- Status
Short and long
In a 300 mile race on lake Ontario in 1990 the whole fleet encountered winds between 85 to 95 knots for about one hour,some boats were dismasted and one was lost and the two crew drowned. My other encounter was on my way to Bermude in 1998 where we were in winds of 50 to 60 Knots for 48hrs. both time I was sailing my Whibty 42'which was a very substantial Boat. I would not what to try the same in my H34.
In a 300 mile race on lake Ontario in 1990 the whole fleet encountered winds between 85 to 95 knots for about one hour,some boats were dismasted and one was lost and the two crew drowned. My other encounter was on my way to Bermude in 1998 where we were in winds of 50 to 60 Knots for 48hrs. both time I was sailing my Whibty 42'which was a very substantial Boat. I would not what to try the same in my H34.
Chespeake May 1989
Anyone remember sailing the Annapolis to Oxford Race Memorial Day weekend 1989? Downwind start, squall came in from the north. Total darkness and ripping sails during the squall. Squall passes and there wasn't a spinnaker to be seen. We are sailing down to St. Michaels with our club, not in the race, we past a cargo ship all red and rusty and plastered against the box was a bright blue spinnaker. It hit 47 knots on my owners boat. just he and i steering by hand, couldn't turn up into the river. Just kept sailing until the wind died down. Lost two of 7 boats. One sunk in 4 ft of water and one ran hard aground and had to be towed off. My most hair rasing experience in almost 40 yrs of sailing
Anyone remember sailing the Annapolis to Oxford Race Memorial Day weekend 1989? Downwind start, squall came in from the north. Total darkness and ripping sails during the squall. Squall passes and there wasn't a spinnaker to be seen. We are sailing down to St. Michaels with our club, not in the race, we past a cargo ship all red and rusty and plastered against the box was a bright blue spinnaker. It hit 47 knots on my owners boat. just he and i steering by hand, couldn't turn up into the river. Just kept sailing until the wind died down. Lost two of 7 boats. One sunk in 4 ft of water and one ran hard aground and had to be towed off. My most hair rasing experience in almost 40 yrs of sailing
heavy weather
I've been sailing about forty years and have managed to avoid any really serious weather. Of course, what is really serious is a function of the boat, the crew and the locale. Thirty knots in a confined area like Puget Sound might be terrifying. When you have sea-room and deep water, up to around forty knots is usually merely annoying. We did a four-year outing in the Pacific not too long ago and our one, never exceed, rule was: be the hell out of the hurricane zone in hurricane season. ...And take great care in the shoulder seasons. Every once in a while I notice that someone gets caught by a hurricane or cyclone and I always wonder what the hell they were doing there. Did they have a death-wish? While we're on the subject of heavy weather, we ran in front of forty knot winds once when well off-shore, on our way home from Hawaii. With the winds a steady forty and seas above our lower spreader (about 25 feet) we ran without the main, using about a third of our 130. That yielded seven to eight knots. We did not use a drogue and our Autohelm 7000 worked like a dream. Several times it looked like a breaker might come aboard, but we just scooted away from them. I'm convinced that we would have been pooped at any speed below seven knots. For what it's worth. Every boat and storm is different.
I've been sailing about forty years and have managed to avoid any really serious weather. Of course, what is really serious is a function of the boat, the crew and the locale. Thirty knots in a confined area like Puget Sound might be terrifying. When you have sea-room and deep water, up to around forty knots is usually merely annoying. We did a four-year outing in the Pacific not too long ago and our one, never exceed, rule was: be the hell out of the hurricane zone in hurricane season. ...And take great care in the shoulder seasons. Every once in a while I notice that someone gets caught by a hurricane or cyclone and I always wonder what the hell they were doing there. Did they have a death-wish? While we're on the subject of heavy weather, we ran in front of forty knot winds once when well off-shore, on our way home from Hawaii. With the winds a steady forty and seas above our lower spreader (about 25 feet) we ran without the main, using about a third of our 130. That yielded seven to eight knots. We did not use a drogue and our Autohelm 7000 worked like a dream. Several times it looked like a breaker might come aboard, but we just scooted away from them. I'm convinced that we would have been pooped at any speed below seven knots. For what it's worth. Every boat and storm is different.
A Challenging Day
Got caught in some 26 mph substained wind gusts over 30 this spring on the Neuse with someone that had never been sailing before. The passenger was somewhere between little and no help but we made it back safely.
