Rig Basics – How to Look After Your Mast, Rigging and Sails, is Petrospot’s first foray into the sailing and yachting sector. Written by Kim Skov-Nielsen, a hugely experienced round-the-world yachtsman and active marine surveyor, this book provides a concise, informative and clearly-written outline of what an owner or operator must take into consideration when looking after the mast, rigging and sails. It is also a highly useful guide to what a surveyor should be looking at when surveying a rig.Kim Skov-Nielsen has worked full-time in the marine industry since 1979, primarily as a yacht skipper and ocean racer. He has sailed over 150,000 blue water miles worldwide, amassing a wide range of valuable experience including building boats, sailing them around the world, being bosun on a 12-metre yacht in the America’s Cup and taking on the role of project manager at America’s Cup and Whitbread Round the World Race level.Kim holds a long and impressive list of surveying, yachting and other qualifications. He is also an expert witness in UK jurisprudence.DEDICATION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:Many people over the years have said to me ‘you should write a book’ but a few close friends have actively goaded me towards the inevitable: ‘Basic Bill’ Reilly and Johnny Walker stand out for their encouragement and assistance. ‘Stretch’ Gillingham has contributed some great photos. And Llewellyn and Lesley Bankes-Hughes at Petrospot have made it a reality. Thanks guys.FOREWORD:I SAILED WITH Kim Skov-Nielsen a number of years ago and I’m not surprised to see this book coming out under his name. One of the many things we had in common was a refusal to tolerate a boat that wasn’t set up right, although for me, as something of an expert in gaff sails and wooden spars, dealing with modern rigging has always been a bit of a black art. In this excellent little volume, my old shipmate has clarified everything most of us will ever need to know, and he’s shown us how to deal with the whole issue in practical terms.This book is long overdue and, to be blunt, no skipper putting to sea across the bar should be without it.CONTENTS:FOREWORD .................................................................................. VABOUT THE AUTHOR .................................................................. VIIINTRODUCTION ............................................................................ XI1. THE MAST .................................................................................. 12. THE BOOM ................................................................................ 53. THE MAST BASE OR MAST STEP .......................................... 74. THE MASTHEAD ........................................................................ 95. SPREADERS .............................................................................. 136. GOOSENECKS, VANGS AND MAINSHEET BAILS .................. 197. STANDING RIGGING – THE STAYS AND SHROUDS ............ 218. BACKSTAY TENSIONERS AND OTHER HYDRAULICS .......... 399. ROLLER FURLING .................................................................... 4110. THE SAILS ................................................................................ 4311. RUNNING RIGGING ................................................................ 4512. GOING ALOFT SAFELY .......................................................... 4713. THERMAL IMAGING ................................................................ 5114. SETTING UP AND TUNING A RIG .......................................... 5315. MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION SCHEDULES ................ 61BIBLIOGRAPHY.............................................................................. 62GLOSSARY .................................................................................... 63INDEX ............................................................................................ 66
