On Sun, 01 Jan 2006, DSK wrote:

Roger Long wrote:\

I would certainly agree with 10 years in salt water
although very few people actually do. I can't remember
seeing or hearing of a dismasted coastal cruiser.

You don't get out enough. Happens several times a year
in pretty much every major sailing area. I know of 2 on
the Chesapeake last year, for example, and that's just
the ones I heard of (happened to friend of a friend etc
etc).

Two boats that are kept in our marina on the L.I. Sound, in an area
where folk generally do monitor and attend to the condition of their
boats, were dismasted last summer, and we saw at least three others
(boats ranging in size from +/- 25' to +/- 42') and, on one
particularly active racing/sailing weekend, I heard of three other
dismasted boats in the area while monitor the radio (and seeing SeaTow
or BoatUS boats speeding to the distressed callers).