[Public-List] Mast up! No halyards~!

[gregr at nethere.com]

Jeff,

I too have done my share of technical climbing. I don't see any issue with
your plans. An upside is that you'll have worked out a system should you
need to do it when a yard isn't available. I'm sure you've thought of the
following but I'll throw it out there anyway.

Setup a "Top Rope" at the spreaders: figure 8 a loop in the middle of a long
line with a couple of biners and a safety line. The bitter ends go over the
spreaders from the bow, cross, come back over, cross, back over, get drawn
tight and tied off aft of the mast. This is better than a single line over
the spreaders for couple of reasons.
1. The anchor uses both spreader sockets so both have to fail for the system
to fail.
2. The safety line is sliding through biners and not over the spreader
socket should you need to be lowered via the safety line.

Either way, make sure your belayer knows to keep your safety line snug so
if you slip your anchor doesn't see any shock loads.

Backup #3: I use this even if I have two halyards because
it keeps me close to the mast should some joker come blasting through the
marina. Larkshead an additional loop around the mast, through your chest
harness, and down to your seat harness. Absolute worst case is you slide
down the mast feet first...

Greg

P.S. DON'T FORGET THE MESSENGER LINE TO HAUL UP THE HALYARDS!

sorry, couldn't resist :)

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