54 NXCHOLLS'S SEAMANSHIP AND NAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE
and send it down on deck. The best and quickest way would be tc
make use of a shore crane. If one is not available then it would be
necessary to lash a suitably long spar to the end of a derrick to be long
enough to reach well above the lowermast-head. Send down the signal
yard, if any, also lamp bracket, etc. Take off the mastcoat and lift
out the wooden wedges, Slacken up the rigging screws, unshackle
the stays and backstays at the masthead and send them down with a
gantline. The end of a wire, rove through a block lashed to the top
end of the up-ended derrick, is now lashed to the topmast above its
centre of gravity. Lead the wire to a winch and heave away gently,
take out the fid, unreeve the "dummy" heel rope, and when the heel
is clear of the lowennast-head lower the topmast down on deck.
It would be well to have a slack turn of a preventer lashing round
the heel of the topmast and the up-ended spar in case the mast miglit
topple over if the wire has not been lashed high enough up.
The stump of a broken topmast could be lifted out in the same way;
some spike nails driven in about the lashing would prevent the gantline
from slipping.
Fitted Topmast.—When sending up a fitted topmast lay the mast on
deck head forward, after side of mast uppermost. Hang a top block at
the lower cap. Reeve the mastrope through this block from aft forward,
down between the trestle-trees and through the collar of the lower stay if
the stay goes over the masthead, and overhaul the end down on deck.
Make the wire fast to the topmast-head and lead the hauling part to a
winch, heave away and get the topmast up and down on the fore side
of the lowermast. Hang of£ the mast with a lashing, let go the wire
and reeve the end through the sheave hole in the heel of the mast, then
up between the trestle-trees and collar of the stay and make it fast
on the other side of the lower cap. The mastrope is now doubled,
heave up and when the topmast-head is entered through the lower cap
put the stay and backstays on. If these go over the masthead the
stay goes on first, then the starboard and port backstays. Heave
away again on the mastrope and when high enough put the fid in
The ends of the fid rest on the trestle-trees on each side of the mast.
Come up the mastrope and unreeve it. Set the gear up, stay first.
Send the top block down.
When sending down a fitted topmast hang a top block at the lower
<sap. Eeeve the end of the mastrope through it 'from aft forward^ then
through the sheave hole in the<heel of the mast and make it fast on the
other side of the cap. Come up the backstays and stay, also the jumper