Emergency Closehauled Stop

[Don Guillette]

I was talking to a sailor from Apalachicola, FL (I like that spot and enjoyed sitting in a rocker with a drink on the big wooden porch of an old hotel - can't remember the name - and watching the world go by). He was telling me he was sailing with his friend who had pulled ahead of him. The friend stopped to wait for him to catch up. When the second sailor was about 3 boat lengths away, the lead boat started up and for some reason turned in front of the second boat. Both boats almost collided. I couldn't figure out why the second boat couldn't sail around the first boat but that's beside the point. The second sailor told me he was caught by surprise and just froze at the wheel.

The Fl sailor wanted to know what steps he could have taken to almost stop his boat in it's tracks? One thing I told him was it's important to be in complete control of your boat at all times because you never know what could happen especially when in close quarters with other boats.

If you're a beginner to intermedaite sailor and say you were in the above situation or any situation where you had to stop fast, how would you stop your boat on a dime if you had to? I gave the FL sailor 3 ways he could have stopped his boat almost dead in the water.

 

[Spindrift NH]

Speaking purely as a beginner/intermediate sailor, I would have to think the way to stop a sailboat is to let the wind out of the sails! Either by letting both sheets go, turning to irons or heaving-to(something I've never tried but should sometime before I need to)
The problem with the first two is that without momentum, no control. Which is probably what happened to boat #1. As wind filled his sails, the bow was blown leeward and there was no stearage(sometimes happens to me with a poorly coordinated tack). Since I've never tried the third suggestion I couldn't say how to recover except in large open water.

 

[Don Guillette]

Spindrift NH: Thank you for taking a shot at the questions. This forum was designed for beginners to intermediates and to have them think about what they might need to do should a situation arise. You've identified one of the ways to stop the boat quickly. When it doubt let go of the jib and mainsheet and the boat will round up into the wind. Dingy sailors do it all the time.

Let's see if we can get a few more newbies to chime in.

 

[ironhors42]

another one that might work is backwind the mainsail, am I correct?

 

[finding41]

Quote; Speaking purely as a beginner/intermediate sailor, I would have to think the way to stop a sailboat is to let the wind out of the sails! Either by letting both sheets go, turning to irons or heaving-to.
I would heave-to first then asses if sails should be dropped or just head into the wind. Depends on the situation.

 

[Don Guillette]

Ironhorse42: You're right and that's the best method to stop the boat on a dime. Cut the jib sheet and mainsheet loose, grab the boom and push it hard against the wind. I'ts like slaming on the brakes, throwing the tranny into low gear and pulling up the emergancy brake.

The 3rd method I suggested requires that a mate have the boat under control and to expect that the situation he's approaching might turn bad so he slows the boat down by easing the main and jib sheets and can quickly luff the sails to stop the boat.

The problem the FL sailor had was he was approaching the first boat with a full head of steam, trying to catch up with his friend, and he got caught flat footed because his friend did the unexpected.

Finding41 -- you got it right also. Dumping the sheets is the second best way to stop the boat but it won't stop the boat on a dime but any damage would be minimal.

The next time any forum listers are on the water they should practice the above a couple of time to see what works with their boat. They may never need the proceedure but it's nice to have in their bag of tricks.

OK, does anyone else have some other suggestions?

 

[anchorclanker]

Activate the Omega 13?

 

[hewebb]

I have been practicing the heave-to but didn’t think it stopped the boat very quickly. Perhaps I was not getting it correct.

 

[Fly_H23]

If room permits a tight 360 degree turn, ending bow to wind and sails luffing will stop any sailboat quickly.

 

[Wanderer138]

Spindrift NH: Thank you for taking a shot at the questions. This forum was designed for beginners to intermediates and to have them think about what they might need to do should a situation arise. You've identified one of the ways to stop the boat quickly. When it doubt let go of the jib and mainsheet and the boat will round up into the wind. Dingy sailors do it all the time.

Let's see if we can get a few more newbies to chime in.

Kudos to Spindrift for taking the plunge and coming up with the right answers, moreso as a self-admitted beginner/intermediate sailor. I also agree 100% that the key to all those methods is being alert. Thanks Don and Spindrift.

 

[anchorclanker]

If room permits a tight 360 degree turn, ending bow to wind and sails luffing will stop any sailboat quickly.

Sure you dont mean a 180?

 

[Don Guillette]

heweebb: You're doing something most sailors don't do and should be doing --- practicing!! Most mates conduct their first practice at the start of the emergancy. Try the first method that was suggested and see how fast you stop.

 

[Don Guillette]

Anchorclanker: Starting the engine and throwing it in reverse will work but remember in the scenario presented by the FL sailor, he only has 3 boat lenghts to deal with and he's cranking along at a good clip and the distance is closing fast. I didn't mention it but he not only wants to catch his friend -- he also wants to pass him. Whatever action this sailor takes, it better be the right one because he's got one shot at it. In other words, the engine better start immediatelly. Also, the Fl sailor didn't take any action to stop the boat. He just stood there. His friend saw what was happening and vered away with just enough room for the second boat to slip by.

