A few weeks back I was out on the lake and had just furled the jib and flaked the mainsail when an unexpected wind came up. I could barely make headway with the 6 hp Mercury outboard against the wind but was finally able to manuever into my slip. My main question is, what do you more experienced sailors do when an unexpected wind comes up? Do you try to motor through it, sail through it or try to anchor? I'm talking about a pretty good wind that perhaps making headway into is impossible. Jesse - Hunter 240
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Bob
No Old Salt, BUT
Sounds like it was a good thing your sails were down. What knot winds are we talking about here? Had a friend who got caught in a storm crossing Lake Michigan (unexpectedly) with 30-35 knot winds and 8-10ft. waves. He turned his engine on (sails down of course) and claims he stayed in the same spot for about an hour before making any headway. The engine will give you some stability so that you still have some form of control instead of letting the wind do its thing.
Sounds like it was a good thing your sails were down. What knot winds are we talking about here? Had a friend who got caught in a storm crossing Lake Michigan (unexpectedly) with 30-35 knot winds and 8-10ft. waves. He turned his engine on (sails down of course) and claims he stayed in the same spot for about an hour before making any headway. The engine will give you some stability so that you still have some form of control instead of letting the wind do its thing.
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Jesse
I'm just guessing
but I would say the winds were around 20 to 25 knots; whatever it would take to keep a 240 with a 6 hp from barely making headway at full throttle. I wonder if I might be a tad bit underpowered here. Jesse
but I would say the winds were around 20 to 25 knots; whatever it would take to keep a 240 with a 6 hp from barely making headway at full throttle. I wonder if I might be a tad bit underpowered here. Jesse
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Debra Blatnik
double reefed main a better bet?
The motor is not your main motive power (that's why it's called an auxiliary)....BTW I don't qualify as an old salt.
The motor is not your main motive power (that's why it's called an auxiliary)....BTW I don't qualify as an old salt.
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Bill Welsch
no "old salt" but...
...i think you did the right thing. When we get in trouble out there with our '98 240 I am still more comfortable with our 5 hp Honda 4 stroke. Its a tender boat and reacts to the elements, which makes it a lot of fun in light winds but a little spooky when Ma Nature gets a little testy... this not so old salt thinks you did the right thing... happy sailing Bill Welsch S/V Renewal
...i think you did the right thing. When we get in trouble out there with our '98 240 I am still more comfortable with our 5 hp Honda 4 stroke. Its a tender boat and reacts to the elements, which makes it a lot of fun in light winds but a little spooky when Ma Nature gets a little testy... this not so old salt thinks you did the right thing... happy sailing Bill Welsch S/V Renewal
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red coles
awareness
Hello Jessie: When a condition ,such as you related, happens, you should take a course of action that you feel most comfortable with. In coastal sailing, I, like you go to my engine first, being aware of towed dinghy,lines overboard etc. This gives me time to figure out what is happening, and to make a plan if the engine fails. Sounds like you handled the situation very well, congratulations. Good luck red
Hello Jessie: When a condition ,such as you related, happens, you should take a course of action that you feel most comfortable with. In coastal sailing, I, like you go to my engine first, being aware of towed dinghy,lines overboard etc. This gives me time to figure out what is happening, and to make a plan if the engine fails. Sounds like you handled the situation very well, congratulations. Good luck red
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Charlie
Similar Experience
Jesse, 2 yrs ago ran into unexpected big wind that lifted the sand off the beaches - perhaps a 30-40 knots. My 240 healed 30 degrees when coming around (no sails) to pick up a stranded inexperienced person in a small sailboat. Of course the prop came out of the water and made things more exciting during the turn. (Will turn port side to wind next time!) However, did make got progress with my 9.9 Honda 4-stroke as we headed for a safe shore. When you have the money, the 9.9 works very well. I took the advice of a 240 owner who had an 8 horse - he suggested the 9.9 hp and I,m glad I spent the extra money. Never felt in peril, but the adrenaline was crankin' Good Waters, Charlie "Good Medicine"
Jesse, 2 yrs ago ran into unexpected big wind that lifted the sand off the beaches - perhaps a 30-40 knots. My 240 healed 30 degrees when coming around (no sails) to pick up a stranded inexperienced person in a small sailboat. Of course the prop came out of the water and made things more exciting during the turn. (Will turn port side to wind next time!) However, did make got progress with my 9.9 Honda 4-stroke as we headed for a safe shore. When you have the money, the 9.9 works very well. I took the advice of a 240 owner who had an 8 horse - he suggested the 9.9 hp and I,m glad I spent the extra money. Never felt in peril, but the adrenaline was crankin' Good Waters, Charlie "Good Medicine"
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Edward Smith
Good Job of Sailing
Motor into the wind and you did good. The thing I worry about is being to close to a leeward shore when that happens. Even with the sails up, moving to weather as close as you can and go to reduced sail quickly. You could have weathered that one but rough. Good sailing.
Motor into the wind and you did good. The thing I worry about is being to close to a leeward shore when that happens. Even with the sails up, moving to weather as close as you can and go to reduced sail quickly. You could have weathered that one but rough. Good sailing.
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Janel Chrestenson
Similar situation
I was in a similar situation last October. Heading up SF Bay against the tide, 5 foot swells crashing over the bow. I have a Johnson 9.9 and it was all it could do with the tide, swells, wind and rain to make any advance at all. I hoisted up my storm jib, ran the motor and tacked up the Bay. Took 5-1/2 hours to make a 2-3 hour trip but the blade did help a lot.
I was in a similar situation last October. Heading up SF Bay against the tide, 5 foot swells crashing over the bow. I have a Johnson 9.9 and it was all it could do with the tide, swells, wind and rain to make any advance at all. I hoisted up my storm jib, ran the motor and tacked up the Bay. Took 5-1/2 hours to make a 2-3 hour trip but the blade did help a lot.
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