Early Evening day 2 off Green Point running hard in the Noreaster...
Photo Courtesy Richard Bennett ©
Shortly after this photo was taken we discovered the mainmast had split above the gooseneck. Much to the chagrin of all on-board, we were forced to withdraw and make for shelter behind Gabeo Light. Here we anchored in the bay and the lighthouse keeper ferried us all ashore to meet his many daughters...
We enjoyed the hospitality until the southerly came in late that evening. It came big end front and we were lucky to claw off what became a lee shore with the assistance of Jack's (Christofferson) new three-bladed prop which we had fitted just before leaving Sydney. We made it safely back to Eden where we left her in charge of the local boatyard and returned to Sydney by air. Glen Wright and Bruce later returned with a banding machine to strap the wounded mast and brought the boat safely back to her mooring off the RSYS.
The mast was subsequently inspected by .... at the CYCA boatyard who declared it repairable. The mast was splined and then strapped with six new stainless steel bands fabricated by Jack (Christofferson) and a new dual-track for the poles mounted. The banded mast is still in use today, a tribute to the workmanship of the pair.
The crew for the attempt was: Bruce Gould Owner/Skipper, Paul Kerrigan, Jack Christofferson, Mark Ross, Malcolm Levy, David Hagen, Glen Wright, Glen Oakley,
