main & top masts ratlines, topping lifts & braces.

today spent finishing ratlines on mainmast and main topmast shrouds. then i started the running rigging on the yards. made up double sheave blocks for topping lift/sheets. rove topping lifts and set up with hauling parts turned up on maindeck kingposts.

braces are unusual in that they are lead for'd with standing part secured to wire strops run through foc's'le break uprights. hauling parts turned up on outer for'd poop rail belaying pins. tomorrow will refurbish and fit topmast crosstrees and flagstaff, button and flag.

hrs 133.

main topmast.

I don't seem to have achieved much today but a lot of time spent trying to make sense of the old bits of rigging left over.

mainly concerned with rigging on mizzen yard. when I got the model this was not in place on the yard but lying in the mess on deck. scoured all my pics for clues but to no avail. looked at the rigging on "elizabeth jonas", also no help. looked at rigging plan of "revenge" and started to get the idea. however what's left doesn't seem right.

finally realised i had sketched it before dismantling. doh!! but even with that info the remaining blocks and lines not right. this may be because roy changed his mind halfway through. two of the remaining blocks are double sheaved and coupled together and appear to be used like the fore topmast yard halyard and spread onto the mizzen stay, which can't be right. i'm gonna have to wing this one. however i finally do it, it will work.

anyway once i got started i made up a new main topmast yard halyard, rove it through the main topmast and secured it to the yard. then rigged its purchase from for'd port 1/4 deck rail, up through its block and turned hauling part up on pin in stbd rail. then repeated the process with the main topmast running backstay.

then i made up and set the mizzen topmast stay.

finally made up 8 topmast shroud sets and got half way through rigging them. will box them off tomorrow.

hrs 127.

fore topmast, mainmast ratlines and mizzenmast stay.

finished off ratlines on fore topmast shrouds.

then put ratlines on port mainmast shrouds.
















made up mizzen mast stay fixed for'd end around base of mainmast and top end through lubber holes in mizzen top. rove tensioning purchase and set up stay.




hrs 121.

fore topmast rigging.

made up new main topmast stay and set it up
from main topmast crosstree supports to around foremast just under fore topmast support/guide.
then completed work on fore topmast shrouds and set them up.














refurbished and painted flag mast and flag, and installed on crosstrees.


set up fore topmast stay.







made up then rove fore tops'le yard topping lifts, then set them up.

rove braces from top of main topmast stay to outrigger blocks then to lead blocks on lower end of stay thence to aft rail on fo'c'sle.

rove topmast running backstay purchase through maindeck rail to block on backstay to maindeck rail on other side and secured hauling part on belaying pin.

all that remains is to fix ratlines on shrouds and foremast rigging is complete.

fore topmast.

glued crows nest basket to foretop. made new support/guide for foretopmast. fitted clew furling blocks to tops'le yard. made up halyard and rove through. fited parell rope. made up 4 pairs of shrouds and fitted around mast and over crosstree supports. went x-eyed again so called it a day.

hrs 111.

ratlines on foremast shrouds.

finished off ratlines port and stbd. 240 clove hitches. sealed hitches with nail varnish. it becomes invisible when dry.

hrs 107.

fore course yard rigging.

made up outrigger blocks for braces and short outriggers for sheet/topping lift blocks. installed two blocks on each side of yard for clew furling and fore top'sle sheets, then fitted two outrigger blocks each side. rove brace threads, previously tied to top of mainstay, through long outrigger blocks on yard ends, to lead blocks on bottom of mainstay, and secured hauling parts to aft rail on fo'c'sle. rove single fold purchases for topping lifts and secured hauling parts to for'd rail on fo'c'sle.

made a start on the foremast ratlines using clove hitches and 0.2mm black manilla thread. this will be a long tedious job.

had enough, so will mow the lawn!!

mainstay and foremast standing rigging.

pinned the old mainstay onto the bench and
marked the positions of blocks, brace standing
parts and foretop yard halyard spreaders and blocks. then stripped down old stay, cleaned the blocks and re-made new stay on bench useing marks for guidance.










left plenty spare at top end to go through slots in maintop. attached bottom end to beak, leaving a little slack in purchase, then fitted top end in maintop and whipped the end in situe. finally tensioned stay with purchase. all knots and whippings sealed with nail varnish.








finally, finished setting up foremast shrouds.












hours 94.

back again.

got back from panama on friday after 31 day trip delivering smit yerwa from takoradi in ghana.. could'nt get a full load of fuel so had to go slower than planned in order to reach paramaribo in surinam for fuel, fresh water and stores. due non arrival of filters for main engine fuel, had 3 days in port. coming home from panama city flight delayed 2hrs due to headlamp bulb failure. (you'd think they'd carry a spare in the glove compartment, under the cds.) missed connection to london in miami. so had an extra day in very nice hotel near the airport.

started again today with rigging shrouds on foremast. gave the blocks a good clean then made up 6 pairs of shrouds.

not quite finished but may complete tomorrow.


hrs 80.