The crew of the yacht «Viking» has recovered from 65-meter depth a mast that was lost a month ago during a regatta off Askold Island, Primorsky Krai.
The mast broke during an overnight race within the regatta «Peter the Great Bay Cup - Russian Championship in the class «Conrad 25P». In the conditions of rain and strong wind with sharp gusts, the crew of «Viking» did not salvage the mast, focusing on avoiding even bigger breakdowns. A month later, the crew returned to the scene to raise the mast.
«Our main objective was to increase the chances of a full recovery and return the yacht to full racing condition. The cost of the mast itself is not as much as everything else that is attached to it. For example, the mast whip costs about $15,000. There were also two sails of no less value on the mast. In addition, the fairing, the furling for the jib, the lifts on the mainsail, cost a lot of money as well. All in all, there was equipment on the mast that cost twice as much as the mast itself», - said Pavel Vasilchenko,captain of the yacht «Viking».
The location of the mast was determined by the hydrographers of the Far Eastern Federal University. A crab-cat boat was used to sweep the seabed.» It was adapted to her «plow, which was buried in the bottom. We hooked the mast with this plough: by two shrouds, between the first and the second kraspets.
While hoisting the 500-kg mast we had to saw off the forestaff. It was dragged with great difficulty to the boat, laid side by side and transported to Vladivostok. You can read more about how the search and lifting of the mast went on the yacht club's website «Seven Feet».
