Whether you are at sea or in port, alone or with a crew, there are many reasons why you may have to climb the mast without assistance. It is a situation that, due to a lack of experience, can be frightening. However, after a little bit of training and with specialized equipment, we realize that it is finally quite convenient to climb the mast by foot power.
What equipment is needed to climb the mast easily and autonomously?
Several equipment manufacturers, such as the famous mountain gear brand Petzl, offer complete kits adapted to the needs of sailors. Other solutions such as the Ocean Tools mast ladder or the Swi-Tec "lift" are also worth noting. Croix du Sud Marine also distributes the Mast Climber. But the Petzl kit (distributed by Navicom) is the one most used by offshore racers. It is indeed the lightest and simplest to implement. It is often supplemented by the Olivette, which we will describe below.
Directly from the mountain equipment
In order to be able to climb the mast on my own and eventually sail, I had acquired a Petzl kit. Once you get used to the hardware, this system is extremely convincing when worn, because in the end it is not so physical and is still very secure. We're slowly but surely climbing up to the top of the mast and we'll be able to control the descent.
This process, which has come out of the world of mountains and caving, requires that the bottom of the rope on which one is hoisted is completely free. A viable solution in the mountains, but not a pleasant one transposed on a boat. If this one moves, the climber will quickly swing the pendulum. And this is the only flaw in this system, you can't climb on a tight rope. If you are lucky enough to have a topping lift, you can still hang on to it with a lanyard.
What is your kit? made of?
Thanks to the experience of equipment manufacturers specialising in climbing and working at heights, these packs combine safety and functionality. Let's see in detail what a mast climbing kit is made of.
Composition of a self-contained ascent pack :
1- The harness, it must adapt to the user's morphology, tool holders are a plus.
2- The "self-braking descender" or "gri-gri" or "olivette". These are systems designed to make climbing or acrobatic work on 10 to 11 mm ropes safe (diameter 9.7 is tolerated). Its main function is to be a belay system with assisted (not self-locking) braking in case the climber falls. The olivette is another even more clever device for sailors.
3- A foot strap, also called a "pedal".
4- The "Blocking Handle", this handle is designed for ascending or working on ropes. We position the handle and it locks onto the rope. In combination with the pedal, you can use it to pull yourself up.
5- A mast height climbing rope. You should choose a climbing rope that offers a lot of elasticity and whose diameter corresponds perfectly to the blockers.
Eventually, it can be completed with :
- A helmet is really useful for going to sea and avoiding too violent shocks against the mast.
- A pair of protective gloves
- A lanyard to stay on a halyard and avoid swings when climbing a free rope
- A small tool bag to carry with you
- A storage bag for immediate access to all the equipment
What is the principle of hoisting autonome? with the Petzl kit?
The operation is as follows, using a halyard, usually that of GV, a climbing rope is sent to the masthead along which the ascent is made.
We have 2 blockers. One connected to the harness that will also serve as a "self-braking descent device" that we will use for ascent and descent. The other is a "blocking handle" (useful only during the ascent) running along the rope and equipped with a foot strap. It allows you to take support (bent leg) in the foot strap to rise half a meter when standing up.
Once on the legs, it's time to take up the slack and move the "self-braking descender" a little higher than it was before sitting back in the harness. Then you have to rewind the foot pedal and start again.
What are the limites? of this system?
The big problem with this solution is that if you are climbing at sea, you can't hoist yourself up along a tight rope. And yet due to the movement of the boat with the waves, we'd like to climb up the mast, without the risk of regularly banging our shoulders, thighs, hips or head... on the mast.
The little special descender, the Olivette, released about ten years ago solves this problem. It allows you to ascend on a tight rope. We tried it and it changes the climb to the mast as much as the descent ?!
What is Olivette??
The Olivette was invented by a mountain man with a passion for sailing, Pascal Ollivier, who wanted to create a self-locking descender capable of operating on taut ropes.
A unique solution on the market for mounting in masts. And we find this Olilvette as well for the mountain, as acrobatic work, or rescue. From patent to patent, Pascal has made a well elaborated tool, and has been a great success with regatta sailors.
A rubber band around the neck, connected to the Olivette, allows the "self-braking descender" to be followed during the ascent on a taut rope. So there's no need to "take up the slack" by hand while sailing along the mast, that's one of the advantages. But to do the acrobat at sea, it is important to remember that thanks to the Olivette you can go up along a stretched rope.
