322 Slamming off waves

[The Tanqueray]

When I brought my new to me 322 home it involved a run across a rather rough Gulfsteam. She really slammed and I think I found much of the problem.

I was concentrating on the keel sump the last couple of days so had not gotten around to emptying out the anchor locker. What a surprise. I took over 250ft of rusty chain out of the locker.
That's over 400 pounds of weight right in the nose. No wonder she was slamming.
I know cruisers talk of all chain in their anchoring systems but she had all that chain plus two big but crap Danforth copies. I was amazed how they got all this in there.
When you plan your anchoring system don't forget to consider the weight in the bow.
Here is what I now have:
35 pound Delta with 50ft of chain and 100 ft 3/4 nylon rode
15 kg Fortress 20ft chain 100 ft 1/2 nylon
75 pd Luke Fisherman (disassembles and is packed in foam under the head cabinet)
In the lazaret I have two more 100ft sections of 3/4 nylon rode.
I've taken over 300 pounds out of the bow. This helped with both slamming and hobby-horsing.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Here is what I now have:
35 pound Delta with 50ft of chain and 100 ft 3/4 nylon rode
15 kg Fortress 20ft chain 100 ft 1/2 nylon
75 pd Luke Fisherman (disassembles and is packed in foam under the head cabinet)
In the lazaret I have two more 100ft sections of 3/4 nylon rode.
I've taken over 300 pounds out of the bow. This helped with both slamming and hobby-horsing.

Wow--3/4" 3-strand nylon rode for a 322? I think your anchor would pull out long b/f even 9/16" 3-strand would part. What size is the chain? I carry only 5/8" 3-strand "back up", mostly in case I ever needed a tow in seas.

 

[The Tanqueray]

Wow--3/4" 3-strand nylon rode for a 322? I think your anchor would pull out long b/f even 9/16" 3-strand would part. What size is the chain? I carry only 5/8" 3-strand "back up", mostly in case I ever needed a tow in seas.

It is overkill for a 322. They are the anchors and rode off a Countess 37 center cockpit pilothouse that I sold to a guy in the UK. The new owner had his own anchors in the UK and didn't want any weight in the bow when we took her to England. Bahamas - Bermuda - Azores.

This 322 doesn't have a windlass and hauling chain is for young guys. In this area, it's unusual to anchor in water over 12 ft deep.

 

[the_alpine]

Im sure removing all that weight from the bow will help, but the bottoms on the 302/322 boats are pretty flat. That, I believe, is what the majority of any slamming is from.

 

[RichH]

The 322 is relatively 'flat bottomed' and 'fine bowed' boat ... for such when 'pitching' one has to consider to alter the sailing angle into & away from waves to allow longer timing interval for the bow/stern to rise, even if the ends are 'light' when the boat is 'slamming'. Decreasing the sailing angle into/from waves will lessen the impact timing from the 'pitching'.

Simple speak: foot off when slamming so that the bow/stern has a longer 'time' to rise. Adjust your sailing angle based on wave period and amplitude.

 

[The Tanqueray]

The 322 is relatively 'flat bottomed' and 'fine bowed' boat ... for such when 'pitching' one has to consider to alter the sailing angle into & away from waves to allow longer timing interval for the bow/stern to rise, even if the ends are 'light' when the boat is 'slamming'. Decreasing the sailing angle into/from waves will lessen the impact timing from the 'pitching'.

Simple speak: foot off when slamming so that the bow/stern has a longer 'time' to rise. Adjust your sailing angle based on wave period and amplitude.

I'm familiar with that. The problem here - the stretch between Bahamas and Florida is often wind created waves combining with opposing current (3kts Gulfstream) waves. More like an agitator.
I have been out twice since I removed a couple of hundred pounds of chain out of the bow and it's much better. Appreciate your comments. There was a Tayana 37 anchored just behind me yesterday - nice boats.

 

[RichH]

I often sail the Straights of Florida and down between the Abacos and Berrys often. You really sometimes have to wait for a proper weather window or get slammed by the BIG chop and 'confused' seas due to 'mish-mash' of several intersecting currents and opposing winds.

All the weight you can remove from the ends certainly will help, so will 'footing off'.

 

[The Tanqueray]

I often sail the Straights of Florida and down between the Abacos and Berrys often. You really sometimes have to wait for a proper weather window or get slammed by the BIG chop and 'confused' seas due to 'mish-mash' of several intersecting currents and opposing winds.

All the weight you can remove from the ends certainly will help, so will 'footing off'.

Next time you're near Freeport, drop me a line and I'll buy you a beer. bahamasailing at gm@#l dot com.