Sailing Miragevideo
Spinnaker pole snapped in the middle of the Atlantic crossing - all hands on deck!
February 6, 2024 · 6 min · 7K views · Atlantic Ocean
What this video covers
The spinnaker pole on Mirage snaps in half during an Atlantic crossing, forcing an all-hands deck evolution to remove and jettison the broken spar. The crew works through a controlled takedown: loosening the mainsheet, removing the preventer, and extracting the pole from its fitting without letting it strike the hull.1:25 Once the break is assessed — described as a fold at the midpoint — the crew determines the damage is irreparable.2:25 They wrap the lower section with duct tape as a precaution, measure the intersection of the break, and confirm the fitting and custom hardware are undamaged.3:44 The pole is then slid overboard on a three-count, with a throw-line rigged to keep it clear of the hull.5:31 The spinnaker itself is noted as undamaged. The crew's conclusion: the problem is localized and the boat can continue.2:43 When a spinnaker pole fails mid-ocean, preserving the fitting and the sail matters more than the pole itself.
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