On a previous post on what to do when a storm comes up I was not clear on the answers. A lot of long posts but no clear answers. I will use my last trip as an example and see what you all would have done. I left st Augustine at 7 am and went north to Jacksonville via the ocean. The wind was 20 knts 3 - 4 ft seas blowing north with a storm front to hit later with 40 – 50 knot winds. I made it just fine but lets say I did not and the stormed quickened. I am traveling north the trip takes 6 hours and I am 3 hours out, the wind changes from 20 knots to 40. The wind is blowing south to north and the storm is traveling northeast. The waves are 8- 10 ft. I have my jib reefed and am still traveling north with 2-3 hours from ether port. What do I do?
not clear on previous storm post
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Storm actions
It really depends on the kind of boat you have. In my Mac 24 I would throw out my sea anchor, but in other boats I would reef and keep going.
It really depends on the kind of boat you have. In my Mac 24 I would throw out my sea anchor, but in other boats I would reef and keep going.
An expert replies
My title is a joke. I am not an expert. That said, under the conditions you describe, I would keep going with the thinking that any boat is better off running with the storm than it is fighting the storm. One could heave to or throw out a sea anchor, but I think any reasonably well founded vessel should be able to handle these conditions, especially off the wind. Entering a harbor under these conditions is another issue and must be assessed at the time one encounters the situation. If waves were not a big factor, I would enter the harbor.
My title is a joke. I am not an expert. That said, under the conditions you describe, I would keep going with the thinking that any boat is better off running with the storm than it is fighting the storm. One could heave to or throw out a sea anchor, but I think any reasonably well founded vessel should be able to handle these conditions, especially off the wind. Entering a harbor under these conditions is another issue and must be assessed at the time one encounters the situation. If waves were not a big factor, I would enter the harbor.
what boat?
It helps to know what boat...but... Like already said...most boats should be able to handle that but you gotta get a dragging device. Not only does the dragging device keep the boat at a managable speed, but it prevents the stern from swinging around which is the danger of running.
It helps to know what boat...but... Like already said...most boats should be able to handle that but you gotta get a dragging device. Not only does the dragging device keep the boat at a managable speed, but it prevents the stern from swinging around which is the danger of running.
Variables abound
If fetch and time does not build huge seas, it could be that no sea anchor would be needed. This is, of course, a situation that one has to deal with as conditions develope and no answer from the protection of one's home computer is definitive. One has to be able to assess the state of the vessel at the particular time in question. Each boat may require a different strategy. I answered based on info given and the properties of my boat as I percieve them.
If fetch and time does not build huge seas, it could be that no sea anchor would be needed. This is, of course, a situation that one has to deal with as conditions develope and no answer from the protection of one's home computer is definitive. One has to be able to assess the state of the vessel at the particular time in question. Each boat may require a different strategy. I answered based on info given and the properties of my boat as I percieve them.
tack northwest with reduced sail
I think that I would reduce sail until I was moving slowly where I felt in control maybe even drag something even a 100' of anchor line would help. By going northwest I would hope that the storm would pass more quickly and I would be moving out to sea a little. Once the storm had passed I would then head towards my original destination. With the wind coming from the south and me heading northwest I would also be taing the waves on the stern quarter which has always felt safer to me than taking them directly on the stern. Heading out to sea would make my trip longer but I wouldn't want to enter a pass until the seas had settled down. As others have said the boat would be a major factor in deciding what to do. A heavy blue water boat should be perfectly OK in 40 knots. A macgregor 25 would be scarey even with bare poles. A friend and I once sailed his Mac 25 about 12 miles down a lake with bare poles doing almost hull speed. I doubt that the wind was over about 20 kts.
I think that I would reduce sail until I was moving slowly where I felt in control maybe even drag something even a 100' of anchor line would help. By going northwest I would hope that the storm would pass more quickly and I would be moving out to sea a little. Once the storm had passed I would then head towards my original destination. With the wind coming from the south and me heading northwest I would also be taing the waves on the stern quarter which has always felt safer to me than taking them directly on the stern. Heading out to sea would make my trip longer but I wouldn't want to enter a pass until the seas had settled down. As others have said the boat would be a major factor in deciding what to do. A heavy blue water boat should be perfectly OK in 40 knots. A macgregor 25 would be scarey even with bare poles. A friend and I once sailed his Mac 25 about 12 miles down a lake with bare poles doing almost hull speed. I doubt that the wind was over about 20 kts.
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