Change of Running Rigging

Due to safety concerns Shamrock's natural fibre rigging ropes are in the process of being renewed using man made ‘Polyhemp’ rope. Polyhemp looks like natural fibre and has the advantages of being stronger, impervious to water, longer lasting and doesn't rot or shrink when wet. To the crew his means that once she is rigged the running rigging blocks won't jam nor will there be the need to slacken everything off when it starts raining and subsequently take up the slack once the weather improves. Rotting sections of rope where found during the recent renewal of the main peak halyard that had only been in use for two years.

In 1981 one of Capt. J. F. Joint’s conclusions, in the report from Second Sailing trials of “Shamrock”, stated:  “Natural fibre ropes are subject to rot if left wet. This is bound to happen with Shamrock as a static exhibit”, how right he was.

Old and new peak halyard. 

Completed peak halyard and to be done mainsheet.