BLUEMOMENT

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According to a report on the For Argyll website the Oban lifeboat was called out at 10pm last night to Clear Blue when she lost her mast 'sailing to the east of the Lismore Light'

Clear Blue is Alba's very well presented Westerly Oceanranger that they run most of their RYA courses on. I had the privilege of sailing her when I ran an RYA course for Alba back in May this year. She is reported as having five people on board, and I assume this was a night sail as part of a course. The crew of the yacht managed to clear the damaged rigging, with the lifeboat standing by to provide assistance if necessary, and once the rigging had been cleared the lifeboat escorted the yacht into Dunstaffnage Marina. Clear Blue was back in her berth by 12:15am.

('ForArgyll' have shown themselves to be somewhat nautically challenged in the past, but they apparently have a direct line from Oban Lifeboat, so I presume this report is accurate)

Nick, were you in any way connected - friggin with the riggin when you were aboard?
Did we leave a split ring off?

Pure speculation, but:

Some of the later Westerly range are known for failures of the U-bolts where they pass thro the deck. Something to do with not being properly aligned with the strain applied by the stays & it leading to metal fatigue, IIRC. But then my memory is not my best attribute

Glad no-one was hurt, I expect that it would be a pants filling experience to lose a rig under sail at night. Certainly I would need no laxative.