https://youtube.com/shorts/YwLYs5PDot8?si=pPP4IeGfNQk5KDAa My experience with gaffer is limited to my little 26 footer so maybe I am missing something here. Trying to understand why they kept all canvas up in a squall even the topsail and why didn’t they scandalize the main? Can you scandalize a sail that big? for those wondering, scandalizing the main on a gaffer means releasing the peak halyard which drops the gaff and pretty much cuts the sail area in half.
Something was going on on-deck keeping them from releasing halyards. Only explanation I can think of. Gaff rig mains still have reef points assuming you have 6 or so crew to gather and reef the main. Topsail halyard was crossed over the main halyard? We lost our main mast back in our schooner days. The cause was easy to pinpoint. Stupidity. I am much smarter today