For those wondering about MARTHA’s new Stainless Steel Life lines here’s the scoop.
Prior to November of 2014 the US Sailing and ISAF special regulations that govern safety standards for off shore racing Category 1 prescription years 2014-2016 allowed for Stainless or Dyneema life lines.
And of course we installed Dyneema because of it’s good hand and looks.
In November we were alerted by the US Sailing safety inspector that the ISAF in Europe, along with US Sailing, were putting Dyneema on the chopping block and would most likely decide to ban it from use in off shore events; beginning immediately.
Well, despite our hopes and dreams, Dyneema was banned, so we needed to switch out to Stainless Life lines ASAP.
Here is where the story gets fun, and why Port Townsend and the Marine Trades there are so awesome.
Trying to integrate modern systems into the classic style that MARTHA represents can be difficult, so right away I called Pete Langley at the Port Townsend Foundry. After a brief discussion he said “I got you covered.” “Send the measurements and we will build the parts and send them with Doug Jones when he heads to San Diego for the Schooner Cup.”
Well as you can imagine, along with the other things going on, installing new life lines felt a bit much to do before the race, yet we didn’t have much time after the race and before inspection.
Thursday before the Race at about 1400 hrs, Doug, Pete, Christopher, Anne and I started to remove the Dyneema. Pete and I went about the boat taking the final measurements, (the Foundry had made all the parts and swaged one end of the set up to allow a final fit before the final swage).
Pete and Doug ran the parts to the Rigging shop, (THANK YOU to Butler Marine Enterprise for the prompt service,) returned, installed and were finished by 1700.hrs.
All I can say is what a nice, smooth, professional job, it went like clock work and it all works and looks great.
In addition to the above mentioned changes we suffered a Main Stay sail halyard block failure pounding our way North from Cabo San Lucas.
I remembered that PT Foundry had developed a line of bronze blocks and gave a call. Once again Pete asked a few questions and said he would have the block sent along with the Lifelines.
Any one contemplating bronze work for their project, make sure you contact the Port Townsend Foundry for your bronze needs.
One of the few places left on the planet that has the Classic Bronze Hardware a Classic Yacht demands.