RSB Rig Pro re-step Nirvana

RSB Rig Pro re-step Nirvana

Published 14 February 2013
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Published 14 February 2013

With a great forecast and both of Nirvanas rigs ready to go the RSB team were able to get straight into the restepping process once the cranes had set up in position on the dock.

The first job was to lift the reacher stay into position on the main mast and pin and secure it. With this completed the cranes were hooked up to the main mast and the lift procedure was started. The 64 meter main mast weighs in at 14 Tons and with the odd alarm ringing in the cab of the crane was manouevered into position and lowered through the partners onto the step.

Once on the step the verticals, diagonals and forestay were connected and the mast was jacked up to unload the crane to allow the lifting strop to be removed and the crane repositioned over the mizzen mast. While the mizzen mast is only 47 meters and lighter it is fairly tricky to get into the boat as there is almost 6 meters of mast that needs to be guided down through the upper deck, through the owners cabin and into the bilge area below.

With the spartite collar being a very tight fit in the partners this was a slightly more tense operation but again went with out a hitch. With the larger of the two cranes engaged on the mizzen we were able to lift the main boom into position and secure this while the mizzen mast was jacked up and disconnected.

The last operation of the day was to hang the mizzen boom, tidy up any loose ends and help the boat get off the dock to head back to their berth. A job well done, giving us a happy captain and crew and beers for the boys at 5 o'clock!

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