Got caught in some 26 mph substained wind gusts over 30 this spring on the Neuse with someone that had never been sailing before. The passenger was somewhere between little and no help but we made it back safely.
similar outing
About thirty years ago I was taking my family on an "outing" to Victoria, leaving Port Townsend on a nice, summer day. We had a Columbia 34 at the time and the wind was a very warm, pleasant southwesterly..maybe eight knots, enabling us to point right at Victoria. It was actually swimsuit weather - and you know how rare that is here. At any rate, After an hour or two I noticed this wall of fog rolling towards us from the northwest. I didn't think a lot about it, but did expect some kind of wind change. It hit us with about 25knots of northwest wind and a temperature drop to the low 50s. The Col34 was a nice family boat, but had a very full entry on it. Our speed dropped from around 5.5 to about three knots and we started to pound from one wave to the next. Very shortly the whole family was seasick. I would like to have been, but someone had to run the boat. After thirty minutes or so, I decided that we were on a family pleasure outing, not a survival contest and turned for Cattle Pass. It was not visible at the time, but in those days (prior to GPS) I always ran a pretty good DR. We shot on up to Friday Harbor and took the sails down behind Brown Island. The wind was over thirty in the mouth of the harbor, but the water was flat and we got in without further ado. The winds hit fifty knots between Victoria and PA that day. If you are a long-time resident, you may remember that it was the day the Hobie fleet was returning to PA from Victoria. A couple of boats were lost, but no lives. One of the Seattle TV stations took video from an aircraft and that was shown on TV for a number of years; pretty impressive to see the Hobies airborne between the waves. Everyone who has sailed much in the Strait has a story. I like yours.
About thirty years ago I was taking my family on an "outing" to Victoria, leaving Port Townsend on a nice, summer day. We had a Columbia 34 at the time and the wind was a very warm, pleasant southwesterly..maybe eight knots, enabling us to point right at Victoria. It was actually swimsuit weather - and you know how rare that is here. At any rate, After an hour or two I noticed this wall of fog rolling towards us from the northwest. I didn't think a lot about it, but did expect some kind of wind change. It hit us with about 25knots of northwest wind and a temperature drop to the low 50s. The Col34 was a nice family boat, but had a very full entry on it. Our speed dropped from around 5.5 to about three knots and we started to pound from one wave to the next. Very shortly the whole family was seasick. I would like to have been, but someone had to run the boat. After thirty minutes or so, I decided that we were on a family pleasure outing, not a survival contest and turned for Cattle Pass. It was not visible at the time, but in those days (prior to GPS) I always ran a pretty good DR. We shot on up to Friday Harbor and took the sails down behind Brown Island. The wind was over thirty in the mouth of the harbor, but the water was flat and we got in without further ado. The winds hit fifty knots between Victoria and PA that day. If you are a long-time resident, you may remember that it was the day the Hobie fleet was returning to PA from Victoria. A couple of boats were lost, but no lives. One of the Seattle TV stations took video from an aircraft and that was shown on TV for a number of years; pretty impressive to see the Hobies airborne between the waves. Everyone who has sailed much in the Strait has a story. I like yours.
45 at 45....
Just two weeks ago in our '79 28', we got hit by a sudden squall on the Columbia River.... the wind went from 15 to 45 in a matter of about 30 seconds and caught me broadside while I was trying to turn downwind. The boat went over to 45 degrees, settled in solid as a rock, and just kept plowing through... I don't think another 10-20 knots of wind would have made any difference at all, that's how solid she felt at that angle. She was just in a sweet spot and riding it out. It was definitely an awesome ride, although shortlived, as I realized the screaming in the rigging I thought I heard was actually my girlfriend screaming at the top of her lungs that she was going to do some very bad things to me if I didn't let out some wind...
Just two weeks ago in our '79 28', we got hit by a sudden squall on the Columbia River.... the wind went from 15 to 45 in a matter of about 30 seconds and caught me broadside while I was trying to turn downwind. The boat went over to 45 degrees, settled in solid as a rock, and just kept plowing through... I don't think another 10-20 knots of wind would have made any difference at all, that's how solid she felt at that angle. She was just in a sweet spot and riding it out. It was definitely an awesome ride, although shortlived, as I realized the screaming in the rigging I thought I heard was actually my girlfriend screaming at the top of her lungs that she was going to do some very bad things to me if I didn't let out some wind...
Just one more pass, oops!
