28 days of non-stop passage-making causes hardware to work loose throughout the rig

After a 28-day offshore passage, Lauren Landers Sailing found multiple loose bolts and a displaced collar in the mast, all discovered only after arrival. The takeaway is direct: constant motion over weeks at sea vibrates fasteners free, and what looks fine at the dock may not survive a long blue-water passage without working loose. A systematic post-passage rig inspection, including going up the mast if necessary, is part of the job when you arrive. Departure plans had to be pushed back while these issues were sorted out, turning what should have been a straightforward departure day into an unplanned repair session.