Stepping the Mast: Yves Gélinas’ Approach

Give me a lever and a place to stand and I will move the earth.

Archimedes

During the passation of Jean-du-Sud, Yves Gélinas taught me his approach to masting. I describe the method below. It is also detailled in « Jean-du-Sud and the Magick Byrd » (Gélinas 1988) as well as on the article detailling the 40 years of Jean-du-Sud (Gélinas, 2016). The technique is also illustrated in various videos (e.g. Turtle 2019; Ripko 2020). Preparation included, it takes roughly a day. Most of it can be done alone, but it may be beneficial to have an additional person in the « final » part where the mast is levered up or down.

The approach is based on the same engineering principles as suspended bridges, meaning that a cable attached to each end passes through a hanger to spread the load. In contrast with suspended bridges, both the mast and the hanger (the spinaker pole) is pivoting on the base of the mast, very much like a crane.

Is it a lever... or a suspended bridge?
Is it a lever… or a suspended bridge?

This is not the sole DIY approach availlable. The « A frame » technique, where an A shape wood structure is erected above the mast, is also a popular (A30 Kittiwake, 2020; James Frederick, 2021). I am less familiar with this approach, but it seems to be used frequently.

Of course, nothing prevents from using a profesionnal crane if it is availlable… and affordable. It then saves time and efforts. That being said. the « Yves Gélinas approach » costs nothing but time and does not require any extraneous equipment… if the boat is configured properly.

Prerequisites

The « Gélinas approach » requires the following eqipment:

  • A mast that can pivot on a single pin at its basis.
  • An eyelet, at the base of the mast, usually used to hang a spinaker pole.
  • A spinaker pole.
  • Shrouds with a pivoting point at the same height as the mast basis (I’m not sure of the translation here: have a look a the picture on the right).
  • A mainsheet with a block (or any rope with a block that can support the mast’s weight).
  • A spinnaker halyard (or alternatively stormjib halyard). Ideally the halyard would meet the mast at 3/4 of its height.
  • Two steel cables of (roughly 3mm), allowing to connect the front of the spinnaker pole to the shrouds.
  • Wood supports (to hold the mast once it is down).
  • Although not essential, a windlass helps, as it does the hard work when stepping the mast.

Procedure for Unstepping

I here assume the mast is in its standard upward position. Stepping the mast requires the same steps as below, but must be done backwards.

  1. Remove the boom and pretty much anything that could hinder work in the aft part of the boat (see picture on the left).
  2. Disconnect anything going from the deck or cabin and to the mast. In particular, electric and radar cables (if any) should be disconnected.
  3. Remove all the shrouds except those aligned with the pivot point of the mast.
  4. Install the spinnaker pole so that one end is at the base of the mast and the other end is aimed forward.
  5. Connect the halyard the forward end of the spinnaker. Tension the halyard so that the spinnaker pole is at a 90° from the mast.
  6. Attach the 3mm steel cables from the pivoting point of the shrouds and to the fore part of the spinnaker. These cables will hold the mast if it ever went sideways.
  1. Connect one end of the mainsheet to the forward end of the spinnaker and the other end forward of the boat (e.g. a second fastener for a second forestay). The spinnaker assembly should look like the image above.
  2. Loosen the backtay(s).
  3. Prior to removing the forestay(s), tension the mainsheet.
  4. Remove the forestay(s). At this point, the mast is held in place solely by gravity, the mainsheet and the two pivoting shrouds.
  5. Fasten the mainsheet to the windlass (or have Mr. Muscle control the mainsheet).
  6. With someone keeping the tension on the mainsheet, pull on the backstay so as to initiate the mast descent. This may require quite a pull, as the mast as a tendency to stay in place.
  7. Control the mast descend with the mainsheet.

Videos

The video below shows the whole lifting sequence. It is speeded up and lasts 1 minute. The full sequence is six minutes long.

References

A30 Kittiwake (2020). Raising a mast with an A frame, Instagram, retrieved online at the following address.

Frederick, J. (2021). Stepping The Mast on an Alberg 30 Sailboat with an Wooden DIY A-FRAME, YouTube video, retrieved online in October 2023 from this address.

Gélinas, Y. (1988). Jean-du-Sud et l’Oizo Magick, LÉMEAC (ed.), ISBN 9782760951259.

Gélinas, Y. (2016). Quarante ans plus tard, mon Alberg 30 est toujours le bateau idéal, retrieved online in October 2023 from this address.

Ripko, G. (2020). Raising And Lowering Sailboat Mast In 5 Minutes, YouTube video retrieved online in October 2023 from this adress.

Sailing Turtle (2018). How we Raise and Lower our own Mast on an Ericson 26 Sailboat, YouTube video retrieved online in October 2023 from this address.