It's so simple!

THE SHROUDS NEED TO BE TAPED!

At Reading we had at least three shrouds come adrift where the rigging link or the shackle came undone. It shouldn't happen! A simple piece of electrical tape can prevent it. So the CHUMP sends out the instruction to the changeover boat - ensure the shrouds are taped. OK ome the reply.

And yet on the second day I am still coming across boats without tape covering the rigging plate or the shackle attaching the shroud to the boat. A piece of electrical tape costing less than 1p can save a mast costing (according to Google) between £997 and £1215.

And when it comes off. PLEASE tack the boat, so that the strain is taken on the other working shroud. You would think that would be obvious but we still see university students sitting there with the mast adopting a banana shape to leeward and them pointing at this useless piece of wire dangling from the windward side of the mast.