Check the rig!

Over the past three years, Pantaenius received 500 damage reports in connection with broken masts. When the mast of a yacht breaks, not only is the entire rig and the sails damaged, but also the hull. It is not uncommon for people to be hurt too. The larger the yacht, the greater the risk of a broken mast.

What you can do during winter storage

Often, it is components only worth a few Euros that stabilise the rigging or, if they wear out, can be the cause of its downfall. Whether shrouds on the mast, pins or gooseneck pins - many of these critical items of equipment can be inspected and replaced by owners themselves. "A detailed visual inspection can quickly reveal many defects," confirms the claims expert.

You can check the following points on the horizontal mast:

• Check the boom straps, boom slides, the boom’s fittings, kicker attachment and shroud tension in the mast, plus all other fittings for cracks due to wear-and-tear. Take a look at the foot of the mast: Are there any signs of corrosion or cracks caused by salt water?
• In general, the aluminium profiles should be checked for corrosion and cracks.
• T-terminals are particularly susceptible to bending between the terminal and the T-bar, so you should take a close look here.
• Check shroud tensioners, pins (U-bolts) and split pins for corrosion, cracks and wear.
• The running and standing rigging should be inspected for visible and non-visible damage; Replace hard and UV-damaged ropes.
• Test the ease of movement of the pulleys, sheaves, sheets, spreaders and blocks.

Ask the specialist

If you notice signs of wear, corrosion or cracks, you should consult a rigging specialist. In any case, it is a good idea to have your trusted rigger do a rig check on a regular basis. Their trained eyes will detect potential faults or hazards at an early stage.

Even if your boat has a furling jib, the professional check by a rigger makes sense. This is because the wire of the furling system is often exposed to strong torsion loads, for example when the headsail is rolled up under excessive pressure. Normally you will not be able to carry out the rigging wire inspection yourself, as the rolling system would have to be partially disassembled. You should rather entrust this work to a rigger.

Not only the control, also the correct trim of your rig by a specialist is important. Because a wrongly trimmed rig does not only influence the sailing characteristics of your boat, but can also lead to damage to the standing rigging and its connection to the mast and fitting. Additionally, if the rig is optimally trimmed, the yacht will sail at its best, thus you get more pleasure from sailing overall.
How often a professional rig check should be carried out depends on the loads the rig is exposed to. A yacht sailed in a regatta or a cruising yacht that is used for long trips must be checked more frequently than a boat that is only sailed on a daily or hourly basis.


Be honest: How old is the rig?

Salt water, UV radiation, the pressure from the sails: the rig is exposed to enormous stress throughout the season. It goes without saying that even the strongest material will eventually reach its natural half-life. Ask your rigger whether it is necessary to replace the standing equipment such as shrouds, stays and suspensions due to age and wear-and-tear.

If the replacement is necessary, it may sound like a big investment. This money is, however, well spent when it comes to avoiding mast breakage due to material fatigue.