SPECIAL REPORT

THIS MONTH THE MONOFOIL • HEADING FOR THE CANARIES • REDUCING SAIL IN A HURRY • PERFORMANCE CAT SAILING

During the 2017 Rolex Fastnet Race, my yacht Olympia’s Tigress, a Beneteau First 40, lost her rig through a simple split pin failure.

We were 40 miles offshore at the time, with a trained but inexperienced charter crew on board. It was blowing a Force 6 and the middle the night. The following are some of the lessons we learned from the incident.

Just before midnight I went down below after my watch, having just come off the helm. I heard shouting from on deck and the first mate calling: “Sue, get on deck now – the shroud’s gone!”

I rushed to get my lifejacket back on and pulled myself up the companionway. Looking out