Actions After De-Masting at Sea
Immediate priorities and recovery options when the mast comes down offshore — people first, then the boat, then the rig.
CREW · ENGINE · SPAR · SIGNAL
A de-masting is a major emergency. The fallen rig can hole the hull, foul the propeller, or sweep crew overboard. Act in this order: account for the crew, protect the propeller, then decide whether to salvage or cut away the spar.
Immediate Actions — First 60 Seconds
Check the Crew
Make a head count immediately. A de-masting can sweep crew overboard or injure them with falling spars and rigging. Render first aid. Launch the MOB procedure if anyone is missing.
Stop the Engine & Prop
If motoring, throttle back at once. Loose halyards, sheets, and wire rigging in the water can wrap the propeller and disable the boat. Keep the engine in neutral until the gear is cleared or secured on deck.
Secure the Vessel
Get everyone clear of the fallen spar — it can roll, pivot, or slam the hull in a seaway. Move people to the cockpit or lee side away from the wreckage.
Salvage or Cut Away?
The single biggest decision after de-masting: is the fallen rig a lifeline or a threat? A mast dragging alongside can hole the hull — but recovering it preserves the boom for a jury rig and the VHF antenna for distress calls.
Assess What Remains
Determine whether the mast is fully adrift or still attached by rigging/wires. A mast dragging alongside can hole the hull — decide quickly whether to salvage or cut it away.
Recover the Spar if Practicable
If the sea is manageable and the mast is still partly attached, use winches and halyards to drag it aboard, bow or stern first. Recovering the spar and boom preserves jury-rig options and the VHF antenna.
Cut It Away if Threatening the Hull
If the mast is hammering the hull or threatening to hole it, cut it free. Use bolt cutters on the wire rigging or a hacksaw on the spar. Let it go rather than lose the boat.
Salvage Key Gear
Before letting go, try to recover the boom (useful as a jury mast), a set of halyards and sheets, and the VHF antenna or its cable — these make all the difference for jury-rigging and distress calls.
Raise the Alarm
Make Contact
Call Mayday on VHF Ch 16 if there is immediate danger (injury, hull breach, far from land). Switch to HF or sat phone if out of VHF range.
Activate Distress Gear
If abandoning or crippled, set off the EPIRB. Activate the PLB. Make sure the VHF antenna is connected — the mainmast antenna is likely gone.
Prepare the Liferaft
If the hull is compromised or conditions deteriorate, have the liferaft ready at the mast step. Gather the grab bag and lifejackets.
Jury-Rig a Sail to Make Way
With the mast gone, you can still make steerage with a jury rig — a small sail set on a boom or pole lashed upright. Even a knot or two of way-on lets you steer toward land or a shipping lane.
Select a Jury Mast
Use the boom, a spinnaker pole, the broken mast section, or a floorboard — anything that will hold a sail upright. Lash it securely to the deck or stump.
Step It Securely
Lash the base to a strong point (mast step, cabin top, or mast partner) and rig stays from the jury mast to the bow, quarters, and midships using halyards, wire, or chainplates.
Hoist a Small Sail
Set a storm jib, trisail, or a reefed scrap of sail on the jury rig. Keep the sail area small — the rig is weak. Sail downwind or on a broad reach for best stability.
Keep Watch on the Rig
A jury rig is fragile. Check lashing and stays regularly, especially in any seaway. Ease off if anything chafes or strains.
Steering Without a Rudder?
If the rudder is also damaged, you may still steer by dragging a warp or a bucket from the quarter on the side you want to turn — a drogue or warps trailed abeam create drag that pivots the boat. Combine this with the jury rig to hold a course.