Editor 586 #1 Posted July 9, 2020 This is not a good look for the much modded R/P 69' sled Taxi Dancer in Santa Barbara today. Not sure how it's still standing up and no idea what happened, but here's the close up. Anybody got the deets? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
apophenia 148 #2 Posted July 9, 2020 It's cool that they are experimenting with a canting mast. Has anyone else had good luck with that mod? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blastfurnace 6 #3 Posted July 9, 2020 wild oats certainly didn't.... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
terrafirma 977 #4 Posted July 9, 2020 There's a big bridge they just don't quite get under and...................................................... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frogman56 88 #5 Posted July 9, 2020 Big guess from far away: Fatigue standing rigging failure driven by harmonics? Saw similar on a boat with composite rigging in Melbourne. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gorn FRANTIC!! 403 #7 Posted July 9, 2020 22 minutes ago, DamnSkippy said: IMG_3542.MOV That's not gone well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arjen 0 #8 Posted July 9, 2020 Rigging was not designed for a code-zero? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_big_jim 0 #9 Posted July 9, 2020 2 hours ago, Frogman56 said: Big guess from far away: Fatigue standing rigging failure driven by harmonics? Saw similar on a boat with composite rigging in Melbourne. If the rigging failed it would have parted and the mast would have come down. Looks like a mast compression failure and looks like the rigging actually saved it a la Wild Oats. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DRIFTW00D 105 #10 Posted July 9, 2020 could not take the pressure to stand up in the real world, base support failing, support on the left taking a strong stand. slant to the far right now not it's only option, the whole shows falling down...Far right leaning problem, strong support on the left thats a mega problem there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M26 61 #11 Posted July 9, 2020 1 hour ago, DamnSkippy said: IMG_3542.MOV shiiieat! nice timing for filming tho. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ROADKILL666 308 #12 Posted July 9, 2020 That’s going to be expensive.I hope they buy him dinner before they screw him on a new rig. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Editor 586 #13 Posted July 9, 2020 4 hours ago, DamnSkippy said: IMG_3542.MOV ouch Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Editor 586 #14 Posted July 9, 2020 So one hears that the mainsail winch was still connected to the pedestals when they tacked... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
in_TO 8 #15 Posted July 9, 2020 It doesn’t look in the video like the boat was coming out of a tack Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sailabout 76 #16 Posted July 9, 2020 someone stood on the hydraulic winch button? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fan 60 #17 Posted July 9, 2020 I remember one of the biggest stressors on the STP 65 as a trimmer was making sure you turned the hydraulics off. You leave one valve on tack or trim or whatever and shit is blowing up. Bummer I have always loved that boat. I worked at Esprit with Brad and Rick as a kid when that boat was built. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Willin' 799 #18 Posted July 9, 2020 It was the damn jet skier that did it using quantum entanglement and spooky popcorn. Skeedaddled from the scene immediately after doing the dastardly deed. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Al Paca 311 #19 Posted July 9, 2020 Disruption. Plain and simple. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mpa 0 #20 Posted July 9, 2020 I observed this from the rail of another boat not far behind. I noticed when TD tacked onto port, they seemed to have difficulty trimming the jib. It took much longer than usual for them to pull it in. You will notice, if you look carefully at the video, the headsail is still luffing before the mast break. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A3A 85 #21 Posted July 9, 2020 Taxi has always been tough on rigs. She lost one coming home from Hawaii and I was aboard in SF when we busted one coming out of a tack. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grande Mastere Dreade 2,029 #22 Posted July 9, 2020 "I SAID LUFF UP, NOT FUCK UP"..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tizak 34 #23 Posted July 9, 2020 We lost Taxi's rig during Long Beach Race Week in the 90s. I was trimming jib out of a tack and checking the jib luff from the deck up when the mast head suddenly came into my view. A weird site that took me a second to comprehend. It was all strangely quiet compared to another dismasting I'd experienced. Occurred due to improper runner trim. