[paulk]

And just to make it even more fun, be advised that even though our standing rigging was dye-tested (and passed) before a transatlantic trip, we got to the Bay of Biscay off Arcachon and had a lower shroud part at the hounds. The eight weeks or so of constant sailing, across the Atlantic, then up the Irish Coast to Scotland, the Heberdies, and then down to Spain apparently fatigued the metal until it broke. One does come to a time when it
becomes advisable to replace the standing rigging. The number I''ve been hearing is about every 20 years. Yours may last 50, or the new rigging you put in may break on the first outing. If we knew all the answers, we wouldn''t need to go to church.