 

[Indysailor]

What tack is each boat on? Depending on the situation there are many ways to avoid the collision if the helmsman is alert. Off the top of my head, I might consider treating it like I do when quick turning in COB practice, going hard into the wind and leaving the jib sheeted. It's difficult to say how well a crew person can back the main; I can't see doing it easily if the wind is strong, but leaving the jib sheeted and backwinding it will push the bow to leeward pretty quickly, once you pass through the no go zone.

 

[Clark]

Without any other information . . .

my first impulse would be to avoid a collision. Either a drastic 90* turn to port or starboard. Then, luff the sails to see what might need to transpire next. Trying to simply stop a medium sized boat making a good speed in 3 boat lengths seems iffy to me.

 

[Gudenuph]

Quick and extreme rudder action (from full stall port to full stall stbd) with only moderate yawing back and forth is another way to slow the boat almost to a stop. We used it all the time for "dead stick" landings at our dock. That boat is a heavy, 30' long-keel sloop having an engine with a direct drive and no clutch, and an elusive 'neutral' on the reversing pitch propeller. Thus the "dead stick" became our preferred docking practice.
FWIW, Geohan

 

[anchorclanker]

Don, it was a joke. The Omega 13 is a fictitious time displacement device aboard a fictitious spaceship from a parody/science fiction movie called Galaxy Quest. Activating the Omega 13 backs up time to a point 13 seconds earlier. I apologize for the distraction, just trying to put a laugh in, sorry nobody got it. However, 13 seconds of advanced knowledge could have put him in the lead without any drama. If he was paying attention.

As you say, you need to be watching and ready to act. Cant believe the guy froze, if thats his response when it gets heavy he maybe shouldn't be sailing? Or he better find an Omega 13 so he can correct his blunders. At the very least he should allow more distance until he gains more understanding and confidence. I dont think anyone should be sailing in close quarters with another boat until they have a good handle on what their doing. You give no reason why the other boat turned across his path, but that captain is even more foolish and a great a risk.

Hard to windward to face the wind and drop sheets would stop you quick, not sure if there is room enough (or reaction time enough) to accomplish that within three boat lengths though, and likely impossible for a lee boat to pull off. But in any case, avoid contact by any means. IIRC the windward boat has right of way? Really, no one has right away when an accident or death is at stake. Always be ready to bear away. In a straight line and confined to sides, backing sails is about all you could do to stop rapidly.

If you cant avoid contact at least try to come abeam the other ship. With everyone having a motor these days, it really shows how much the men of yesteryear were masters, especially considering the size of ships they bosses around, and how critical navies were of even minor mistakes, such as running aground or bumping another ship.

 

[Don Guillette]

Anchorclanker: I'm an old guy who watches western with John Wayne and war movies but even with the 13 seconds to play with he still wouldn't have had time because he didn't know what to do. Both skippers are newbies and I have no idea how they got themselves in the spot they were in -- neither do they. The fellow I spoke with, it's his first sailboat, which he purchased 9 weeks ago. His freind, who has an identical boat, is an old hand at sailing. He purchased his boat 3 months ago!!!

The important thing is they (including their spouses) both really enjoy the sport of sailing and they both definately learned from this experience. They know they have a lot to learn.

Years ago, my first charter was from the sailing school where I took lessons. My wife, daughter and her husband where aboard. We were sailing closehauled and my daughter asked me why I was so quiet. Here's why I was quiet -- I had no idea how to turn the boat around!!!

 

[Joe]

Don, it was a joke. The Omega 13 is a fictitious time displacement device aboard a fictitious spaceship from a parody/science fiction movie called Galaxy Quest. Activating the Omega 13 backs up time to a point 13 seconds earlier. I apologize for the distraction, just trying to put a laugh in, sorry nobody got it. However, 13 seconds of advanced knowledge could have put him in the lead without any drama. If he was paying attention.

Heh, heh.......... I got it. Actually it was a very witty comment that livened up the thread in a delightful way. It is, however, little disturbing that you can remember such details........ are you a "trekkie"? But.....even more disturbing........ I remember it also.. hmmm.

BTW..... I loved that movie. "The alumni cast of a cult space TV show have to play their roles as the real thing when an alien race needs their help"
Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver and the great Alan Rickman.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0177789/

 

[sinnettc]

With 3 only boat lengths before collision I'm not convinced I could be sure of stopping. While I might let the sheets run as already suggested, my first reaction would be to turn away, downwind if I'm leeward, upwind/tack if I'm windward. Verboten will turn on a dime. Either way, as the (now) overtaking boat it's my obligation to give way/avoid my friend, especially if he's lost control.

That said, I completely understand that the newbie froze. He was confronted by something he'd never dealt with in the past and his brain needed to process. I've been there and done that, if not in that specific situation, then another. What you have to hope is that your brain/body come up with a solution to this new thing before the fecal matter hits the fan and you go splat!