Ok, as an added note my terrified brother-in-law would also like to hear the worst storms that you have endured on a Mac and how you faired. Also if there is a link to these stories I would love to see them
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Worse Storm
I had not had my Mac 25 for very long. It was the first time I had taken my son out. A storm came up (almost) from no where. THe only power I had was a 30 lb. thrust trolling motor. The motor was not enough for the wind. We were just 30 - 50 yrds off the causeway. All the motor could do was to help keep us off the causeway. I know that it is easy to exaggerate. But it seemed like the storm lasted about 45 minutes. It blew my boat about 1 1/2 miles from where we started. I threw out the anchor, but it got caught in a small tree that was lying on the bottom of the lake, me, my son, the boat and the tree were at the mercy of the storm. The boat pitched and rolled a great deal but never seemed to be overwhelmed by the storm. At the end of the storm, the fire and rescue squad had been called out, the water patrol, it was really embarrassing. I WATCH THE WEATHER REAL CLOSE NOW.
I had not had my Mac 25 for very long. It was the first time I had taken my son out. A storm came up (almost) from no where. THe only power I had was a 30 lb. thrust trolling motor. The motor was not enough for the wind. We were just 30 - 50 yrds off the causeway. All the motor could do was to help keep us off the causeway. I know that it is easy to exaggerate. But it seemed like the storm lasted about 45 minutes. It blew my boat about 1 1/2 miles from where we started. I threw out the anchor, but it got caught in a small tree that was lying on the bottom of the lake, me, my son, the boat and the tree were at the mercy of the storm. The boat pitched and rolled a great deal but never seemed to be overwhelmed by the storm. At the end of the storm, the fire and rescue squad had been called out, the water patrol, it was really embarrassing. I WATCH THE WEATHER REAL CLOSE NOW.
If you love to sail, sooner or later ....
it's gonna happen. You will be trapped in a storm. Whether at a lake or out at sea, you will have made it through a certain passage in your life. Some how or an other , you will forever be proud of yourself. If that doesn't make sense, then you have never been through this. This is why reading about it is so so intriguing. I love these sorts of stories because ... yes, I have been through some nasty storms while on my MAC25. I survived and I am alive to tell about it. But instead of boring everyone with it check out the stories of the 'Wild Hair'. They are my favorite. True stories of course. Told by one of the members of the Conch Cruisers. Enjoy, Tom
it's gonna happen. You will be trapped in a storm. Whether at a lake or out at sea, you will have made it through a certain passage in your life. Some how or an other , you will forever be proud of yourself. If that doesn't make sense, then you have never been through this. This is why reading about it is so so intriguing. I love these sorts of stories because ... yes, I have been through some nasty storms while on my MAC25. I survived and I am alive to tell about it. But instead of boring everyone with it check out the stories of the 'Wild Hair'. They are my favorite. True stories of course. Told by one of the members of the Conch Cruisers. Enjoy, Tom
Worried about the size.
I think what he is worried about is that the boat will sink in a bad storm because of size of boat vrs size of waves. Also since I have not been in a bad storm yet. What do you do. Do you drop sail and try and get an anchor to hold and if it is too deep for an anchor do you just ride below until your blown to a place (by looking at chartplotter) where you can drop an anchor.
I think what he is worried about is that the boat will sink in a bad storm because of size of boat vrs size of waves. Also since I have not been in a bad storm yet. What do you do. Do you drop sail and try and get an anchor to hold and if it is too deep for an anchor do you just ride below until your blown to a place (by looking at chartplotter) where you can drop an anchor.
Storm Sailing
I think that one thing you can do is to be sure that you can reduce sail enough to ride out a squall. Be able to reef the main, and have a small jib that you can put on. With a reefed main and jib you should be able to go at least somewhat upwind in anything under 50-60 knots, which is the most you would reasonably expect from a summer squall. Also, if you're in shallow enough water, you could keep a large anchor and a long line with chain on the boat for emergencies. With our small boats, it's prudent to check the weather forecast for fronts or large storm systems. In the summer, keep an eye out for squalls.
I think that one thing you can do is to be sure that you can reduce sail enough to ride out a squall. Be able to reef the main, and have a small jib that you can put on. With a reefed main and jib you should be able to go at least somewhat upwind in anything under 50-60 knots, which is the most you would reasonably expect from a summer squall. Also, if you're in shallow enough water, you could keep a large anchor and a long line with chain on the boat for emergencies. With our small boats, it's prudent to check the weather forecast for fronts or large storm systems. In the summer, keep an eye out for squalls.
Got mine out yesterday
for the first time since we dropped the rig. It was blowing 15 and gusting to 35. It was on my V-21 with just one of my sons, no reefs and lots of action. We saw 50* of heel on a few puffs but after I eased the sheets a bit she settled down to 20* or so and just flew. I reckon that was a good way to test my repairs on the mast step. The new lowering system I rigged worked great too. Get out there and have some fun.
for the first time since we dropped the rig. It was blowing 15 and gusting to 35. It was on my V-21 with just one of my sons, no reefs and lots of action. We saw 50* of heel on a few puffs but after I eased the sheets a bit she settled down to 20* or so and just flew. I reckon that was a good way to test my repairs on the mast step. The new lowering system I rigged worked great too. Get out there and have some fun.
