I think the masthead wind transducer is nearing the end of its life. That means that: A. I need a new one and they’re quite pricy (like 400 euros), and B. I need to go up there with a screwdriver. FML
@tricia @Alexandra Lanes The bit I hate most is how you get cramp in your arms from trying to undo a rusted bolt above your head while your legs go numb from sitting in the harness.
I am not scared of heights (used to be, cured myself), and my mast climbing technique is solid, but I just find working up there unpleasant and uncomfortable.
@ajlanes I haven't climbed my mast; before the refit I was too sketched out by the state of the bearings. But I rock climb so not toooooo fussed about sitting high up while tied in. Ofc, rock walls don't usually sway.
@tricia @Alexandra Lanes I'm a climber too, although I can't do it much any more because I have Dupuytrens.
Climbing the mast is easy. Friction knot with a mooring line round the mast, make a foot loop, main halyard tied to belay loop, have someone on the winch. You lift yourself up, they take in the slack. Repeat.
The issue is that you're not standing on anything, so even in the comfiest of harnesses, I find my legs go unpleasantly numb quite quickly. If you were hanging on a rock face, unless it was severely overhanging, you can usually take SOME weight on your legs, but try with the mast and you'll just pirouette around it.
The swaying you get used to. Worst bit is when some prick in a gas guzzler does a close pass and kicks up a load of wake. Then it gets interesting.
@ajlanes yeah, fair. Hard to justify a bosun's chair when you already own climbing gear I guess. Bummer about the dupuytrens. I've only been climbing for about 18mo but I enjoy it well enough. I have to take a couple months off for recovery starting in (omg) a week, but that's very temporary.
@tricia @Alexandra Lanes It’s annoying. Started when I was 38. Held it at bay for ten years with radiation, but it’s now very aggressive. I can do stuff that doesn’t involve fiddly finger work, so via ferrata and suchlike.
400 quid? You own a yacht. You're super rich. Just kidding. I so agree to what you said about the average yacht owner the other day. And which these complacent idiots being happy about orcas attacking sailing yaczts just don't want to see. Keep it up!
Alexandra Lanes
in reply to Sarah Brown • • •Sarah Brown
in reply to Alexandra Lanes • •Alexandra Lanes
in reply to Sarah Brown • • •tricia
in reply to Alexandra Lanes • • •Sarah Brown
in reply to tricia • •@tricia @Alexandra Lanes The bit I hate most is how you get cramp in your arms from trying to undo a rusted bolt above your head while your legs go numb from sitting in the harness.
I am not scared of heights (used to be, cured myself), and my mast climbing technique is solid, but I just find working up there unpleasant and uncomfortable.
tricia
in reply to Sarah Brown • • •Sarah Brown
in reply to tricia • •@tricia @Alexandra Lanes I'm a climber too, although I can't do it much any more because I have Dupuytrens.
Climbing the mast is easy. Friction knot with a mooring line round the mast, make a foot loop, main halyard tied to belay loop, have someone on the winch. You lift yourself up, they take in the slack. Repeat.
The issue is that you're not standing on anything, so even in the comfiest of harnesses, I find my legs go unpleasantly numb quite quickly. If you were hanging on a rock face, unless it was severely overhanging, you can usually take SOME weight on your legs, but try with the mast and you'll just pirouette around it.
The swaying you get used to. Worst bit is when some prick in a gas guzzler does a close pass and kicks up a load of wake. Then it gets interesting.
tricia
in reply to Sarah Brown • • •Sarah Brown
in reply to tricia • •Piemaker 🖖
in reply to Sarah Brown • • •Just kidding. I so agree to what you said about the average yacht owner the other day. And which these complacent idiots being happy about orcas attacking sailing yaczts just don't want to see.
Keep it up!
Sarah Brown likes this.