I hit a bridge :(

[RainDog]

Hit on the forestay about a foot or two below the top of the mast. On the plus side it was right in downtown Nassau, so there were hundreds of witnesses. Seems like I got away with it. Other than a detailed rig inspection, anything else I should check?

[jongleur]

Yeah, the stock market. You're
on a roll...

[Cap Erict3]

Damn!

Glad to hear you didn't drop the mast.


------------------------------
Looking for another pretty place to work on the boat.

[Schooner Chandlery]

One of my biggest fears--in my imagination the entire rig fails, of course. Did you hit and spin back? Replay requested because my imagination of hitting bridges (overhead) always includes big doom and gloom in a rather spectacular way.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by RainDog

Hit on the forestay about a foot or two below the top of the mast. On the plus side it was right in downtown Nassau, so there were hundreds of witnesses. Seems like I got away with it. Other than a detailed rig inspection, anything else I should check?

I think this will depend more on what happened after impact. As in, how did extract yourself and what was the tide / wind doing in the moment?

Was it a light "kiss" and you backed away (was blown or pushed etc), was it a substantial wallop that shook the mast / boat?

I have only hit one bridge and that was with the upper third of the VHF antenna, The few seconds of the antenna scraping under the bridge works were nerve wracking so I imagine hitting with the forestay was way worse.

And how is the bridge feeling right now...

[CarlF]

If the mast itself wasn't hit - just the head stay - nothing came out of column. The backstay and headstay took the load - obviously check those fittings for stress cracks, bends, or enlarged bolt holes. I wonder how the hit compares with punching into waves crossing the Gulf Stream in a northerly?

Drink a toast to Bill Crealock tonight.....

[Tailwheel]

In case your imagination is insufficiently stressed: I have seen pics of a Tayana 37 that hit a bridge with the forestay: wasn't pretty: the forestay remained attached. Good you say? Eh.... The bobstay let go and allowed the bowsprit to lift up under the tension of the forestay. The bowsprit didn't break.

Good you say? Eh.... It ripped up half the foredeck and peeled it back like a sardine can... Leaving the chainlocker and part of the v-north open to the elements!

The poor dude was on his way down to FL for his big 1yr Caribbean sailing adventure.

He got it fixed but had a much much shorter Caribbean trip


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[goat]

Hundreds of witnesses? I'm going to keep watching YouTube in case one of them had a cell phone.

Seriously, glad you're O.K.

goat

[Vasco]

When you've checked everything out and settled down maybe you can tell us how it happened. There's lots of clearance under those two bridges unless you're trying to sneak in behind Potters Cay on the west side.

[Hudson Force]

I have a friend who hit the Main Street Bridge in Jacksonville, Florida while heading down river with the ebb. He normally would call for an opening, but he had a total lapse of thought. He was first aware of a problem when his stern dropped low and he was puzzled by the water entering his cockpit over the transom!

[Wotname]

^^ and deaf.......

[ozskipper]

Chainplates! Its unlikely you did any damage to them as they are a stronger part of the boats structure. But worth checking to be sure.

[Kayoko Monk 33]

Originally Posted by jongleur

Yeah, the stock market. You're
on a roll...

Shorts, I would check my shorts and underwear! Whoops!

[HappyMdRSailor]

RD

I want a complete and accurate accounting of how many cocktails this brings your way... No need for individual listings... Simply a tally of beers and mixed drinks will do...

Glad ya came out unscathed on first observation... I say your luck will continue... Check your tangs mang.. and furling swivel...

(PS - blame it OG for not keeping a good lookout)

(PPS - don't tell her I said that)

[akprb]

One of the Paradise Island bridges? What's your mast height? Going through next month with a 63' stick. Thanks and hope all ok with your rig. Do check forestay chainplate. Ours failed off of St Lucia years ago, not fun but at least didn't lose the mast :-)