Evidently I'm not prepared for heavy weather..

[Chris Patterson]

I'm talking heavy weather in access of 50 knots of wind. Friday night at about 1:30 am I took another blast, which makes two in six months. I saw the storm charging at us, and had two reefs in the main, and just a corner of jib showing. No matter, I was still knocked flat. Tore the sun covers off, everything that was not bolted to the deck was swept clear. Bimini be gone. Finally just gave up after two hours of this, furled what I had left, went below and just lied Ahull. Felt very defeated.
So, really, what's the trick to heavy weather? 30 ain't nothin, even 40. But how about 60 kts? It seems as if the boat is not capable of this kind of weather. Or I am not..

 

[Kings Gambit]

Maybe you can get some help from Kretschmer's book, Sailing a Serious Ocean. It's a good read with a lot of practical advice.

 

[Gunni]

50kts is tough, but at 2 hours duration I would expect that it was a weather phenomena I would have warning of and either be ready or in a port. FWIW, I carry a Gale Sail for this contingency, it serves a storm jib and protects my Genoa from flogging. In lieu of a proper storm sail and rigging I had a new mainsail made with heavy cloth and lots of reinforcement. It has a deep second reef which has worked well to 40 knots. 50kts??? I know I would need to drop my Bimini to protect it and reduce windage. Probably should lower my dodger. I would want my dink off the davits and lashed to the foredeck....so if I had the option I would head for port.

 

[Jackdaw]

50 knots is basically survival conditions for 99% of sailors. It takes a VERY prepared boat, with great gear and a competent crew to manage that under sail.

 

[vhoisington]

When you get sudden winds like that its hard to fully prepare the boat. As you read about sailing in true storms you hear about sailing under bare poles. Rather than a double reefed main, its completely down, the jib is totally furled. This helps to keep the boat up right but even just the furled sails can cause a knock down if the winds are strong enough.

We should all have a list of things we do for sudden storm prep. Life vests on all crew (above and below decks), Harnesses for on deck crew, furl sails, hach Boards in place, roll up the bimini (especially if its only held down by straps), sail covers either fully on or below, lights on, etc. The list for each captain is different but hopefully you get the idea.

Getting knocked down by the initial wind gusts is almost to be expected, its being able to get the boat back on her feet and then making sure you are clear of any lee shores, keep the boat headed such that the waves and wind are tolerable and having a plan for what to do next. Heaving too is also very important in a blow. You should practice and know how to do it at almost anytime.

Most of the time the boat will take more than we can. Prepare and practice beforehand. You obviously like to get out such that you can expect to get caught in the thunderstorm of the day. Preparation and Practice, learn what works for you and your boat, If you want a bimini up, then get a custom made one using stainless steel and fixed mounting points.

Just my random thoughts, I know there are others who spend much more time on the subject and will correct or add to my ramblings.

Fair winds,

Victor

 

[agprice22]

There is a good video on Youtube for setting a storm trisail for 50 knot conditions. Two reefs won't do it, I think.

 

[JamesG161]

Felt very defeated.

You are alive to tell the story!
So you and your boat did something right.
Winds are one thing, what was the sea state? 8ft? 12ft?
Jim...

 

[Kings Gambit]

Kretschmer preferred a deeply-reefed mainsail over the trysail, if I recall. (I don't still have the book.) I believe a 3rd reef point, not just two.

 

[Don Lucas]

Finally just gave up after two hours of this, furled what I had left, went below and just lied Ahull. Felt very defeated.
So, really, what's the trick to heavy weather? 30 ain't nothin, even 40. But how about 60 kts? It seems as if the boat is not capable of this kind of weather. Or I am not..

I think you did it in the end.

 

[Chris Patterson]

Man, it was pitch dark, couldn't make out much outside of five feet from the boat. Yeah, I'd guess about ten foot seas, I've been in worse. Mountains of water you could reach straight out and touch.
Oh yeah, way offshore, nowhere to run to. I watched it on radar coming at me and knew it was gonna be bad. It was. Sometimes ya just gotta take it I suppose.
Last time the Coast Gaurd came out and took us under tow. Winds were sixty plus, and the water was in the teens. Busted steering, motor out....it's really hard to imagine winds like that. It was that first "hurricane" of the season, offshore of Savannah. Bad blow.