I have an O'day daysailer II. My best friend and I were out for our last day of sailing together. The winds kept picking up and were eventually at 35 and gusting. We were supposed to be on our last pass, but my buddy went on past our turn in to the dock. When I looked back him he said, "I think we can make on last pass." We were just about to the point where we would come about when a gust hit, snapped the pin in the starboard sail and then snapped off at our mast before I could drop the main. So, if you know of a mast without a boat. Please let me know, I hate to have to buy a new spar. Jeanne B
I have an O'day daysailer II. My best friend and I were out for our last day of sailing together. The winds kept picking up and were eventually at 35 and gusting. We were supposed to be on our last pass, but my buddy went on past our turn in to the dock. When I looked back him he said, "I think we can make on last pass." We were just about to the point where we would come about when a gust hit, snapped the pin in the starboard sail and then snapped off at our mast before I could drop the main. So, if you know of a mast without a boat. Please let me know, I hate to have to buy a new spar. Jeanne B
Hull slap
While sailing from Chicago to South Haven, MI, one night in my S2 9.2A, we were in sustained 30+ knot winds for several hours. We were on a reach which made it pleasant until the waves grew to 5-7 feet. Lake Michigan waves are extremely steep and close together. We felt a thud almost like we hit a log, then another. I went below looking for something that had broke loose. When I didn't find anything, I checked the GPS. We were doing 8 knots, reaching 11 at one point. That was the first and only time I had the boat up on plane with the waves slapping the hull. Another night at dock I was sleeping on the boat in a heavy wind storm. The winds were 45 knots with 55+ knot gusts. It was cozy sleeping except for the neighbor's halyards clanging all night.
While sailing from Chicago to South Haven, MI, one night in my S2 9.2A, we were in sustained 30+ knot winds for several hours. We were on a reach which made it pleasant until the waves grew to 5-7 feet. Lake Michigan waves are extremely steep and close together. We felt a thud almost like we hit a log, then another. I went below looking for something that had broke loose. When I didn't find anything, I checked the GPS. We were doing 8 knots, reaching 11 at one point. That was the first and only time I had the boat up on plane with the waves slapping the hull. Another night at dock I was sleeping on the boat in a heavy wind storm. The winds were 45 knots with 55+ knot gusts. It was cozy sleeping except for the neighbor's halyards clanging all night.
yup!
We live in the windy Columbia River Gorge in the NW and have sailed first our H31 and then our H40 in very windy conditions. Sustained 30+ knots with gust to !! 47knots!! (Kids read the knot meter and we didn't believe it till we saw it!) What a wild ride. River chop is very steep and makes for some awesome rides but boy do you have to gybe and tack a lot! We are trying to get out in all conditions and learn more every time!
We live in the windy Columbia River Gorge in the NW and have sailed first our H31 and then our H40 in very windy conditions. Sustained 30+ knots with gust to !! 47knots!! (Kids read the knot meter and we didn't believe it till we saw it!) What a wild ride. River chop is very steep and makes for some awesome rides but boy do you have to gybe and tack a lot! We are trying to get out in all conditions and learn more every time!
40 +
The first race of the season we were in winds 40+ with a full main and jib and the boat handled good. We replaced the stock rudder with a bigger rudder and it made all the differance.
The first race of the season we were in winds 40+ with a full main and jib and the boat handled good. We replaced the stock rudder with a bigger rudder and it made all the differance.
Highest wind?
Who has time to check wind velocity when it comes up strong. We raced El Toros when they were reading 30 mph in Youngs Bay, Astoria, OR. My boat balanced perfectly on the wind. Sailed with care downwind. At Blackwell State Park in Illinois, it blew so hard that same boat, and same sail, would only weathercock so it had to be blowing in excess of 30. I finally pulled up board and rudder and coasted ashore. On that non-motorized lake that day, a Banshee was the very busy committee boat turned rescue boat. In Quartermaster Harbor, one Labor Day, the wind came in suddenly and strong! Two Lightnings one 110 started the 12 mile race and finished in good order. Most of the cruising boats under 30' packed up and motored home. If you have a catboat, let the traveler out, and sail on the battens, letting the rest of the sail luff. With a jib, sheet in the jib tightly, and ease the traveler, and the mainsheet if necessary. Consider: You should practice reefing while short handed. You should sail occasionally with a reef to see how the boat balances. You should have a working jib and be able to bend it on quickly. A partly furled genoa will not set well. A suddenly unfurled genoa will spoil your whole day of sailing.
