Set out for the first the Annapolis Yacht Club 2016 Wednesday Night Races of 2016. When raising the main, the top two slides came off the track when the slides reached the topmost section of mast track. Lowered the main to see what might have caused the problem. The open side of these slides was wider than required, in fact a bit too wide. Used a vice grip plier to squeeze the open side of the slides so that they fit the track better. Raised the main, only to see the problem recur. Upon more careful visual inspection of the track from the deck, noticed that the top end of the mast track had pulled away from the mast, creating a fore-n-aft gap between the second section of the mast track and the top section. The slides were coming off the open end of the track.
TC decided to go up the mast, on jib and spinnaker halyards, to re-attach the track. Hauling TC up the mast proved to be quite difficult requiring both the cabin top winch and a genoa winch. TC drilled out the rivet that had allowed the track to separate from the mast. Drilled the mast for a screw, tapped for 10-32. Screw would not "bite". After several attempts, determined that the hole in the aft side of the mast was significantly larger than the hole in the track. Ended up using a 1/4-20 NC round head screw to secure the track.
The head of a 1/4-20 NC round head screw is thick, needs to be replaced with a pan head.
When lowering TC, found that the jib halyard would not run. TC transferred to main halyard in place of jib halyard. Hauled TC to the top of the mast using the spinnaker halyard so that he could investigate the jib halyard. Able to haul TC up with the cabin top winch alone. Jib halyard block damaged in hauling TC up the mast. Lowered TC to deck.
Items to address: