knock down

[John D LeClare]

What speed wind gusts will knock down a 27' shoal keel with the main and jib up?thanksJohn

 

[red coles]

2 cents

Hi John Your question is difficult to answer. I have a '78 h27,and have seen gusts to apprx 60kts,but not with full sail up. Our summer storms here in S.W. Fl. can be fierce. To answer your question flatly,I would guess a gust of 60kts would put your spreaders in the water. This would happen, say, after you were on stbd tack,and the gust caused so much weather helm,you will come thru the wind onto port tack,dead in the water, no headway and the gust would lay you over. Don't let this happen!!!Release sheets!!! Good luck red

 

[Eric Lorgus]

You mean if the sails don't shred first

I have a 87H28.5 with shoal keel. I've never been in 60 kt conditions, but from what I have been in, I would think a knockdown would occur well before 60 kts if under full sail. However, from the stories I've heard about sudden, very strong gusts, the sails often shred before a full knockdown.

 

[Bill Gander]

50 kts in white squall

We were caught with main and working jib up in a squall that greeted us with a gust of 50 kts on the anemometer. Of course the gust hit us abeam and the boat heeled (30 degrees maybe) and then was just pushed sideways until the gust passed. I have a 76 Hunter 27 with a shoal draft keel. I doubt that it would take a knockdown because the shoal draft keel doesn't provide sufficient lateral resistance.I don't intend to try it though.Bill

 

[Jim McCue]

50mph

Years back I was in narrow channel and saw a front coming up quickly. Luckily I had only main to pull down. It hit broadside in the channel and we were over to the gunnals for a moment. This was in a shoal draft 28.5. I suspect that it would have been a quicker heel if the main was up, but it would have come up and/or around shortly thereafter. Found out later it was 50 mph front and considerable damage in the area. Just lucky that time. Jim McCue

 

[Doug]

Why would you have up all canvas

On a day that the wind was blowing so fierce? It is not very often that you are cruising along in 10-15 kt winds and all of a sudden a 50-60kt gust hits you. Im not saying it can't happen but when a 50kt wind is coming you will most likely see at least sustained winds in the 30kt ranges. Plenty to be reefed heavily. Or in my case, using my yanmar heading back to the marina for a cup of jo.Doug