I had recently finished a trip to San Andres, Columbia assembling a mast... The boat I was working on suffered from a simple broken rigging toggle... The mast had broken in half and was quite a sight... This boat's journey had begun in Seattle, WA in 2000... The owners (R&J) had sailed the boat down the west coast and through the Panama Canal to the Caribbean... Their cruising adventures consisted of 6 months cruising on the boat and 6 months back in Seattle working... When the mast broke and they were being towed into port, they were able to call family and friends with their satellite phone and update them of the situation...
In the arm pit of Honduras and Columbia, they began experience of a lifetime... They got towed into San Andres, Columbia by the Armada... they had a great experience with the Armada... The insurance company had recommended several mast companies, but the owners were impressed with the service and price of US Spars, in Gainsville, FL... The staff at US Spars, had experienced this type of project before, but still had a challenge facing them... The first challenge was to make sure they can ship a 60' tube to a small island in the Caribbean... With the help of the locals at NeNe's Marina, the owners were able to have their mast shipped into the island shipping port... Being the local dealer for US Spars, and experienced in complete boat rerigging, George recommended the boat owners contact me to get the project assembled... In the first converstions with the boat owners, it was a single email a day... I knew communications were limited and from an earlier trip to Mexico, I learned that phone service was limited, even non-existant, but internet was everywhere... Our most productive conversation was when J traveled back to Seattle and we were able to talk on the phone... At this time, we both felt comfortable with each other and agreed to proceed with the project... I had several communications with George and the boat owners with emails to reassure what was being sent and what to expect when the mast and I got there... The dates were set, the mast was shipped and the airline tickets were purchased...
The furthest south I had traveled was the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula on some regattas with my dad's boat, a Condor 40... It was a neat sight to fly over the Yucatan and Cozumel and really see how clear and beautiful the water is... After an overnight layover in Panama City, Panama, I was off to San Andres... When I landed, J (which I did not know what either of them looked like) was there to transport me to my hotel and the boat... We had conversed by email my arrival and J had asked how to find me... my first response was "6' American"... I was pretty easy to spot... J later commented that she was expecting a 6' American with a cowboy hat... maybe that would have been a nice touch... next time...
We went to drop my bags off at the hotel and then visit the boat... I left my clothes bag, but kept my 50# tool bag with me... I took it to the boat because we had a taxi now, later I would have to walk 15-20 minutes to the boat or hotel...
We got to the boat and I met R... He was getting parts out and sorted and making room for the "transformation"... We got word from their agent (you have to have an agent to work with many of the officials) that the mast had arrive, but was held up in customs... It took another full day for the mast to clear customs and be released...
Day 3 was productive; not on the mast, but on the deck of the boat... J had to keep checking with the port authorities if we can get to the mast... R & I were measuring to install the deck collar and mast step... I wanted to build up the step where it would not be setting in standing water... We were not able to find anything I was happy with...
On day 4, I was finally able to look at and work on the mast... (yes, that is a fork lift transporting a 60' mast)
The Port Captain was very gracious and set up an area for me to get the mast assembled... By the end of the day, R & I had assembled the mast and was about ready for stepping...
We were able to get the mast stepped on Day 5... The crane operator was great and extremely talented... He was able to keep the mast stable while I assembled the lower Sta-loks and got the mast stable... After an hour, I got all the Sta-loks installed and ready to move the boat back to it's slip... We had stabilized the mast forward, because I was not sure of the exact length of the headstay until the mast was stepped and in place... I was waiting to assemble and install the roller furler at the slip to make sure everything fix perfectly... J had traveled back to Seattle and sent off their lower drum assembly to Schaefer Marine to get serviced... The team at Schaefer Marine did an excellent job of servicing the drum and swivel and getting it back to R&J in time... We got the roller furler assembled and installed, then built the backstay to length... At this point, I had realized we got real lucky, everything had fit correctly... We only had to get the local machinist to build a couple of things, but nothing they could not handle... By the end of the day, we got the jib and main installed and ready to sail... There were only a few details to clean up tomorrow before sailing...
Day 6 was the critical day: sail testing... Ok, the few details became 3/4 of a day... we left the dock at 4pm to do the critical sail testing... it became critical because I was flying home tomorrow... We left the dock and motored through the harbor to the channel...
As we raised the main, R had a "Texas-sized "smile on his face... He had told me that with the old mast, the main sail was really difficult to raise; the new mast made raising the main easy and effortless... The wind was blowing in the low 20's and I think R was a bit nervous with the new rigging... We only sailed for an hour and back to the slip we went... It was very beautiful and scenic to sail through the harbor... There were many of their friends that were cheering as we sailed past them in the harbor...
Most of my trip there, I was welcomed by some "home-town" boys...
Moored next to us, was a 65' sport fishing boat from Alabama, USA... These boys knew true southern living; RC Cola and Moon Pies... We had talked for a while and compared stories of these highly sugary staples of every southerner... R&J realized that XM radio DOES play country music 24/7... the first night they were there, they had the stereo cranked with good old country music... I used to really despise country music, but after having 3 kids, one quickly realizes there is much worse music out there...
I think by day 7, we all were ready for me to leave... we had done a lot of work in a short amount of time and there was not much time for slacking... We would start the day at 7:30-8:00 am and finish at 7-8 pm... We had pushed about 50 daylight hours in getting everything ready... I think R&J were used to the "island time" and not the city hustle... On the island, I was known as "The White Boy"... They would have really had a time if I DID bring a cowboy hat... I imagine they needed a vacation back home after this project... I was able to get home safely (and my tools did not get a new home with airport personnel)... I got word from R&J that they made it to their next destination, to store the boat for 6 months, but had a really rough trip... They were impressed, and satisfied, with the performance of the mast and the ruggedness of the new rigging...
Lessons of the trip:
- When replacing rigging, replace all rigging.
- If you do have a mast failure, have the rigger (or installer) involved in the beginning. We had a few suprises that were not anticipated...
- Do make sure your family knows your travel plans and timing...
- Be fluent in the language you are visiting... there are many people that speak English around the world, but things happen much faster if you speak their language...
- Be patient... nothing happens fast, especially when paperwork is involved...
- Be aware XM radio really is 24/7.
