Chapter 59

True to their word ... a thousand $FIJI in the crane operators pocket retrieved the Samana’s mast, boom and rigging. The mast had fallen out. The grand saved a good Thirty thousand,

(A word about Catamarans ... they are an airfoil. Just like an airplane, high winds will produce lift... 255 mph is plenty fast enough. Cyclones south of the equator rotate clockwise. This one had the mountain effect. Air rushing down a slope speeds up.)

The rigging was slack ... adjusting was the rumor. The adjustor wasn’t available to question ... never found.

I had to replace every turnbuckle and pad-eye. The turnbuckles were bent ... if 90 degrees is bent. The pad-eyes snapped at the attachment on deck.

The main sail was in the mast ... the jib was wrapped around the forestay furler and still attached to the mast. The remainder of the sails were in the port and starboard hull lockers. All 33 of them. Nylon, Dacron, composite, laminated ... even canvas storm sails. I’m willing to bet the owner didn’t know what the extra sails were for ... his neighbors boat had them so he did too.