I got caught in a sudden storm in Jan., 2013 when headed to Isla Isabella from Mazatlán, Mexico in my 25' Cape Dory sloop. We were about 12 miles from the island and swells rose to 12 to 14', winds increased suddenly, white tops blew off horizontally. My wind vane wasn't set up properly at the time and the electronic autopilot couldn't handle the seas so I was on the tiller for several hours. The main was up but I couldn't get it down as we had rigged a downhaul that had gotten wrapped around our mast steps earlier. My long shaft Honda 5 HP outboard, which sits in a well, kept us moving as I slowly changed course several degrees to port, south of the island. First thing I did was put the lower companionway boards in place and then checked our PFD's and also the jack lines to be sure we were hooked to the large stainless steel eye bolt in the cockpit. After that, I did the best I could in controlling the boat as we hobby horsed between, over and up the steep swells. We surfed down many of the large swells at an angle. We finally got in the lee of the island and I turned to get behind it when I saw about 15 to 20 of the fishing boat fleet from Mazatlán also behind the island, anchored and waiting for the winds and swells to subside. We had gotten pooped twice before we turned but heading almost directly to the island and at an angle to the wind wasn't too bad as we roller coasted ever so slowly to shelter right close to the little beach area at the northeastern portion of the island. Been sailing 24 years and have never experienced such a sudden rise in wind and swells as in that leg from Mazatlán to Isla Isabella. Although I had radar, I didn't have a chance to use it. My companion, at the time, was on his maiden voyage on a sailboat and had never sailed at night before, either. I did have the waypoints in the GPS which helped a great bit, though. You can check all you want to but out in open seas, like the Sea of Cortez, sudden and vicious storms can arise at any moment. Guess it all depends on where and what you're sailing. Thank God my Cape Dory 25 is a solidly built vessel!
How to weather a sudden storm?
- Thread starter Ward H
- Start date
