Rigging Hardiesse is well underway in preparation for an exciting seasons sailing ahead. The first spar to go up was the Topmast……… this involved attaching a “heel rope” to the top of the Mainmast, bringing it back down to loop under the bottom of the Topmast, sending it back up through a roller in the top of the Mainmast and then down through a roller on the deck. The spar was then hoisted using two men, a winch and a “guide rope” attached to the top of the Topmast.
Once the top of the Topmast had reached the top of the Mainmast, it was guided through the hole in the ironwork that holds the Topmast in position, it is then temporarily secured to allow the crew to rig the mast with the required Stays, Halyards, Blocks and (the all important) Seagull Scarer. The Topmast is then winched up to its final position, a pin is put through the Mainmast and the Topmast to hold the freshly varnished spar in place. All of the Stays are then set up to give the Topmast the strength required to handle the loads it is subjected to once the numerous sails are hoisted after Hardiesse leaves her winter birth!