 

[jssailem]

It is one thing to think and talk about it. It is another to experience such events. I have not yet experienced any serious weather with my boat. While all the infrastructure is being worked to be able to survive such an event, I still have no experience with this boats handling of such weather. I suspect I am not alone.
So we discuss the ideas and we read the experiences and we try to imagine the conditions.
Chris. You are here to share the experience so in my book - you did it.
Now you are going through the vital step of reviewing the experience and preparing the boat and yourself in case you experience it again. Thank you for sharing your experience. I hope it helps me to prepare and survive.
John

 

[Head Sail]

Why not take down all sails and fire up the auxiliary until things calm down?

 

[Kings Gambit]

Man, it was pitch dark, couldn't make out much outside of five feet from the boat. Yeah, I'd guess about ten foot seas, I've been in worse. Mountains of water you could reach straight out and touch.
Oh yeah, way offshore, nowhere to run to. I watched it on radar coming at me and knew it was gonna be bad. It was. Sometimes ya just gotta take it I suppose.
Last time the Coast Guard came out and took us under tow. Winds were sixty plus, and the water was in the teens. Busted steering, motor out....it's really hard to imagine winds like that. It was that first "hurricane" of the season, offshore of Savannah. Bad blow.

After these two "brushes" with disaster I think it is time to ask: "It seems as if the boat is not capable of this kind of weather...?" Perhaps it's also time to consider a more seaworthy craft if you're going to be out there in that stuff. Just remember, 3 strikes and you're OUT!

 

[agprice22]

Maybe get a jordan series chute to ride it out. I like the third reef too (Kings Gambit) because I don't relish getting up on top of the cabin to set a sail or remove a sail on bad conditions. However, I also like the idea of my main sail snugged away inside. It would be a tough call, especially if it blew up quickly.

 

[Kermit]

Sorry for your storms but dang it's good to see you posting again. Welcome back!

 

[rgranger]

Thanks for sharing......

I know I am a chicken sailor..... I keep a close eye on the radar and ALWAYS have a ditch port in mind when I'm coastal cruising....... so I'm impressed that you stuck it out. 30+ sustained are the strongest I've ever had to deal with... and the lessons I learned probably don't apply to 60 mph winds. What I do know is that if you can keep the boat moving forward, you will slice the waves more that ride them... and that makes a more comfortable ride. And that is one of the reasons I like hanked on head sails instead of roller furler. A rolled up head sail that is more than 10% rolled up...... just sucks and only serves to add heal to the the equation. But a good storm jib and a heavily reefed main will still let you move forward. But at 60 mph....I don't have much to offer in real experience.... so thanks again for sharing....at 60 mph I'd be wishing to be riding a storm anchor a mile or two off shore... or better yet... I'd rather be tied off in a slip an sipping margaritas at the bar.....

 

[MSter]

I second what Kermit said.
Mike

 

[jibes138]

Run with it so you reduce apparent wind and use a series drogue to prevent pitch poling. You will probably make 12 knots surfing waves so apparent wind might be in the 40's.

 

[dziedzicmj]

Some advice might be found here: Steve and Linda Dashew "Surviving the storm" . I have seen it as a PDF, as well, but cannot find it that quickly.

a few comments:
- if you are running at 10-12 kt in serious waves (running with the wind) , you may overpower you rudder and lose steering; many would suggest to have some way of slowing down.
- from what I read, most people suggest a try sail over a deeply reefed main; btw. there are a lot of suggestions that the "normal" try sails are too big.
- what usually creates the biggest difficulty is waves, not wind
- I would not lay ahull; you want to keep you bow to the waves

just a few cents

 

[jibes138]

I've run in ten foot seas at 11 knots for about 24 hours. The waves were always faster than the boat. Never a risk of loss of steering. If the waves got big enough for the boat to take off and bury the bow I agree I wouldn't want to run. The series drogue will prevent the boat from taking off and going out of control.