Ernestina-Morrissey’s Masts are Stepped!

The week of August 8, 2022 was rigging week for Ernestina-Morrissey! Tom Ward of Traditional Rigging, LLC and his crew have been working to fabricate the components of Ernestina-Morrissey‘s rig in their shop.  On Monday they “dressed” the masts. And on Tuesday the masts were raised by Cote Crane and Rigging’s crane and their skilled operators. As the masts were lowered (FYI: the main mast weighed 6900 pounds) the rigging crew, the shipyard crew and the Ernestina-Morrissey crew guided the tenon of the mast into the stepCheck this description and photo from Robert Mitchell, who has shared many photos with us for sharing with you during the last 7 years!

As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words:

The spars are "dressed" with all the standing rigging, carefully gathered up ready to be deployed when the mast is in place.

Ready to lower the main mast.

The main mast being guided by the crew on deck as the crew below gives directions to line up the tenon to the mortice and set the mast into the step.

You can see the main mast already stepped and the crane operator has the fore nearly vertical and is ready to lift it up and over the forward step.

Looking forward from aft of main mast. You can see the main boom is already in place. The crane is lowering the foremast.

Everyone wants to know about the mast coins.

Looking through the hole in the deck ready to receive the mast. In the mortise below, which will receive the mast's tenon, you can some of the coins placed there.

Mast coins. When we get details we will update this post.

Mast coins When we get details we will update this post.

Mast coins in mortise When we get details we will update this post.

Mast coins in mortise When we get details we will update this post.

Crew aloft rigging stays.

Foredeck from aloft.

Looking down to the aft deck. The boom is in place. Captain Krihwan inspects.

The fore shrouds are in place, the crew is sorting out the stays.

Masts are in! Wednesday the rigging continues! "The crew will be hard at work tensioning the rig and getting ready to hang blocks" for the running rigging.

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