Storms
My fear when a storm comes up isn't getting blown off shore, but rather into shore. Put enough water around me and the boat will ride it out. For the small lake sailors, drop anchor, sails, and wait. The boat will take it. Deep water and way too much wind, set the sea anchor. I've yet to do that. I don't think I'd try lying ahull with a Mac, too uncomfortable. If you have room down wind just run under bare poles. Quarter off the waves so as not to burry your bow (if the waves are big enough) you don't want to pitch pole. Do close up the cabin and lock down the pop top. As long as she's not full of water she can be handled. If you haven't removed the floatation or added too much weight she would float even full of water. That's a lot of water to pump to get going again. Most boats will take far more than their crews. Know and trust your boat. Engines usually don't work well on small sail boats in a blow. The screw will come out of the water when the waves come up. Save the engine for after. You could damage it trying to power through a storm. Then you won't have it when you need it. A storm jib is the easiest sail to make. This is because it is flat (no lofting). Our boats are small and it doesn't even need to be more than one piece of material. Something like a 3' by 12 foot can be made in an evening. Add hanks, clew,tack, and head and you've got a good storm jib. Hard part is where to put the clew, try and have it at a height that you can use exsisting jib sheets and leads. A storm jib can be a big help trying to claw off a lee shore in a blow.
My fear when a storm comes up isn't getting blown off shore, but rather into shore. Put enough water around me and the boat will ride it out. For the small lake sailors, drop anchor, sails, and wait. The boat will take it. Deep water and way too much wind, set the sea anchor. I've yet to do that. I don't think I'd try lying ahull with a Mac, too uncomfortable. If you have room down wind just run under bare poles. Quarter off the waves so as not to burry your bow (if the waves are big enough) you don't want to pitch pole. Do close up the cabin and lock down the pop top. As long as she's not full of water she can be handled. If you haven't removed the floatation or added too much weight she would float even full of water. That's a lot of water to pump to get going again. Most boats will take far more than their crews. Know and trust your boat. Engines usually don't work well on small sail boats in a blow. The screw will come out of the water when the waves come up. Save the engine for after. You could damage it trying to power through a storm. Then you won't have it when you need it. A storm jib is the easiest sail to make. This is because it is flat (no lofting). Our boats are small and it doesn't even need to be more than one piece of material. Something like a 3' by 12 foot can be made in an evening. Add hanks, clew,tack, and head and you've got a good storm jib. Hard part is where to put the clew, try and have it at a height that you can use exsisting jib sheets and leads. A storm jib can be a big help trying to claw off a lee shore in a blow.
Calming fear
Mark, I have tried and tried to calm the fears my wife and son have about sailing. They are just fine when the boat is upright with just enough breeze to ruffle the sails. Their fears seem to increase exponentially with the wind speed and amount of heel. Whenever I find a picture of a sailboat heeled over I show it to them and explain that that is what these boats are SUPPOSED to do. I've also been going out in more and more wind as time goes by to build them (and myself to some extent) up to it. Last year we were out in what we later found to have been a small craft warning where we got rolled onto our port beam by one really nasty gust. It was a bit scary at that moment but a really good thing in retrospect. One- I now leave the radio on. When we went out it was a clear day and there was no mention (TV forecast, marine forecast, weatherbug) of anything other than great weather. Two- I now pay more attention to what is going on around me. There was no significant change in the clouds prior to the wind. There was, however, a marked reduction in the number of boats out. If you have to wonder why everyone heads in with such beautiful weather you may want to batten down the hatches. Three- When the weather does start to change suddenly, drop or reduce sail. I have yet to install reef points on my main so I'll probably drop sail and motor in. Four- and for us maybe the biggest, the BOAT can take it even if we can't. Yeah, it'll roll alot further than you are comfortable with but it will come back (at least under most conditions). Panic has no place on a boat, most of the time. In this instance my then 11 year old son witnessed his entire young life passing before his eyes as he yelled something to the effect of "We're all going to die!!!" as he flung himself down in the cockpit. This move was beneficial in that I could then reach past him and grab the mainsheet and let it run. My wife simply froze, clutching the jib sheet for all it was worth. I would have preferred her to let it out as well but it at least gave her something to do other than join our son on the cockpit floor. It also left her in a position where she could help trim the jib as we came about to run for our slip. After we got into some more sheltered water we were able to discuss how well the boat had taken care of us and how stable it really is. Now when we go out in stuff that we would have hesitated about before we know that we and the boat can take it and we have a lot more fun. Just get your brother-in-law out in one good blow. After that, everything else is normal. -John
