05/06/2026
We recently spotted the warning signs of stress corrosion in this spinnaker halyard bracket. After 40+ years of cyclic loading and unloading multiple small but visable cracks had formed on the surface. Experience told us that these likely extended deep in to the part and it was no longer safe. After removing we put the part in a vice and bent it. On the first bend 20 or so cracks appeared and the second bend snapped it in two places. You can see in the cross section the depth of the cracks which have oxidized. This was probably only a few hours of spinnaker sailing away from failing. We made up a new bracket from 316 to match the existing holes and had them back up and running the next day