Glad you are ok. thanks for sharing. Over reacting beats playing catchup every time. Sounds like you learned a lot of valuable information. Would dropping an anchor over with lots of scope been a possibility in the hope of snagging something on the bottom to arrest your leeward flight and also bring your bow up into the wind?
Driven on shore in thunderstorm
- Thread starter PotomacDaysailer
- Start date
Thanks for sharing that.
I would like to relate a story of my own for comment. I have been sailing on Colorado mountain lakes for many years and surprise squall lines are an ugly reality. "Reef early, reef often" is obvious good advice, but taken to its limit means you will never keep your sails up if clouds are developing. I have been overtaken by similar 0-50+ winds in less than two minutes with little to no warning. Scary...you do what you can...sounds like you kept your head and your boat.
This story, however, relates to South Florida where I am a beginner at weather. In mid June we were sailing back from Bimini on a typical hot afternoon. Winds SSE 10-15, steady...a perfect day. WX radio talked all day about 'possible thunderstorms, locally heavy' and so on. This had been the prevailing weather for days. About an hour before sunset we could see a line of thunderstorms building all along the coast, as they had done most afternoon for many days. We had main and 125% genoa up and were making 5 kph on a course for North Miami about three miles off of Miami Beach.
One of the thunderheads seemed to be bigger and faster growing than usual and so we decided to begin furling the genny. Within two minutes the skies went from blue and sunny to completely overcast and the water turned an ugly color mix of dark green and almost black. We had the genny in the motor started and were starting to reef in the main. The WX radio switched from its all day forecast to 'locally heavy thunderstorms and we can not rule out the possibility of 60 mph winds.' That was an unusual broadcast to my ears and so we pulled in the entire main.
Visibility dropped to less than the boat length and a brutal wind dead out of the southwest hit us with a violence I can not describe. The boat heeled 25* and held there even though there was no cloth up whatsoever. I held her bow dead into the wind for a while but she just could not sustain that course into the wind. My compass showed a heading of 180 while my Lowrance COG showed me making 5 knots on a heading of 0. We were backing up....fast We were about 3 miles off of Hallendale Beach when it hit and in 100+ ft of water so grounding was not an immediate fear. All we had to do was maintain that heading and wait for it to pass, which I think that they usually do in a matter of minutes.
This fierce, intense wind burst would last for 25-30 very long minutes. Eventually the waves (which had had only a couple of miles to build as this wind was offshore) began to beat the bow badly and force her out of the upwind course. It was an odd thing. Six to eight foot waves are not unusual, but the chord length was so short on these that soon (I estimate 12-15 minutes into this ordeal) the bow was forced across, and then down, the wind. That was truly scary and with no chance whatsoever of regaining the upwind course (the 13hp Yanmar is a trooper but could not generate anywhere near enough power to turn the boat against that wind.) I put her on a downwind course and decided to try to run it out. My Lowrance showed speeds over ground of 10, then 11 and peaked at 12.5 knots! The rain was like being shot with salt from a shotgun. The sea looked like a ground blizzard in Wyoming. My max sailing speed is around 6, and the thought that a thunderstorm can move the ocean herself at a rate of several knots is very humbling.
After about 10 more minutes it eased and we could regain control and heading. We had been pushed north over three miles in about 30 minutes, much of that time on a southerly heading. Most of the downwind time the sea was following so close that the rudder was useless. I actually thought at one point the cable must have snapped because the wheel floated so freely and with so little effect. I learned that even on a placid day in sub tropical seas that thunderstorms can come out of almost nowhere with an intensity that can startle. Fortunately we had all the cloth in (except the Bimini, which is bruised but reparable) and the boards in. That was no small part luck.
Question. With a stacking up following sea and an incredible following wind would the best course to (try to) hold be straight down or 20* off?
I would like to relate a story of my own for comment. I have been sailing on Colorado mountain lakes for many years and surprise squall lines are an ugly reality. "Reef early, reef often" is obvious good advice, but taken to its limit means you will never keep your sails up if clouds are developing. I have been overtaken by similar 0-50+ winds in less than two minutes with little to no warning. Scary...you do what you can...sounds like you kept your head and your boat.