Who has time to check wind velocity when it comes up strong. We raced El Toros when they were reading 30 mph in Youngs Bay, Astoria, OR. My boat balanced perfectly on the wind. Sailed with care downwind. At Blackwell State Park in Illinois, it blew so hard that same boat, and same sail, would only weathercock so it had to be blowing in excess of 30. I finally pulled up board and rudder and coasted ashore. On that non-motorized lake that day, a Banshee was the very busy committee boat turned rescue boat. In Quartermaster Harbor, one Labor Day, the wind came in suddenly and strong! Two Lightnings one 110 started the 12 mile race and finished in good order. Most of the cruising boats under 30' packed up and motored home. If you have a catboat, let the traveler out, and sail on the battens, letting the rest of the sail luff. With a jib, sheet in the jib tightly, and ease the traveler, and the mainsheet if necessary. Consider: You should practice reefing while short handed. You should sail occasionally with a reef to see how the boat balances. You should have a working jib and be able to bend it on quickly. A partly furled genoa will not set well. A suddenly unfurled genoa will spoil your whole day of sailing.
Highest Winds
This lake always has wind (not breeze). I can almost always look foreward to 10-15 with gusts to 25. It is not uncommon, though, to have 20-25 with gusts to 30-35. The worst (highest) was 37 mph gusts with 20mph sustained winds. Whitecaps everywhere. It was not very comfortable beating but verrry exciting. Downhill was a bit of a challange as the gusts were not coming from the same direction all the time. Without any sort of preventer, I really had to take care or wild Jibes happened. I have a good storm sail and see no shame in reefing the main for both comfort and safety (depending on who the "crew " is. If I have another "seat-of-the-pants" edgy sailor on board, we pretty much keep the rail buried all day.
This lake always has wind (not breeze). I can almost always look foreward to 10-15 with gusts to 25. It is not uncommon, though, to have 20-25 with gusts to 30-35. The worst (highest) was 37 mph gusts with 20mph sustained winds. Whitecaps everywhere. It was not very comfortable beating but verrry exciting. Downhill was a bit of a challange as the gusts were not coming from the same direction all the time. Without any sort of preventer, I really had to take care or wild Jibes happened. I have a good storm sail and see no shame in reefing the main for both comfort and safety (depending on who the "crew " is. If I have another "seat-of-the-pants" edgy sailor on board, we pretty much keep the rail buried all day.
The wind was bad but...........
My wife and I left Solomons Island about 10am last late July in our Pearson 26 and headed north west up the Patuxent River for about 4 hours in a good 10-12kt north wind. Seas about 1 foot. By 2 pm the wind was up to 15-18kts and more to the east. I looked behind us and saw a black wall coming right towards us about 2 miles south east. By the time I droped the sails and got the outboard started and turned into it we were hit with 30-40kt winds right on the bow but the real scare was the lightning! In a short spread of 45min we had at least a dozen strikes within a quarter mile of us. I was scared!!! You never heard such noise!! My wife was below and I was in the cockpit in my slicker and a life jacket and tied to the lifelines. I almost couldn't breath due to the rain poring down my face in my mouth and noze. That little 8 hp OMC just kept chuging along and shortly afterward the clouds left and the sun came back out just like nothing had happened. When I put the main back up about 5 gallons of water poured out. Just another day on the Bay!! David
My wife and I left Solomons Island about 10am last late July in our Pearson 26 and headed north west up the Patuxent River for about 4 hours in a good 10-12kt north wind. Seas about 1 foot. By 2 pm the wind was up to 15-18kts and more to the east. I looked behind us and saw a black wall coming right towards us about 2 miles south east. By the time I droped the sails and got the outboard started and turned into it we were hit with 30-40kt winds right on the bow but the real scare was the lightning! In a short spread of 45min we had at least a dozen strikes within a quarter mile of us. I was scared!!! You never heard such noise!! My wife was below and I was in the cockpit in my slicker and a life jacket and tied to the lifelines. I almost couldn't breath due to the rain poring down my face in my mouth and noze. That little 8 hp OMC just kept chuging along and shortly afterward the clouds left and the sun came back out just like nothing had happened. When I put the main back up about 5 gallons of water poured out. Just another day on the Bay!! David
Need those race points
We had a race last year that was approximately 10 nm all together. We was sustained winds of mid 40 with it building to low 60's. The surprising thing is we had 13 boats participate in the race where the maximum we ever see in the nicest times is 22 boats. Our typical race for that time of year is sixteen boats. For me, I wanted to see how the boat would handle it in an environment where I had a lot of help if needed. I would never intentionaly push the boat like that when cruisng, but the San Juan-Straits of Juan du Fuca can serve up some nasty conditions on short notice. This was the high water mark test. shaun
We had a race last year that was approximately 10 nm all together. We was sustained winds of mid 40 with it building to low 60's. The surprising thing is we had 13 boats participate in the race where the maximum we ever see in the nicest times is 22 boats. Our typical race for that time of year is sixteen boats. For me, I wanted to see how the boat would handle it in an environment where I had a lot of help if needed. I would never intentionaly push the boat like that when cruisng, but the San Juan-Straits of Juan du Fuca can serve up some nasty conditions on short notice. This was the high water mark test. shaun
Everyone has their story
It's lovely to hear about everyone's big wind experiences, and the reaction of their significant other. But, too bad that the stories of: we were in a X long O'day, with winds of Y, and waves of Z, when caught in this weather system, and we did A, B, C to get thru this...are far and few in between....