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Meat Wad 538 #24 Posted July 9, 2020 I know Jimmy from way back in the 70's, We raced against each other when Jimmy and Ricky sailed with Kevin Connley on their SC27 and O30. Great rivalry between Kevin's and Gary's sail loft teams. I Went out a few times on the Taxi in SB before my injury. Jimmy will be fine, I'm sure his is a bit miffed but glad no one got hurt. They have done so many refits on the TD, one has to wonder if something new failed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cashelmore 7 #25 Posted July 9, 2020 3 hours ago, Editor said: So one hears that the mainsail winch was still connected to the pedestals when they tacked... Heard the same. New mast in the last year or two. Shame. Busted by the gooseneck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DA-WOODY 975 #26 Posted July 9, 2020 Saved the displays A regular older Max ride is not worth the price of a stick TD is Far from that category Lucky in this case that the stick stayed in 1 piece Can't wait to see her sailing again !! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SloopJonB 7,992 #27 Posted July 9, 2020 3 hours ago, Editor said: So one hears that the mainsail winch was still connected to the pedestals when they tacked... Seriously? A rig worth 6 figures can't withstand a fucked up tack? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cashelmore 7 #29 Posted July 9, 2020 20 minutes ago, SloopJonB said: Seriously? A rig worth 6 figures can't withstand a fucked up tack? I heard the pedestals were connected to both the jib and main at the same time. They were bringing in the jib without realizing they were cranking the crap out of the main. If over-tightening the main snapped the rig by the gooseneck, then that's one hell of a strong sail and/or a weak rig. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Great Red Shark 379 #30 Posted July 9, 2020 Bummer. Always really sucks when one comes down and the reason is 'undetermined failure' - which I've had told to me before. "Gee thanks, let me just shovel some more dough into the furnace." 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mid 2,835 #31 Posted July 9, 2020 2 minutes ago, Great Red Shark said: "Gee thanks, let me just shovel some more dough into the furnace." hole in the water , fill it up with money ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Meat Wad 538 #32 Posted July 9, 2020 I wonder if they can cut it clean and sleeve a bottom section. I've never worked with a carbon stick but Aluminum maybe?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vibroman 110 #33 Posted July 9, 2020 Is that mast material tapering from the gooseneck area downwards? If so kind looks like the fracture runs vertical with the mast on the stud side. If so its likely compression. (cracks propagate perpendicular to forces that create them) Stbd side failed in compression (she was on port tack). port side failed canting the stick causing a tension fracture on the side we can see? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mpa 0 #34 Posted July 9, 2020 Cashelmore said he heard the pedestals were driving both the main and jib at the same time. This may be consistent with my observation that they were slow to trim the jib. I don't know much about pedestal winching systems. Nevertheless, it seems to me there would be a mechanical lockout in the transmission to prevent driving more than one circuit simultaneously. Ironically, as I was sitting on the rail, watching Taxi Dancer before her last tack, I was reflecting on the thought that there's probably not a single line on that boat that can be trimmed with unaided human strength. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tubes 14 #35 Posted July 9, 2020 Is the boom still attached to the rig above the break? If so that's a wicked strong vang assembly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fan 60 #36 Posted July 9, 2020 21 minutes ago, mpa said: Cashelmore said he heard the pedestals were driving both the main and jib at the same time. This may be consistent with my observation that they were slow to trim the jib. I don't know much about pedestal winching systems. Nevertheless, it seems to me there would be a mechanical lockout in the transmission to prevent driving more than one circuit simultaneously. Ironically, as I was sitting on the rail, watching Taxi Dancer before her last tack, I was reflecting on the thought that there's probably not a single line on that boat that can be trimmed with unaided human strength. No no they don't have a lock out. I think it was Cabron that almost broken the boom putting up the main because the main winch was engaged instead they broke the boom vang. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
