This week Martha’s mainmast is coming out.
In the course of diagnosing why rig tension has fluctuated in the main lower shrouds, and eliminating sources of wear and corrosion and fatigue we discovered a check running down a section of the main mast on the starboard side. We have asked a lot out of this 113 year old piece of solid red cedar. Finding the damage this way is good news! The discovery happened at perhaps the best time possible, and certainly in the best way possible. The boat and the crew are all safe, and the mast is still structurally sound and standing upright. We intend to jump on making repairs immediately.
All this spring I have been looking forward to Smith Island in our wake while the Olympic Mountains fill the sky over my left shoulder on our way north— with 17kts of breeze on our beam, a crew learning the ropes, and Martha leaning to it and stretching her legs. I have also had that looking forward pushed further and further back as the state of the world has evolved before our eyes. We all struggle with the emotional weight and the larger implications of covid19, while trying to navigate what it means to our close friends, our family and our community. While it is never an optimal time to break things, this year is a good one in which to have some down time and be able to work on the equipment. Hopefully it won’t be long to wait until it is reasonable and safe to sail as a crew again!
Next week will see the crew cutting into Martha’s original main mast to see just how deep the damage runs, and the extent of the repairs needed. On the more distant horizon we will need to start thinking about a replacement for the aged mast. This will be a large undertaking. A redesign of the spar will hopefully improve our performance with a lighter stiffer mast. It will mean quite a bit of heavy lifting by the crew, by our supporters and volunteers. It will also mean a great deal of fundraising for design work, for materials and for the labor involved—for the next 100 years.
Stay tuned, keep a weather eye, and in these times, keep your family and friends close.
Kris Day, Cpt