Operating under special use permit from the Uncompahgre National Forest, Grand Mesa National Forest,
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Denali National Park
Copyright 2000/2011 Rigging for Rescue®, LLC - (970) 325-4474 - info@riggingforrescue.com - PO Box 745, Ouray, CO 81427
Rigging for Tall Ships
Over this past winter, a volunteer with the San Diego Maritime Museum contacted us
with some questions relating to our previous research on lanyards. They had been
exploring a new work positioning lanyard system and came across our ITRS paper
from 2006 that addressed Purcell Prusiks as lanyards.
The work environment the volunteer was addressing was for climbing the high rigging
on Tall Ships. The San Diego Maritime Museum is home to the Star of India, which is
the world's oldest active Tall Ship. The sailors that climb the high rigging do so without
any protection until they get to a position where the work is to be conducted (e.g.
furling a sail, painting, repairing, etc.) - at that point they secure themselves with a work
positioning lanyard.
Following the phone consultation we provided regarding Purcell Prusiks as work
positioning lanyards, an offer was made "if you are ever in San Diego..." Well, it turns
out we were already going to be in the area and a private tour of the Star of India was
too good to pass up. The captain generously signed off on a climb of the high rigging -
what a thrill.