Tragic Fall from Sailboat Mast

Yesterday I read a news story about another sailboat death—all the more sad because it likely could have been prevented. A man was hoisted on a “sling” to the top of the 29-foot mast of a docked boat to make a repair, and then fell. His head struck something on the way to the deck, and the paramedics’ “life-saving efforts were unsuccessful.”

My guess is that this “sling” was an improvised device used because they didn’t have a proper bosun’s chair to hoist to the mast. A commercial bosun’s chair locks the climber into the chair in a way that it’s virtually impossible to fall out. Other devices such as mast steps and new climbing systems also are generally quite safe when used correctly.

I don’t like to harp on the negative, but all of us should realize that sailing and sailboats involve certain risks that we can minimize greatly with precautions and the right equipment. Read here about safe ways to go up your mast—and prepare in advance so that you’re not tempted to improvise when the need arises.