This story, however, relates to South Florida where I am a beginner at weather. In mid June we were sailing back from Bimini on a typical hot afternoon. Winds SSE 10-15, steady...a perfect day. WX radio talked all day about 'possible thunderstorms, locally heavy' and so on. This had been the prevailing weather for days. About an hour before sunset we could see a line of thunderstorms building all along the coast, as they had done most afternoon for many days. We had main and 125% genoa up and were making 5 kph on a course for North Miami about three miles off of Miami Beach.
One of the thunderheads seemed to be bigger and faster growing than usual and so we decided to begin furling the genny. Within two minutes the skies went from blue and sunny to completely overcast and the water turned an ugly color mix of dark green and almost black. We had the genny in the motor started and were starting to reef in the main. The WX radio switched from its all day forecast to 'locally heavy thunderstorms and we can not rule out the possibility of 60 mph winds.' That was an unusual broadcast to my ears and so we pulled in the entire main.
Visibility dropped to less than the boat length and a brutal wind dead out of the southwest hit us with a violence I can not describe. The boat heeled 25* and held there even though there was no cloth up whatsoever. I held her bow dead into the wind for a while but she just could not sustain that course into the wind. My compass showed a heading of 180 while my Lowrance COG showed me making 5 knots on a heading of 0. We were backing up....fast We were about 3 miles off of Hallendale Beach when it hit and in 100+ ft of water so grounding was not an immediate fear. All we had to do was maintain that heading and wait for it to pass, which I think that they usually do in a matter of minutes.
This fierce, intense wind burst would last for 25-30 very long minutes. Eventually the waves (which had had only a couple of miles to build as this wind was offshore) began to beat the bow badly and force her out of the upwind course. It was an odd thing. Six to eight foot waves are not unusual, but the chord length was so short on these that soon (I estimate 12-15 minutes into this ordeal) the bow was forced across, and then down, the wind. That was truly scary and with no chance whatsoever of regaining the upwind course (the 13hp Yanmar is a trooper but could not generate anywhere near enough power to turn the boat against that wind.) I put her on a downwind course and decided to try to run it out. My Lowrance showed speeds over ground of 10, then 11 and peaked at 12.5 knots! The rain was like being shot with salt from a shotgun. The sea looked like a ground blizzard in Wyoming. My max sailing speed is around 6, and the thought that a thunderstorm can move the ocean herself at a rate of several knots is very humbling.
After about 10 more minutes it eased and we could regain control and heading. We had been pushed north over three miles in about 30 minutes, much of that time on a southerly heading. Most of the downwind time the sea was following so close that the rudder was useless. I actually thought at one point the cable must have snapped because the wheel floated so freely and with so little effect. I learned that even on a placid day in sub tropical seas that thunderstorms can come out of almost nowhere with an intensity that can startle. Fortunately we had all the cloth in (except the Bimini, which is bruised but reparable) and the boards in. That was no small part luck.
Question. With a stacking up following sea and an incredible following wind would the best course to (try to) hold be straight down or 20* off?
A similar storm blew through Watauga Lake here in NE Tennessee on July 8. Photo and video here:
http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/New...torm-on-Watuaga-Lake.html?ci=content&lp=2&p=1
You can see how quickly the island in the distance (1 mile) was engulfed. Afterwards all the trees on the south (left) side of the island were flattened or broken off. The airport 15 miles away recorded 60mph gusts. One of our club members works for NOAA and pointed out that recorded gusts are 3 second averages - he estimated the wind that brought down the trees to be much higher.
http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/New...torm-on-Watuaga-Lake.html?ci=content&lp=2&p=1
You can see how quickly the island in the distance (1 mile) was engulfed. Afterwards all the trees on the south (left) side of the island were flattened or broken off. The airport 15 miles away recorded 60mph gusts. One of our club members works for NOAA and pointed out that recorded gusts are 3 second averages - he estimated the wind that brought down the trees to be much higher.
Had a similar event happen with our C27. Was in the ICW so I could not run off so kept the wind on the beam with 25 degrees of heel and bare poles. Never lost steerage but did have to use the compass and take bearings on the channel markers between sheets of rain. Blinding.
Something similar happened to me this spring. We have to do a biannual river trip from dry dock to harbour. Had just left the break wall by navy pier (aka the play pen) winds were light, nothing in the news about possible gusts or storms. So what do we do?... RAISE SAIL! Full sail at that... Boy were we in for it! An hour later winds were being clocked at 20-25 with gusts around 45. Heeled so far over the sails were nearly in the water at times. Eventually inwasnabke to furl the foresail to about the size of a am diaper, but couldn't haul down the main. Sailed like that for a few hours and took refuge in the nearest harbour. I learned a lot about my boat that day! Lol
I like the idea of dropping the anchor on a long scope and hoping it catches. I've read that Maine lobstermen lost in fog used that technique to avoid fetching up on rocks.
