Supposedly many boats will capsize once the waves are equal in height peak to trough to the boats beam. For me that's 10'. The same article says that almost all boats will capsize when the waves are 60% of boat length. Which is about 20' for me. The 10' wave could be generated under fairly mild conditions when running an inlet with a bar!!! I've only seen the results of one capsize in person. A catalina 22 that rolled while between the jetties near Corpus Christii ,TX. This boat lost it's mast and would have sank but was rescued. We broached the same day but in a larger boat (28') with a deep fin keel we weren't concerned with rolling. We recovered without even spilling a beer.
- Status
Too Broad
Waves can be very different based on wind, current, tidal surge, etc. A 10 ft. wave can have different frequencies also. Steep and close together or flat and far apart. Is the wave breaking? I would not take my 28 ft. Pearson out in 10 ft. seas if the waves are breaking. I have had it out in 6-12 ft. seas but the waves were fairly flat. Knowing your boat, knowing it's and the captains capabilities is crucial in rough water. Tim
Waves can be very different based on wind, current, tidal surge, etc. A 10 ft. wave can have different frequencies also. Steep and close together or flat and far apart. Is the wave breaking? I would not take my 28 ft. Pearson out in 10 ft. seas if the waves are breaking. I have had it out in 6-12 ft. seas but the waves were fairly flat. Knowing your boat, knowing it's and the captains capabilities is crucial in rough water. Tim
Breaking waves are the worst
for capsizing. The typical capsize seems to be when the boat surfs down a wave, broaches and rolls. The other part of the scenario is that when you have 5' average waves every so often there will be one 2-3 times as big. Thats why inlets can be dangerous. With the tide falling waves will get larger and closer together as they go into an opposing current. Also with the typical inlet the water gets shallow and this also makes the waves get higher and break.
for capsizing. The typical capsize seems to be when the boat surfs down a wave, broaches and rolls. The other part of the scenario is that when you have 5' average waves every so often there will be one 2-3 times as big. Thats why inlets can be dangerous. With the tide falling waves will get larger and closer together as they go into an opposing current. Also with the typical inlet the water gets shallow and this also makes the waves get higher and break.
Short wave peroids
I primarily sail the Great Lakes and a 10-foot wave here is pretty dangerous due to the short wave period, or the peak of one wave to the next. The short wave period does not allow the boat to recover from the previous wave before it has to respond to the next. Course corrections have to be planned and deliberate in those conditions. Skill of the captain does in fact play a big roll in how safely the boat handles these conditions.
I primarily sail the Great Lakes and a 10-foot wave here is pretty dangerous due to the short wave period, or the peak of one wave to the next. The short wave period does not allow the boat to recover from the previous wave before it has to respond to the next. Course corrections have to be planned and deliberate in those conditions. Skill of the captain does in fact play a big roll in how safely the boat handles these conditions.
So How Do You Appoach Inlets?
Do you travel straight into the waves or do do run at a slight angle? i like to take them straight in but then i dont go out if its a little rough.Wes
Do you travel straight into the waves or do do run at a slight angle? i like to take them straight in but then i dont go out if its a little rough.Wes
Not a lot of choice
on how to run many inlets as the channel is narrow. Waves always turn toward shallow water. From what I've read you should wait outside in deeper water if in doubt about running the inlet. I think the recommendation is to try to enter the inlet near high tide with the current running in or slack. The worst time is when the tide is falling and near low tide. Almost every capsize that I've read about happened while trying to enter an inlet or in a horrendous storm. My experience has been limited but crossing the bar if it exists is the critical moment. I,ve sailed in mild conditions where there were breaking or standing waves right around the bar but good conditions outside and inside. My biggest problem was seeing the channel from the outside. With my laser I used to play around in the standing waves around the bar at Murrel's inlet,SC. The standing or breaking waves seemed to occur on a falling tide. Since that time they have built a jetty. Going out has never been a problem for me. Going out you can see the breaking waves and it's even fun splashing through the swells with geysers shooting up on both sides of the bow. Power boats really have the advantage in running inlets. They just match their speed to the waves and ride in on the back of a wave. But with a sailboat going into a current you are in the danger zone for a relatively long time.
on how to run many inlets as the channel is narrow. Waves always turn toward shallow water. From what I've read you should wait outside in deeper water if in doubt about running the inlet. I think the recommendation is to try to enter the inlet near high tide with the current running in or slack. The worst time is when the tide is falling and near low tide. Almost every capsize that I've read about happened while trying to enter an inlet or in a horrendous storm. My experience has been limited but crossing the bar if it exists is the critical moment. I,ve sailed in mild conditions where there were breaking or standing waves right around the bar but good conditions outside and inside. My biggest problem was seeing the channel from the outside. With my laser I used to play around in the standing waves around the bar at Murrel's inlet,SC. The standing or breaking waves seemed to occur on a falling tide. Since that time they have built a jetty. Going out has never been a problem for me. Going out you can see the breaking waves and it's even fun splashing through the swells with geysers shooting up on both sides of the bow. Power boats really have the advantage in running inlets. They just match their speed to the waves and ride in on the back of a wave. But with a sailboat going into a current you are in the danger zone for a relatively long time.
