Ernestina de-rigged.

Marty Casey releases the back stay.

while Steve Kirk prepares the rig and attaches the strap to the main mast.

and secures the crane's cable to the straps

Once Steve is on the deck, he and Fred Sterner loosen the starboard shroud lanyards while Leon Poindexter works on the port.

Below deck, Willi Bank sledge hammers the mast wedges up so Steve can remove them.

While the mast wedges are being removed, Marty and Leon lash the shrouds and back stay to the main mast.

Dennis Hudon from N.C. Hudon makes a last check.

When all is set, the mast is lifted from the ship.

Until it is suspended near the blocking it will rest on.

Straps on the bottom of the mast are used by the forklift to maneuver the butt of the mast into position

and the mast is lowered onto the blocks.

The crew made sure the rigging was clear of the mast as it was lowered.

and the cross trees and trestle trees were lined up to clear the supports.

the coins or impressions are visible on the heel of the mast.

The coins were placed there on April 29, 2003 when the masts were last stepped.

The main mast cross trees and trestle trees will need replacing.

Once the main mast was set the crew started on the foremast. Here Willi loosens the jib stay shackle pin.

While Steve secured the strap and cable.

Steve and Willi managed to free the jib stay

Leon, Fred and Marty began to loosen the shroud lanyards.

A reminder to always secure your tools.

But the fore stay was even more stubborn than the jib stay.

but with Willi on the 24" wrench and Steve on the sledge hammer ...

the shackle pin finally released and Steve could release the come along.

Once the fore stay was free ...

the fore shrouds and stays were lashed to the mast.

The mast started up, but there was a problem ...

The bands on the foremast

were too big for opening in the mast partners left in the new deck

and the bands had to be removed

before the mast could be lifted free.

and the mast was swung to the pier.

Once again straps were secured to the mast so the forklift could maneuver

and the foremast was brought to the blocks

Videographer Tom Lopes documented the process

It was a tight fit but soon the mast was set in place.

and the crane was on it's way before lunch.

As suspected the foremast is seriously rotted.

As is the forward cross tree of the main mast

Some of the coins did not stick to the masts and were found in the base of the mast step.

The foremast had coins too.