Re-Rigging & Raising The Masts

Every single one of the wooden blocks for our rigging had to be completely overhauled. Raoul took on this project with excitement. (Any excuse to work with wood :-)) It was a very important but time consuming project, Thanks Bro!!

Here he is cooking up some Linseed Oil - Block Stew.....

Soaking it up!

When we left Florida this past July, we left all the cable rigging in huge tubs of 'treatment'. It consisted of Boiled Linseed Oil, WD40 and Marvel Mystery Oil... Gallons and gallons of it as a matter of fact... Here they are being hauled out to drip dry for a few days before being re-rigged.

A few of the new and improved blocks, re hung at the top of the aft mast.



Tamer and Blayde beginning to reinstall the cables. When Tamer stored them, he wired a small stainless steel plate to each one, so that he would know where each one needed to go. Brilliant!!

Leonard, the wonderful man that plucked the masts for us, is here preparing to re-raise them with the Hyster crane.

Folks came from all over the yard to help us get the masts back in place. Tamer is here checking to make sure the strap from the end of the crane is in a good secure place.

The aft mast, getting off the ground.

About to come over the side; Olivier and Mallory look on...

Here it comes!!

Tamer and Alan (P'tit Louis crew), have to get it exactly in place to bolt it onto the deck.

The bolt being pounded in!

The crane holds on, while the shrouds are tightened to hold it on.

Rigging furiously!!
From Left to Right
Shep, Olivier, Mallory, Tamer, Raoul and Alan

Resting a moment before raising the forward mast.

Mallory, running to help with some crisis on deck. The forward mast is almost there!

Here are Alan, Olivier and Tamer attempting to get the 500 pound steel beast through the collar in the deck without scratching up the paint to terribly. Notice the carpet squares?

Margaret of SV Drummer watches from her laid to rest mast. I know she is eagerly awaiting the raising of her masts :-)

Drake, Valin, Blayde and Gina watching the operation from the deck of P'tit Louis.

I can hear Mallory thinking..... I sure wish I was out there :-) But instead Raoul gets to attach the head stays at the end of the bow sprit.

Ahhh! Finally some real fun! Mallory at the top of the mast reeving the halyards. Drake, Shep, Valin, Blayde and Tamer watch from the aft deck.

Shep, up in the crow's nest (doing something really important). He has taken so many trips up there now, that I cannot remember what task this was.... I think he is happiest up there though :-)

The last stages of rigging....

Free Spirit is once again ready for the water!!