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A disaster narrowly averted:
Merlin was sailing well on the 1st day of the Rolex Big Boat Series last Thursday when a nasty halyard wrap forced them to retire towards the end of the 1st race. The crew assessed the problem and the boat made arrangements with KKMI in Richmond to get the carbon headstay replaced in short order. While she missed the 1st start on Friday, the boat and crew were back out and racing for race 4.
Had the team not been tuned into the rig's nuances, a much more catastrophic ending might have ensued!
"The bow team called attention to the halyard problem, and I was well aware of the dangers of point loading the carbon rigging after working with Jimmy Slaughter on the refit."
"I was very paranoid about the potential damage and we prepared for that eventuality. We were looking for it and it was there."
Brian Malone
Merlin Boat Captain
Merlin was sailing well on the 1st day of the Rolex Big Boat Series last Thursday when a nasty halyard wrap forced them to retire towards the end of the 1st race. The crew assessed the problem and the boat made arrangements with KKMI in Richmond to get the carbon headstay replaced in short order. While she missed the 1st start on Friday, the boat and crew were back out and racing for race 4.
Had the team not been tuned into the rig's nuances, a much more catastrophic ending might have ensued!
"The bow team called attention to the halyard problem, and I was well aware of the dangers of point loading the carbon rigging after working with Jimmy Slaughter on the refit."
"I was very paranoid about the potential damage and we prepared for that eventuality. We were looking for it and it was there."
Brian Malone
Merlin Boat Captain
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