Overnighting Offshore?

Roger Long · Jan 5, 2010

druid said:
.. what would stop me from just dropping sails, putting up an anchor light (plus the Usual radar reflector, radar, VHF, etc. to look out for the commercial traffic in Juan de Fuca Strait), and spending the night "offshore"?

Nothing would stop you except perhaps a desire to comply with the rules of the road. Most people don't so, why should you be the exception

If you are not anchored with something secured to the bottom, you are not anchored and should not show lights indicating that you are. Your boat could be drifting fast enough to confuse someone thinking you are stationary. It's not likely but it could contribute to a collision.

It would be more appropriate, if your sails are down and your engine off, to show the light sequence for "Not under command" or "Restricted in Ability to Maneuver". Look them up, there's a lot of other interesting stuff in the book.

Stop if you want but do everyone a favor, take a friend and stand watches.

BenDi · Jan 5, 2010

Ahoy druid,
Don't let it wrinkle your sail: some folks have an uncanny ability of putting their hands (typing) in motion before putting their brains in gear.
Fair Winds
Di

Roger Long · Jan 5, 2010

druid said:
but you don't have to be nasty about it.

Sorry, I didn't mean for it to sound that way. I try to be a bit humorous but I sometimes get it wrong. Even Dave Letterman does. His recent apology was played on NPR and is somewhere on YouTube. Look it up and just pretend that it's from me.

Don S/V ILLusion · Jan 5, 2010

Roger
I didn't take your comments as offensive. This is a communication medium in which comments can easily be taken the wrong way and this sounds like a case in point. Everyone should understand that people who frequent this forum, which is far better than any other, do so to either learn or provide well-intended help and I have been here long enough to know you fit both categories.

Stu Jackson · Jan 5, 2010

Actually, Druid, my first thought, knowing your experiences and helpful items that you've posted here was: "How completely irresponsible from someone who should know better."

Heck, plan your trip properly with daylight and currents, and you should be "around the corner" from Sooke and up the west coast before it gets too dark, then be out of the shipping lanes. Heave to, leave your running lights on (you're still moving), consider Roger's ideas, and have a great trip.

Joe · Jan 5, 2010

druid said:
You are correct, Roger, but you don't have to be nasty about it. druid

What's your problem? You ask for opinions... now you're qualifying the responses? Roger's response was fine... it was by no means hostile or critical. geez.

Moody Buccaneer · Jan 5, 2010

druid said:
I don't know how many here are familiar with the West Coast of Canada, but we have a nice little cruising ground called Barkley Sound on the West coast of Vancouver Island. Trouble is, it's a LONG haul from Sooke to Bamfield, with the only anchorage being Port Renfrew, which is not well protected.

But... what would stop me from just dropping sails, putting up an anchor light (plus the Usual radar reflector, radar, VHF, etc. to look out for the commercial traffic in Juan de Fuca Strait), and spending the night "offshore"?

Comments? Pros and Cons?
druid

It's only 90 miles!

Granted it can be a very ugly 90 miles. But hardly a big deal.

The killer for a small (slow) boat is the current in the strait. Current out will help you on paper, but it is against the wind and waves, so can be less than fun. Current against you means going up wind against it and making very little over the ground.

In any weather pattern that would make the trip up the outside enjoyable would also make Port Renfrew a better bet than drifting about in the strait.

There is more ship traffic than you can imagine in the strait. I would not consider the trip single-handed in a 28 foot boat unless I was very used to sailing 24/7 alone.

Figure 24 to 36 hours for that 90 miles. The trip back will seem like nothing.

I've done Port Moody to Victoria in about 18 hours, motorsailing most of the time, the distance is about the same. The difference is the current and wind in the Strait.

Take crew, rest up in Victoria or Sooke, then go for it.

higgs · Jan 5, 2010

I don't think Rog was out of line. Drifting aimlessly in any channel that has traffic is not a good idea. One would be better to use the auto and get up every 15 minutes. At least udner AP one's course can be predicted by another vessel. My understanding of the Jaun de Fuca is a fairly busy channel and, having seen it, it is not all that wide. Not a good place to hope luck gets one through.

caguy · Jan 5, 2010

Stu Jackson said:
Heave to, leave your running lights on (you're still moving), consider Roger's ideas, and have a great trip.