axolotl 137 #37 Posted July 9, 2020 3 hours ago, A3A said: Taxi has always been tough on rigs. She lost one coming home from Hawaii and I was aboard in SF when we busted one coming out of a tack. True 'dat! When Taxi Dancer was fresh out of the shed and in her slip in Alamitos Bay her rig came down in the night, calm weather. Other goofy thing was she was (is?) outfitted with titanium stanchions which some competitors viewed as illegal use of an exotic material but were rebuffed by the statement "Hey, stanchions are not part of the rig!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wdgi 4 #38 Posted July 9, 2020 Upper section at the break dropped down into the lower remaining section, that is some luck as it could have gone way south and flying broken carbon can really do some damage to people on the rail. They're lucky it also didn't go overboard that close to the breakwater and made the boat unable to control. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jhc 127 #39 Posted July 10, 2020 Wednesday night racing... A beer in one hand, mainsheet in the other. Hey, where's my beer? What's that noise? Ohhhh, s**t. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mudsailor 84 #40 Posted July 10, 2020 8 hours ago, axolotl said: True 'dat! When Taxi Dancer was fresh out of the shed and in her slip in Alamitos Bay her rig came down in the night, calm weather. Other goofy thing was she was (is?) outfitted with titanium stanchions which some competitors viewed as illegal use of an exotic material but were rebuffed by the statement "Hey, stanchions are not part of the rig!" Ha, worked at Ian Terry Engineering when we made them......used offcuts from nuclear power station cooling tubes....much cheaper than buying new titanium grade 2 tubes..... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Profit 31 #41 Posted July 10, 2020 Always be careful about who you bring on a beercan race. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ned 99 #42 Posted July 10, 2020 What's the rig count for Taxi Dancer now? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cashelmore 7 #43 Posted July 10, 2020 4 hours ago, Ned said: What's the rig count for Taxi Dancer now? At least 5 have been mentioned in this thread so far. 6 if the current rig is toast. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
P_Wop 1,732 #44 Posted July 11, 2020 23 hours ago, Mudsailor said: Ha, worked at Ian Terry Engineering when we made them......used offcuts from nuclear power station cooling tubes....much cheaper than buying new titanium grade 2 tubes..... Sad we lost Ian Terry, way back in 89 I think. Motorcycle wreck just outside Lymington. Great bloke. I still have one of his blue coffee mugs. I do remember buying a Geiger counter from a surplus store and scanning some of his ridiculously cheap used Ti stock. Most was OK, but some was pretty hot, so we "disposed" of it late one night. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kenny Dumas 251 #45 Posted July 11, 2020 Even if the main winch is spinning, you’d still need a clueless tailor Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
apophenia 148 #46 Posted July 11, 2020 11 hours ago, Kenny Dumas said: Even if the main winch is spinning, you’d still need a clueless tailor Who wants poorly fitted foulies though? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ned 99 #47 Posted July 11, 2020 20 hours ago, Cashelmore said: At least 5 have been mentioned in this thread so far. 6 if the current rig is toast. I thought it was five by the mid 90's. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cashelmore 7 #48 Posted August 8, 2020 Anyone know if they’re going to repair the stick or if they have to get a new one? Looks like Jimmy is selling the power boat and slip too. TD breaking the bank? Going to get something smaller? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Meat Wad 538 #49 Posted August 8, 2020 24 minutes ago, Cashelmore said: Anyone know if they’re going to repair the stick or if they have to get a new one? Looks like Jimmy is selling the power boat and slip too. TD breaking the bank? Going to get something smaller? Makes tons of sense. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bump-n-Grind 589 #50 Posted August 8, 2020 On 7/11/2020 at 12:12 AM, P_Wop said: Most was OK, but some was pretty hot, so we "disposed" of it late one night. Outside the environment? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snaggletooth 2,884 #51 Posted August 8, 2020 7 minutes ago, Bump-n-Grind said: On 7/11/2020 at 12:12 AM, P_Wop said: Most was OK, but some was pretty hot, so we "disposed" of it late one night. Outside the environment? Thisse macke me laffe....... P_Wop gettes the 'passe' Share this post Link to post Share on other sites