A strange thing happened today. We were awoken at 7.10 am by a loud bump. Our first thought was that something had hit us. We leapt out of bed, looked all around and could see nothing. There was very little wind, no marine traffic and we couldn't see anything untoward. Then someone shouted from the pontoon opposite "look up!" This is what we saw:
Yes, the neighbour's mast had fallen on to ours! Yesterday a rigger had been working on the boat and had not finished the job but neither had he left things secure. Their mast had come to rest held up our forestay attachment. It has broken our wind instrument and scratched through the mast coating. We were able to get in touch with the rigger who was able to quite quickly pull the mast upright again and fortunately our riggings were not tangled up. The owner was not on his boat but returned late morning and was somewhat alarmed everyone having told him about his mast falling down!
I don't think we shall have any difficulty getting a new instrument paid for (they cost about $600). The rigger was very sheepish and a bit shaken when he came and saw what had happened. We do need to contact our insurers and it is all a it tedious! John went up the mast later just to check that there was no major damage that we could not see from ground level. Our instruments are all working. We shall see what happens next!
I find it really hard to believe that a rigger could make such a mistake! Anyway worse outcomes were possible; like mast falling all the way to the boardwalk and landing on someone. Lucky it alhappened when you weren't up and about on deck! Enjoy your next few weeks until we see you.
ReplyDeleteJ&W