How far off shore do you have to be to feel comfortable just heaving to and going to sleep for the night. In the middle of the ocean I'd have no problem sleeping, but off shore I would be worried about a wind shift and getting blown ashore. I even worry about that when solidly anchored off shore.
Honestly Stu I am not questioning your wisdom, I've never done it and would like to know.

Stu Jackson · Jan 5, 2010

caguy, the answer is "it depends" and it depends on what your plans are and whether you're singlehanding or with crew. Two crew should be able to do that kinda trip in a breeze, NPI!

Singlehanding, I would "get around the corner" i.e., out of the Strait of Juan de Fuca where all the large traffic is (check out the charts and see earlier posts) first, and then continue on sailing or motorsailing with a 15 minute kitchen timer to keep awake as backup if needed.

90 miles at five knots is 18 hours. Who among us has not ever been up for that long?

For this trip you're not really "offshore", just harbor hopping for long distances. And singlehanders rarely sleep "down below all night long" Research has shown they have a completely different approach to sleeping than the standard 12 up 12 out.

And if you go back to the original question, no mention was made of size of crew.

caguy, you've been to Catalina and back a few times, so you know how relaxing it can be once you're out of the shipping channels, but you still have to keep a lookout, right?

caguy · Jan 5, 2010

Most of my trips to Catalina have been solo, no one else has the patience.
There are times when I will heave to and fish, and even then I'm afraid to nod off for fear of not waking up before hitting Catalina.

catsailor · Jan 5, 2010

Yes, on the east coast it is common for sport fisherman on the shelf edge to hang on a sea anchor...

druid said:
Or here's a Variation of the Question: if the passage is too long for one day, is it better to keep sailing/motoring/moving, or to heave-to or put down sails and drift? Guessing mainly from scenes from Jaws and Perfect Storm, I think offshore fishermen, etc. sometimes (often) spend the night just drifting....

druid

...overnight. They are ~ 40-75 miles out and out of busy areas.

Does it apply to your original question? Not exactly. They don't do it for safety; they do it because they stop fishing at night and want to start in the same place at dawn. They generally leave lots of lights on.

Prime Time · Jan 5, 2010

The issue in my mind is not whether or not to keep moving or heave to, but what kind of watch will you keep to avoid a collision. If you are single handing, most wake up every 20 minutes to check for boats. Doesn't sound like fun to me!

rfrye1 · Jan 5, 2010

Im a liittle baffled why you would want to "spend the nite" in the Strait of JDF? at 70-90NM why dont you leave at 0100 and arrive during daylite? Those commercial ships go thru the Strait really fast, and they may not see your lights. Someone needs to maintain a watch especially in shipping lanes. When I go up to Catalina Island I leave San Diego about 10-11pm and motorsail "up" to Catalina Island. We steer clear of the commercial ships. Good Luck.

Maine Sail · Jan 5, 2010

catsailor said:
...overnight. They are ~ 40-75 miles out and out of busy areas.

Does it apply to your original question? Not exactly. They don't do it for safety; they do it because they stop fishing at night and want to start in the same place at dawn. They generally leave lots of lights on.

When I was fishing Blue Fin we would actually anchor out there. We usually were rigging bait late into the night and had lots of spot lights and such but when we went to bed, in shifts, we left someone on the bridge monitoring radar despite having the anchor light on. I agree that anchoring out in the middle of the ocean, on a known fishing ledge, is different than drifting or heaving to in a popular shipping area. Showing the proper nav lights is always a good idea..

For Druid I'd vote for crew or a straight though shot with lots of Joe... Do you have radar or AIS?

Andy1237 · Jan 5, 2010

Druid, I would think you are a NUC (Not Under Command) and hopefully you would be showing the proper navigation lights or your situation.
http://www.nauticalissues.com/en/boats08.html

You might have rights over other vessels underway (if they see you and recognize your lights), but I wouldn't depend on either.

Have a Happy New Year and sail safely!