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When a mast breaks off due to rigging failure there are only two likely
points for it to beak just above the deck or just above a spreader were
lower shrouds attach.
The former occurrence does not provide much use for a jury rig. The later
will occur with both deck stepped and keel stepped masts alike.
I sailed my 34' sloop "Madrigal" with a keel stepped masthead rig in
Melbourne - Hobart and Sydney -Hobart races were wind in excess of 60kts
occurred and seas exceeded 10 meters. In one Melbourne - Hobart, two of the
leading 50' yachts (with bendy fractional rigged keel stepped masts) were
demasted getting out through the Port Phillip Heads. Both masts snapped due
the violent wave action. The VORC had cancelled the start of the race the
day before because of severely bad weather.
Cruising people hope never to experience such conditions But one is out for
a few days you can never be sure what unexpected conditions will develope.
I now have a 39' Irwin with a deck stepped masthead rig.
I sailed that in big seas 100 km from cyclone "Martin" on my way from Tahiti
to Tonga in 1997. No worries.
Regards
Barry
