Cutting a sail free in a surprise squall
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Kudo's to you and your wife for making it through a very extreme situation. My gal and I also sail the Ches and are fully aware of how nasty it can get. Thankfully we have not experienced anything on this scale. We discuss our own "what would we do if" scenarios all the time however, Your first hand account of this storm and those of others have given us both better insight about being better prepared. Good Job! and thanks for sharing.
MATT,
Terrible time pal, glad you came thru without further injury or damage.
You mentioned any thoughts on doing anything different. I have been in a few like situations, so I like you learned the brutal way.
What I have learned is when flaking the main while underway, I always put my cover on. If it might be bad, I wrap the cover.
Importantly, If my first thought questions whether I should douse sails, that's the time, I wait no longer. You can always shake them out if your wrong.
Traveling at dusk into night especially after dark in tight areas, I've stopped the purist-like thinking of sails up. Open water it's different, but the rule is shorten at night.
It is wise to do weather checks before you leave and when unsure of guaranteed weather, check weather reports frequently. Also when questioning weather at nite/fog, leave the VHF in scan mode as you may hear of problems beforehand and have the time to prepare. I also believe they have APPS for smartphones for realtime weather alerts.
I have extra long sheets for my roller furling (150 genoa). This allows me to furl extra STBD/PORT wraps vertically along the sail. I've been in over 50KTS and have never had a problem. However I use the heaviest line my drum will hold & check for wear & chafing every unfurling.
Sorry about the sail pal. If you do make a mistake, Only make it once.
Remember what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.
CR
Terrible time pal, glad you came thru without further injury or damage.
You mentioned any thoughts on doing anything different. I have been in a few like situations, so I like you learned the brutal way.
What I have learned is when flaking the main while underway, I always put my cover on. If it might be bad, I wrap the cover.
Importantly, If my first thought questions whether I should douse sails, that's the time, I wait no longer. You can always shake them out if your wrong.
Traveling at dusk into night especially after dark in tight areas, I've stopped the purist-like thinking of sails up. Open water it's different, but the rule is shorten at night.
It is wise to do weather checks before you leave and when unsure of guaranteed weather, check weather reports frequently. Also when questioning weather at nite/fog, leave the VHF in scan mode as you may hear of problems beforehand and have the time to prepare. I also believe they have APPS for smartphones for realtime weather alerts.
I have extra long sheets for my roller furling (150 genoa). This allows me to furl extra STBD/PORT wraps vertically along the sail. I've been in over 50KTS and have never had a problem. However I use the heaviest line my drum will hold & check for wear & chafing every unfurling.
Sorry about the sail pal. If you do make a mistake, Only make it once.
Remember what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.
CR
The original poster asked "Aside from sharing that lesson, I'd like to hear advice from other sailors about what we should or could have done differently during the storm to avoid having to cut the mainsail off. "
Nobody's saying anything bad, just that some of us probably wouldn't have pursued that course of action. And if you have a look at that sail pic, there really is no repairing it.
Mark,
I agree about Matt asking advice in the storm, however none of what I said was saying anything bad. He was already in the shit, his options at that time were very limited.
In addition, what if others read my post and thought hey, I'm gonna make sure I keep this in mind to avoid problems. The exchange of questions/advice/answers, is this not why we are all here posting & reading?
Do you think Matt's night may have ended differently if he had his sail cover on... before the wind came up? Remember knowledge is power.....
CR
I agree about Matt asking advice in the storm, however none of what I said was saying anything bad. He was already in the shit, his options at that time were very limited.
In addition, what if others read my post and thought hey, I'm gonna make sure I keep this in mind to avoid problems. The exchange of questions/advice/answers, is this not why we are all here posting & reading?
Do you think Matt's night may have ended differently if he had his sail cover on... before the wind came up? Remember knowledge is power.....
CR
Composite Radar Image Derecho
Here is a composite of the radar of the derecho by the Mt Holly National Weather Service. That timeline is amazingly quick also.
Here is a composite of the radar of the derecho by the Mt Holly National Weather Service. That timeline is amazingly quick also.
Attachments
Good job! I guess my first reaction would have been to drop and anchor or two to keep her bow to the wind then fight the mainsail.
Our local news (in Ohio) only gave the growing storm a passing mention but I saw it growing on Nexrad and insisted we lash down everything. Of course we were in our backyard, not on a boat so....
Our local news (in Ohio) only gave the growing storm a passing mention but I saw it growing on Nexrad and insisted we lash down everything. Of course we were in our backyard, not on a boat so....
reading this I am humbled and a little embarrassed at how cushy our sailing conditions are here in southern California. I am quite impressed by what sounds like your ability to keep your wits about you.......... congrats, you did very well considering all things. Sorry about the main!
I appreciate the advice and thoughts, both from folks who can imagine doing as I did and from those who would have chosen a different course of action.
