My mast fell yesterday. I'm not 100% sure what caused it.
I took the boom/sail off and left it on the dock so we could motor out. It was windy and pretty choppy. Within a couple of minutes the mast began to look really unstable, I cut the engine and we ran up to it.. It was going to go. The port shroud came off from the mast end. I could not unpin the mast..so it took it all with it.
I know that the port shroud had come off before we allowed the mast to fall over to starboard, but I'm not sure that it was the only problem or just the death nell. The mast had started "looking unstable". swaying too much. I don't recall seeing the shroud down at that point, but things went south so quickly (and dangerously) it's hard to say. All of a sudden you could see it was going to go.
The entire mast detached and we were able to get it in the boat and go back in.
I'm not sure the cause but it' may be only that my shrouds and forestay were not tight enough They reached around the spreaders but weren't strung tight. I know not to have them so tight as to damage the deck, but ... I just don't know.
Underneath the mast is an aluminum piece sticking up thru the cuddy to which the bottom of the 'pin piece' was attached. Not sure if all daysailiers are the same but there is a square piece at the bottom of the mast that fits on top of it's partner piece (attached to the mast that' sticks up thru the cuddy. Two pins are put thru and this, and along with the shrouds and forestay it holds the mast.
Both the pin "partners" ripped off revealing a rather corroded hollow aluminum piece sticking up from the cuddy. Part of that piece was gone. It may have torn from this incident I'm not sure. It may be the culprit if it had weakened there and was exacerbated by the choppy ride. I"d hate to think it was my ignorance of the shroud tension but it's possible.
I'm going over today.. take some pics check out the details. I couldn't wait to secure the boat best I could and get off. My best friend of 30 years was with me, but I was still apalled at the possible danger to us and embarrassed.
In regard to my downhaul post I did check out my sail attachment and I had indeed secured the sail to the grommet in tack end of the boom. I looked for another grommet up the sail for the cunningham and I do not have one. I see a large patch so possibly it was torn, removed and patched over. (guess I need a moment of redemption here I did secure the sail properly there) Glad the thread kicked off a discussion and although I glanced it quickly before sharing my new "adventure" here, I saw more thoughts and advice I did not know. (surprise surprise) . It's all in the plus column for me.
Certainly will appreciate your thoughts, experience and advice on this mess. Thanks