ArcticStern Ocean Sailing · video

What this video covers

Unstepping a keel-stepped mast requires disconnecting all standing rigging, electrical wiring, and the boom before using a crane to lift the spar from the deck.3:33 On a 1980 Baltic 51 named Vénus, the 24-meter, 700-kilogram mast proved difficult to remove because the Spartite sealant at the deck collar remained bonded despite nearly one ton of upward crane tension.6:21 To break the seal, the crew drilled through the hardened plastic compound around the entire perimeter of the mast at the deck level.5:51 Before the lift, the crew prepared support blocks with foam and padding to protect the mast during storage.0:55 Because the internal halyards were broken, the crew attempted to use a man-lift to reach the masthead to install a new messenger line, though the lift height proved insufficient.3:35 After the mast was successfully pulled and lowered, the crew covered the mast hole with a bucket and tarp to prevent water ingress during winter storage.8:11

Boats in this video

More from ArcticStern Ocean Sailing

Arctic Sailing to Norway - 5 weeks of winter sailingMay 2026The Arctic Circle by Sail - How We Survived the Polar FjordsMar 2026Cold, wind, isolation: sailing in Norway on the edgeJun 2025From Brittany to Norway - Sailing and Winter StormsMar 2025

From ArcticStern Ocean Sailing — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.