Mark, I have tried and tried to calm the fears my wife and son have about sailing. They are just fine when the boat is upright with just enough breeze to ruffle the sails. Their fears seem to increase exponentially with the wind speed and amount of heel. Whenever I find a picture of a sailboat heeled over I show it to them and explain that that is what these boats are SUPPOSED to do. I've also been going out in more and more wind as time goes by to build them (and myself to some extent) up to it. Last year we were out in what we later found to have been a small craft warning where we got rolled onto our port beam by one really nasty gust. It was a bit scary at that moment but a really good thing in retrospect. One- I now leave the radio on. When we went out it was a clear day and there was no mention (TV forecast, marine forecast, weatherbug) of anything other than great weather. Two- I now pay more attention to what is going on around me. There was no significant change in the clouds prior to the wind. There was, however, a marked reduction in the number of boats out. If you have to wonder why everyone heads in with such beautiful weather you may want to batten down the hatches. Three- When the weather does start to change suddenly, drop or reduce sail. I have yet to install reef points on my main so I'll probably drop sail and motor in. Four- and for us maybe the biggest, the BOAT can take it even if we can't. Yeah, it'll roll alot further than you are comfortable with but it will come back (at least under most conditions). Panic has no place on a boat, most of the time. In this instance my then 11 year old son witnessed his entire young life passing before his eyes as he yelled something to the effect of "We're all going to die!!!" as he flung himself down in the cockpit. This move was beneficial in that I could then reach past him and grab the mainsheet and let it run. My wife simply froze, clutching the jib sheet for all it was worth. I would have preferred her to let it out as well but it at least gave her something to do other than join our son on the cockpit floor. It also left her in a position where she could help trim the jib as we came about to run for our slip. After we got into some more sheltered water we were able to discuss how well the boat had taken care of us and how stable it really is. Now when we go out in stuff that we would have hesitated about before we know that we and the boat can take it and we have a lot more fun. Just get your brother-in-law out in one good blow. After that, everything else is normal. -John
Learning to trust the boat
Ok here's one to try for those that have crew that worries the boat is going to flip and sink. On a nice warm, but windy day (15-20K) have the crew wear swim suits and life jackets and tell them you are going to flip the boat for fun and go swimming. Now have them hoist all the sails and go out and try. You will be lucky to dip the boom. After the dissapointment on not going swimming they will relize the boat can't flip that easily. Next time she lurches to 30 degrees they will be smiling and want to see if they can't get more sail up. By the way the boat is faster when sailed under 20 degrees and is easier to handle too, but I'm always sailing in 20k + winds. The OEM reefing is to pull back on the boom while letting off on the halyard, then twist the boom to reef. It's a pain, and you will need to try it before you need it. Reef points are a big help and work better. You can always sail under just the main or just the jib too. Not as balanced but it works.
Ok here's one to try for those that have crew that worries the boat is going to flip and sink. On a nice warm, but windy day (15-20K) have the crew wear swim suits and life jackets and tell them you are going to flip the boat for fun and go swimming. Now have them hoist all the sails and go out and try. You will be lucky to dip the boom. After the dissapointment on not going swimming they will relize the boat can't flip that easily. Next time she lurches to 30 degrees they will be smiling and want to see if they can't get more sail up. By the way the boat is faster when sailed under 20 degrees and is easier to handle too, but I'm always sailing in 20k + winds. The OEM reefing is to pull back on the boom while letting off on the halyard, then twist the boom to reef. It's a pain, and you will need to try it before you need it. Reef points are a big help and work better. You can always sail under just the main or just the jib too. Not as balanced but it works.
wear a life jacket
There was a saiboat drowning yesterday at Cherry Creek res in Denver. The guy who drowned owned the sailboat and the only concrete detail is that he wasnt wearing a life jacket. The rest of the details are hearsay but there was a microburst storm with fairly high winds. Somehow the boat owner went into the water and even though there was a race going on and wasnt sailing alone, he went under too quickly to be rescued. The lake is only about 1 mile in diameter. Dont know if he got hit in the head by the boom or any other details except there were at least a few people on the boat.
There was a saiboat drowning yesterday at Cherry Creek res in Denver. The guy who drowned owned the sailboat and the only concrete detail is that he wasnt wearing a life jacket. The rest of the details are hearsay but there was a microburst storm with fairly high winds. Somehow the boat owner went into the water and even though there was a race going on and wasnt sailing alone, he went under too quickly to be rescued. The lake is only about 1 mile in diameter. Dont know if he got hit in the head by the boom or any other details except there were at least a few people on the boat.
my applogies..
By the way , very sad accident and my condolences for the family. I have to appoligise for using some sad and bad news as an example to wear a life jacket. I dont always wear one myself so dont have any room to preach.
By the way , very sad accident and my condolences for the family. I have to appoligise for using some sad and bad news as an example to wear a life jacket. I dont always wear one myself so dont have any room to preach.
MOB
A question we should all ask ourselves, is if I fell overboard, would I be able to get back aboard.... with little or no assistance.... Can you lower the ladder from the water? if you fell over when anchored.... big fan of sos suspenders pfd.
A question we should all ask ourselves, is if I fell overboard, would I be able to get back aboard.... with little or no assistance.... Can you lower the ladder from the water? if you fell over when anchored.... big fan of sos suspenders pfd.
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