I feel your pain. Kind of a sick feeling being helpless as your boat gets pounded on the rocks. It happened to me on Lake Norman once. We were already anchored in a cove to spend the night when I seen the storm coming so I put out a second anchor. Both anchors gave way we were getting battered against the rocky shore. It last only about ten minutes but the straight line winds were clocked at over 75 mph. We made it to a sandbar and spent the night there. Just suffered some deep gouges in the fiberglass is all.
Great story, something for everyone to consider, glad you are safe! Also thank you to CS for the link on Derechos. I have been a pilot and sailor for the last 45 years and always enjoy learning something new. In aviation we have a saying about it having long periods of boredom punctuated with brief moments of shear terror, in my experience sailing can be the same.
As you well know, thunderstorms can move faster than a sailboat. Perhaps running for shore is not the best course of action. Getting some sea room can provide adequate space for maneuvering and avoid being pushed unto a lee shore. There is also a statistic that indicates that the great majority of boats that get hit by lightning do so when close to shore. ( could be that the great majority are already docked but have not heard of many hits offshore.). Other boaters make look at you a little funny when they see you departing from shore just as they are trying to race in.
Ah, yes the weather in Kansas...... I've seen 90 mph wind storms while I live there. And small lakes in KS like Cheney reservoir can get 6 ft waves. Glad you are ok.
Only 2 kinds of sailors, those who've been caught by storms and those are going to be caught by storms.
The best time to reef those sails. NOW.
Only 2 kinds of sailors, those who've been caught by storms and those are going to be caught by storms.
The best time to reef those sails. NOW.
Great story! I won't let the admiral read that one or we'll never get out of port. Two of the best resources we use for lightening storms and storm fronts are:
https://www.lightningmaps.org/?lang...5;t=3;m=sat;r=0;s=0;o=0;b=;n=0;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;
This is great for tracking the progression and potential path of lightening producing storms and
http://www.rain-alarm.com/
which is great for seeing whats coming your way.
Both work great in the full version and app version on our android
https://www.lightningmaps.org/?lang...5;t=3;m=sat;r=0;s=0;o=0;b=;n=0;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;
This is great for tracking the progression and potential path of lightening producing storms and
http://www.rain-alarm.com/
which is great for seeing whats coming your way.
Both work great in the full version and app version on our android
Sailors have been relying on their ground tackle to save their ships since the days of the Phoenicians! This tale of woe is a great example as to why even lake sailors need to have 2 solid anchoring systems. And to have their ground tackle always at the ready. Damn shame about your Pearson, hope you get it fixed soon.
Hmmm were you Senior Chief on those boats or a Marine Gunni Sargent?
One other tip given to me by couple who chartered their sail boat, from Bermuda to Aruba, for 35 years and now retired.
When you see the dark storm on the horizon, prepare then!
They said it may appear 45 minutes away, but it is closer to 10 minutes away. Why? The winds precede the rain.
Jim...
Thanks for sharing a good adventure story...lots-o-pop up powerfull tstorms summer sailing around here (Chesapeake Bay) during hot muggy ripe weather. Many prudent local sailors listen to hourly NOAA wind/ storm updates on the weatherband side of their VHF radios. If cell service is available while sailing, checking local radar loops on Apps such as "MyRadar" every 1/2 hr or so can prove to be a great 2nd weather monitoring option as well.
Glad you are safe
Glad you are safe
Pretty shallow. In the river channel up to 70 feet (with the lake at its normal conservation pool elevation of 554'). Average depth is 18'.
I can definitely relate! Very similar situation, fortunately you got the main down in time.
Excellent advice for the Great Lakes or ocean sailing, but not an option for me - my lake is too small to maneuver for sea room, and being surrounded by land I didn't have a clear view to the horizon to see the storm front until it was nearly on me. If I'd had weather radar on my phone (as several posters have mentioned, and which I will in the future) then I maybe would have realized what was coming and how fast and had time to furl the sails and anchor - as it was, I had less than two minutes to react - my fault for even being out with t-storms predicted.
Lightning was a big concern, I was trying to stay away from the stays and stanchions as much as I could.