-rigged mast you end up using is significantly smaller than the vessel’s normal mast(s), with the result that the boat has to sail somewhat slowly, “limping” into port for repairs.

They might splice two sections of mast together to get a taller mast, but that falls outside my personal expertise.

The Horatio Hornblower novel “A Ship of the Line” ends with the Lydia being dismasted during a naval battle. That might be an interesting account for you to read, if you haven’t.

]]> By: KENN JOUBERT http://www.socalsail.com/wp/2005/11/08/the-dismasting-of-the-pride-of-baltimore-ii/#comment-3482 KENN JOUBERT Sat, 23 Sep 2006 00:15:02 +0000 http://www.socalsail.com/wp/?p=7#comment-3482 I am a writer of historic fiction; am currently working on a novel in which a galleon (Dutch 1600s) is demasted in a storm - both major sails. Since they were a long way from land, the temporary/other repairs need to be carried out at sea. Can you help me understand how that would be done? i.e. fix a line the the mast that has broken off - to prevent it drifting away in the sea; cut the ropes attached to it; remove and roll up the sails - for further use. Either splice the two pieces together; or over-lap the piedes and band them with iron banding or ropes? Any help you can provide - or other sources would help? Greatful thanks in advance. Kenn Kenn and Fern Joubert 1492 Fiddick crescent, NANAIMO, BC Canada V9x1p5. I am a writer of historic fiction; am currently working on a novel in which a galleon (Dutch 1600s) is demasted in a storm - both major sails.

Since they were a long way from land, the temporary/other repairs need to be carried out at sea.

Can you help me understand how that would be done?

i.e. fix a line the the mast that has broken off - to prevent it drifting away in the sea; cut the ropes attached to it; remove and roll up the sails - for further use. Either splice the two pieces together; or over-lap the piedes and band them with iron banding or ropes?

Any help you can provide - or other sources would help?

Greatful thanks in advance.

Kenn

Kenn and Fern Joubert
1492 Fiddick crescent, NANAIMO, BC
Canada V9×1p5.

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