My 2 Cents
I am not sure about the "rules" for capsize, related to the length or beam of a boat. I can only tell you that I suddenly found myself in Florida, in a storm, in Jupiter Inlet, going out about a mile, deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, and coming about (not an easy task) and making back in in one piece, under power (Thank God), not sail, in my Clipper 26 (8ft. beam) in 12 foot seas. Winds were about 25 knots through driving rain. (The trough to crest height was 2/3 up the mast). I had some perspiration to clean up and it took me 30 minutes to come about, but we never came near capsizing. Simply take the waves at about 45 degrees and not too fast (danger of pitch poling)and hold on. Steve "Sailing Lady" Everett, WA
I am not sure about the "rules" for capsize, related to the length or beam of a boat. I can only tell you that I suddenly found myself in Florida, in a storm, in Jupiter Inlet, going out about a mile, deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, and coming about (not an easy task) and making back in in one piece, under power (Thank God), not sail, in my Clipper 26 (8ft. beam) in 12 foot seas. Winds were about 25 knots through driving rain. (The trough to crest height was 2/3 up the mast). I had some perspiration to clean up and it took me 30 minutes to come about, but we never came near capsizing. Simply take the waves at about 45 degrees and not too fast (danger of pitch poling)and hold on. Steve "Sailing Lady" Everett, WA
No way
I have been out in 60 kts plus with 35 ft seas with my 25 ft boat, 9 ft beam...no worry about capsize! Beat all to heck, yes, wet and cold, yes, capsize, no.-Ken
I have been out in 60 kts plus with 35 ft seas with my 25 ft boat, 9 ft beam...no worry about capsize! Beat all to heck, yes, wet and cold, yes, capsize, no.-Ken
50 foot waves coming back from Bahamas
fortunately I was on a cruise ship, but was bounced around just the same. Its odd looking up at waves from your quarter's portal. I've been out in storms without a motor and wished I had one. I still haven't heard if it is better to retract your keel in a storm. I have always made sure it was down. And could you survive better if you could take your mast down before the storm gets to you? How did slocum get around the world in a 16 footer? Regards Bud
fortunately I was on a cruise ship, but was bounced around just the same. Its odd looking up at waves from your quarter's portal. I've been out in storms without a motor and wished I had one. I still haven't heard if it is better to retract your keel in a storm. I have always made sure it was down. And could you survive better if you could take your mast down before the storm gets to you? How did slocum get around the world in a 16 footer? Regards Bud
I don't think Slocum sailed around the world
in a 16 footer. Its closer to 37 feet. http://www.joshuaslocumsocietyintl.org/solo/solotable.htm http://www.joshuaslocumsocietyintl.org/about.htm
in a 16 footer. Its closer to 37 feet. http://www.joshuaslocumsocietyintl.org/solo/solotable.htm http://www.joshuaslocumsocietyintl.org/about.htm
I think it was Webb Chiles that tried, in a open
16 (or 18)foot boat. I'm sure he didn't get farther than half way. Seems like he pitch-poled. It wasn't pretty. Seems like he was washed ashore in the south Pacific. Whew, this is going back some what. There was an article last month in CW about him that I haven't read yet. There is a picture of him in that open boat.
16 (or 18)foot boat. I'm sure he didn't get farther than half way. Seems like he pitch-poled. It wasn't pretty. Seems like he was washed ashore in the south Pacific. Whew, this is going back some what. There was an article last month in CW about him that I haven't read yet. There is a picture of him in that open boat.
maybe my memory failed me
Who was it that sailed around the world in the boat called shrimpy? I read the book, its been a while, but I know it was no more than 18 feet. He left England with a cheap Jap short wave and a card board sextant. No motor. He paid something like 500 pounds for the boat. It was falling apart near completion in the Mediteranean. I will have t check it out. Sorry if I misled. Regards Bud
Who was it that sailed around the world in the boat called shrimpy? I read the book, its been a while, but I know it was no more than 18 feet. He left England with a cheap Jap short wave and a card board sextant. No motor. He paid something like 500 pounds for the boat. It was falling apart near completion in the Mediteranean. I will have t check it out. Sorry if I misled. Regards Bud
Hey Bud.....
...be careful of the adjectives you use to describe radios. They might be considered offensive to some.
...be careful of the adjectives you use to describe radios. They might be considered offensive to some.
- Status