Hi all,
I've just been up the mast and everything is ok. I had to work hard for a few hours but but now the two halyards are back in place.
After I tacked this morning, the wind came down a little bit and the swell was manageable. It was pretty cold, though, about 4°C, but apart from that, the conditions were good for me to ciimb. So I prepared all the equipment, the new halyards, tools, hot tea in my backpack, rasins in my pocket, my harness and my helmet and I climbed up the mast. I inserted the first halyard, attaching a pulley to the mast, and then I did the same for the second one.
On my way up, I checked the rigging and fixed a couple of things. I had the main sail up when I went up there, in order to keep the boat more stable but also to have something I could hold on to if necessary.
While I was up there, it started snowing a little, it was beautiful, seen from where I was.
Once back on the deck, I put the boat back on its original heading. I still have to clean things up on board but I think I've done the most important part. I have to say that, in the end, climbing up the mast proved to be less exhausting than getting the gennaker out of the water.
Take care, you all,
Alessandro Di Benedetto/Team Plastique
