Glossary · Sailing & navigation
Dismasting
Also called: Démâtage, démâter, dismasted
The mast breaking at sea.
A dismasting can come from a failed rig part (shroud, turnbuckle, forestay), an impact, a bad manoeuvre or very heavy seas. It almost always ends the race. The sailor must secure the wreckage so it does not hole the hull, then reach port, sometimes under a jury rig.
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No source yet · updated 30 Sept 2026