I was dismasted

[allene]

Papoose was run down by an 82 foot big schooner from clear astern on the same tack. We didn't see them until seconds before their bowsprit hooked out backstay. Our mast came down in splinters a second later falling between myself and the main trimmer. Nobody was hurt. We left pieces of wood all over the bay. We recovered all the larger pieces as they were attached to the boat by various lines or wires. Both boats were participating in the Master Mariners Regatta. We were on leg 2 and the schooner was on leg 3 as we were on different courses. There was no hull contact except where their bobstay cut a grove in our tow rail. The damage I see is the mast is gone and the stern pulpit and the bronze backstay chainplate are twisted up from being hit. There is also paint chipping around the stem fitting on the bow so it is clear something moved up there. The stem fitting is held on with wood screws so at a minimum they will get through bolted where possible. I see no damage to the hull and no new cracks in the topside paint other than the stem fitting. The boat is not taking on water. The mast was spruce.

I am looking for advice in general and specifically where can I get a quote on a replacement spruce mast. If I go aluminum, what should I consider? The boom seems OK but it would seem like keeping a wood boom on an aluminum mast would not be a good idea.

Also, my shipwright suggested that the chainplates should be inspected. I took one out a few years ago and it really tore up the boat taking it out, it was pristine, and cost $1000 to do just the one. Doing 6 is something I would not like to do so is there some other way to insure they are OK. I see no signs of stress around the chainplates but have not inspected carefully yet. The one we took out was some special bronze alloy better than silicon bronze. Is there a silver bronze? The lowers are silicon bronze I believe. The stem fitting is silicon bronze and the side where I pulled the paint off is showing red (not good). But it is a big beefy fitting that attaches to both the deck and the bow. The upper chainplates are continuous from one side to the other due to added stainless straps.

To make matters worse, I almost cut off then end of my finger cutting the rig away and ended up in Urgent Care getting it sewn back together so it is a new experience typing with my right hand normally and just three fingers on the left hand.



This is kind of what it looked like just before they hit us. I don't recall the anchor. Thank goodness for that. They did not return to see if we were OK and I was told that was because their bowsprit broke in the collision and they had a lot of trouble getting the sails down.