To clarify part of my original post-- when the mainsail on our boat is down, the aft end of the boom hangs from a clip attached to about 12" of wire that is suspended from a split backstay (the 12" wire hangs from the middle of the upside-down Y of the backstay). We do not have a seperate topping lift so movement of the boom when the sail is down is limited to the 12" length of wire holding it up-- there is no way to let the boom swing out so the sail can flog in the wind.
Once the wind hit us and our sail was blown open on the boom, I was not physically able to tie the sail down while also keeping myself on the boat. As a point of reference regarding the force holding the sail open-- I am 30 years old, 220 lbs, and have no problem carrying 80 lb bags of concrete 2 at a time.
In other words, without a can of Popeye's spinach, I think the only options available to me at that point were: 1) slash the sail to right the boat enough to drop the anchors or 2) carry on heeled hard over and let the boat fend for herself.
Having gone over every inch of our boat during the restoration process, I know her hull is thick, solid fiberglass and that she probably would have been fine if we'd been driven aground on sand or a muddy bottom. I am much less confident that the hull would have been able to withstand being driven into pilings, a dock, a channel marker, or another boat at the speed we were moving. If you are familiar with the mouth of Turner's Creek on the Sassafrass River, you know those hazards are there in abundance.
Of course, if I'd hit another boat I would have been a hazard to others in addition to myself. I can only imagine how I would have felt if after I cut my mainsail to be able to drop the anchors, some other sailor had plowed his boat into mine because he had decided to let his boat fend for herself and hope for the best.
I'm not saying that wouldn't be a fine alternative on wide open water or where the lee shore is known to be soft-- just explaining why I didn't think it was a safe option where we were at the time.
All of this pertains to what could/should have been done once the wind hit us-- I absolutely agree with everyone who has suggested that if our mainsail had been more securely lashed to the boom prior to the storm hitting, we would have had a much different experience altogether.
To clarify part of my original post-- when the mainsail on our boat is down, the aft end of the boom hangs from a clip attached to about 12" of wire that is suspended from a split backstay (the 12" wire hangs from the middle of the upside-down Y of the backstay). We do not have a seperate topping lift so movement of the boom when the sail is down is limited to the 12" length of wire holding it up-- there is no way to let the boom swing out so the sail can flog in the wind.
Once the wind hit us and our sail was blown open on the boom, I was not physically able to tie the sail down while also keeping myself on the boat. As a point of reference regarding the force holding the sail open-- I am 30 years old, 220 lbs, and have no problem carrying 80 lb bags of concrete 2 at a time.
In other words, without a can of Popeye's spinach, I think the only options available to me at that point were: 1) slash the sail to right the boat enough to drop the anchors or 2) carry on heeled hard over and let the boat fend for herself.
Having gone over every inch of our boat during the restoration process, I know her hull is thick, solid fiberglass and that she probably would have been fine if we'd been driven aground on sand or a muddy bottom. I am much less confident that the hull would have been able to withstand being driven into pilings, a dock, a channel marker, or another boat at the speed we were moving. If you are familiar with the mouth of Turner's Creek on the Sassafrass River, you know those hazards are there in abundance.
Of course, if I'd hit another boat I would have been a hazard to others in addition to myself. I can only imagine how I would have felt if after I cut my mainsail to be able to drop the anchors, some other sailor had plowed his boat into mine because he had decided to let his boat fend for herself and hope for the best.
I'm not saying that wouldn't be a fine alternative on wide open water or where the lee shore is known to be soft-- just explaining why I didn't think it was a safe option where we were at the time.
All of this pertains to what could/should have been done once the wind hit us-- I absolutely agree with everyone who has suggested that if our mainsail had been more securely lashed to the boom prior to the storm hitting, we would have had a much different experience altogether.
That was my first thought as well, but with the boat getting knocked about and heeled over to port as far as it was, I didn't think I'd be able to stay on the foreward deck to drop the anchor from the bow. I don't know exactly what angle the boat was at but can say that our compass has an inclinometer that goes up to 45 degrees and we were significantly past that.
Ross, there is no salvaging the sail. Between my knife and the wind, less than a third of the sail was left on the boat by the morning after the storm. My wife may be able to sew the remnants into little bags for spare line but what is left will never be a sail again.
In theory, I think I could have cut with a more surgical precision in order to let the wind pass through the sail but keep the remaining seams holding the sail basically in one piece for future repair. In reality, the wind and water made it hard enough to avoid stabbing myself or cutting the line holding me to the boat-- I don't know if I would have had room in my brain or the physical ability to also try to preserve the remnants of the sail even if I had thought of that at the time.
Bummer about the sail. Did you actually get around the bar and ordinary point? I almost ran us agound on Ordinary point in broad daylight with good visibility. I was steering towards to wrong mark in a strong west wind making Ordinary Point a lee shore. My two alarms went off almost at the same time first the depth and then my Nancy.
Nate,
I would not wish an experience like that on anybody, but since it did happen to you, thank you for sharing your story. Even with a rudder we weren't able to point into the wind until we got the anchors down, but I can tell you that I was still glad to know the rudder was there-- I can't imagine what must have crossed your mind when you realized your rudder was gone. I'm glad you, your wife, and your boat made it through. "Mean freak storm" is about the most accurate description I've read of the event so far.
