During the Florida 120 this year, I experienced a failure of the mast compression post. On day one of the event, I noticed that there was much more slack in the leeward shroud than there should have been. We noticed a small crack in the cuddy floor on the starboard side of the mast step casting. The next day the crack had grown and the rig was getting even more slack and we returned to the launch point and retrieved the boat. I double checked the turnbuckles and they have not moved so the slack in the forestay and shrouds is a result of the mast step casting moving downward toward the keelson. At the same time, the floor of the cuddy is cracking and flexing upward. Pictures of the crack are in my gallery. Has anyone experienced a failure like this? Any suggestions as to how to repair it?
Chris Behnke
1980 DS II