It's lovely to hear about everyone's big wind experiences, and the reaction of their significant other. But, too bad that the stories of: we were in a X long O'day, with winds of Y, and waves of Z, when caught in this weather system, and we did A, B, C to get thru this...are far and few in between....
Surfing the Bay
We were sailing up the Chesapeake Bay in mid March this year between the Potomac River and Annapolis and found ourselves "surfing" 8-10 foot waves with gusts up to 45 knots.
We were sailing up the Chesapeake Bay in mid March this year between the Potomac River and Annapolis and found ourselves "surfing" 8-10 foot waves with gusts up to 45 knots.
one more time
my wife and i got a deal on a 22 and now that the mold is gone we are close to trying it out on the lakes,not use to trailor sailboats,and yet pound for pound the catalina boats seem to be well made ive seen some other boats that would leave me wondering if we should take it out in heavy weather,we are on a trailor down in monroe mi and are waiting for some parts and then itll be time to get wet,yay,hope to see other catalina owners out there, good sailing to all,bill&judy
my wife and i got a deal on a 22 and now that the mold is gone we are close to trying it out on the lakes,not use to trailor sailboats,and yet pound for pound the catalina boats seem to be well made ive seen some other boats that would leave me wondering if we should take it out in heavy weather,we are on a trailor down in monroe mi and are waiting for some parts and then itll be time to get wet,yay,hope to see other catalina owners out there, good sailing to all,bill&judy
that was our EXACT scenario
started out a couple of weeks ago with some friends who had never been sailing before...with our and their young children along to....we had a full boat! forecast said 5-10-started out with about 7 knots of wind. got out into the bay and the wind picked up...so we headed into the river wo it would be less windy. a local charter boat came out as well. the wind picked up even more after we were out a couple of hours. the charter boat was heeling hard with 6 passengers sitting on the high side. when we got back to the dinghy dock and were letting our friends off...the charter boat captain told us we were looking good out there and then calmly informed us it had been gusting to 35...as he headed back out with another charter. after I picked my jaw back up I proudly realized we had crossed another sailing hurdle (this is our first boat and only our first full summer to sail her)
started out a couple of weeks ago with some friends who had never been sailing before...with our and their young children along to....we had a full boat! forecast said 5-10-started out with about 7 knots of wind. got out into the bay and the wind picked up...so we headed into the river wo it would be less windy. a local charter boat came out as well. the wind picked up even more after we were out a couple of hours. the charter boat was heeling hard with 6 passengers sitting on the high side. when we got back to the dinghy dock and were letting our friends off...the charter boat captain told us we were looking good out there and then calmly informed us it had been gusting to 35...as he headed back out with another charter. after I picked my jaw back up I proudly realized we had crossed another sailing hurdle (this is our first boat and only our first full summer to sail her)
35kts +
Nothing special, we were racing and winds were stronger than forecast. We had a single reefed main and partial jib on our H340. She rolled with the gust, I ran out of rudder and she turned up into the wind, all before we had time to ease the main sheet. It was a bit exciting. Oh, and we finished 3rd in class.
Nothing special, we were racing and winds were stronger than forecast. We had a single reefed main and partial jib on our H340. She rolled with the gust, I ran out of rudder and she turned up into the wind, all before we had time to ease the main sheet. It was a bit exciting. Oh, and we finished 3rd in class.
- Status