Best regards,
Matt
Matt, Nate,
It's easy to talk it through after the fact when there's time to consider details. When you're in the middle of something the main thing is to keep your head. Sounds like you did.
You both made it home safe with your spouses. No one was seriously hurt, though I imagine you had some bumps and bruises. A sail and a rudder can be replaced. No so with a person.
Two things to remember:
Ya done good,
Jim
It's easy to talk it through after the fact when there's time to consider details. When you're in the middle of something the main thing is to keep your head. Sounds like you did.
You both made it home safe with your spouses. No one was seriously hurt, though I imagine you had some bumps and bruises. A sail and a rudder can be replaced. No so with a person.
Two things to remember:
"Whatever doesn't kill you makes a good bar story."
What's the difference between a fairy tale and a sea story?
A fairy tale starts with "Once upon a time..."
A sea story starts with "No shit this really happened!"
Hope I got a smile from you; pour yourself a glass of rum and toast the fact that you're here to tell the tale.A sea story starts with "No shit this really happened!"
Ya done good,
Jim
My family has a lake house in north central Indiana. We have a 17" bow rider ski boat there on a boat lift with a large bimini over the entire lift.
This same storm picked up the entire boat lift with the boat on it, up and out of the water and tossed it about 125 feet before it ripped the bimini cover off the now mangled lift. The boat and lift came down in deeper water and were blown to the other side of the lake, with the remains of the boat lift hanging from the boat (which amazingly was largely undamaged).
Many years ago while sailing my starcraft skylark, a wall of wind came across the lake with little warning. The wind hit with about 80mph gusts according to the NWS. It capsized the boat and when it was turtled, the wind grabbed the down side boards and flipped the boat back upright, and then it started cartwheeling across the lake. The storm lasted less then 10 min. We found the boat about a mile and a half away, with the local sheriff getting ready to jump in with a rescue diver to search for body parts trapped in the lines... they were relieved to find out that we were only 50 feet from shore when it happened and able to make it ashore safely.
This same storm picked up the entire boat lift with the boat on it, up and out of the water and tossed it about 125 feet before it ripped the bimini cover off the now mangled lift. The boat and lift came down in deeper water and were blown to the other side of the lake, with the remains of the boat lift hanging from the boat (which amazingly was largely undamaged).
Many years ago while sailing my starcraft skylark, a wall of wind came across the lake with little warning. The wind hit with about 80mph gusts according to the NWS. It capsized the boat and when it was turtled, the wind grabbed the down side boards and flipped the boat back upright, and then it started cartwheeling across the lake. The storm lasted less then 10 min. We found the boat about a mile and a half away, with the local sheriff getting ready to jump in with a rescue diver to search for body parts trapped in the lines... they were relieved to find out that we were only 50 feet from shore when it happened and able to make it ashore safely.
Going forward in the storm...
Hi Matt, I can completely relate to having to tie sails down in the heat of the moment. 3 times I had to go forward and secure sails in the storm, I am not a seasoned sailor so the lesson was quick that more lines are better. Bear hugging the mast or the bow pulpit was the only thing that kept me on the boat as I stayed on my knees to keep low, because when she rolled my legs and feet would come out from under me. Some catchers knee pads would have saved the sanding action on my knees! We have a long list of what not to do's now before going long disatnce again. Fortunately I have found another rudder locally and with some repair to it the Blue Moon will once again be sailable!
All the best, Nate
Hi Matt, I can completely relate to having to tie sails down in the heat of the moment. 3 times I had to go forward and secure sails in the storm, I am not a seasoned sailor so the lesson was quick that more lines are better. Bear hugging the mast or the bow pulpit was the only thing that kept me on the boat as I stayed on my knees to keep low, because when she rolled my legs and feet would come out from under me. Some catchers knee pads would have saved the sanding action on my knees! We have a long list of what not to do's now before going long disatnce again. Fortunately I have found another rudder locally and with some repair to it the Blue Moon will once again be sailable!
All the best, Nate
Ya really took it on the chin Matt, glad you came through, and a better sailor for it.
I have been living and sailing on the upper Chessy for more that 42 years now and have never seen a storm like this one. Worse than Isabelle, worse than Agnes back in 72 that was more of a rain problem than wind. So much damage from huge trees down. One hit our house, still dealing with that. The boat, on a mooring at the time, took a shot but survived with little damage. Hope you can get back out there and continue to enjoy sailing with your wife soon.
I have been living and sailing on the upper Chessy for more that 42 years now and have never seen a storm like this one. Worse than Isabelle, worse than Agnes back in 72 that was more of a rain problem than wind. So much damage from huge trees down. One hit our house, still dealing with that. The boat, on a mooring at the time, took a shot but survived with little damage. Hope you can get back out there and continue to enjoy sailing with your wife soon.
PFDs
You saved your boat and yourselves, which is most important. I have a rule on whatever boat I'm skippering that everyone aboard puts on a pfd and keeps it on. Call me picky, but stuff happens.
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