Rough waters ahead

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Apr 2, 2013
4
oday 22 Gloucester
Hello all:
My first post to this site. Lets say I am an accomplished and proven sailer. What would be the worst conditions encountered in the open ocean (wind and wave) that I could expect to safely sail my O'Day 22 in? What are the worst conditions people have experienced sailing an O'Day 22?
Thanks for any responses!
 

sdstef

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Jan 31, 2013
140
Hunter 28 Branched Oak Lake
oh boy , I want to hear some responses too! I think a tsunami is coming your way.
 
May 10, 2004
182
Catalina 30 Puget Sound
Having sailed in the Pacific extensively, I can tell you. Don't do it!
 
Apr 2, 2013
4
oday 22 Gloucester
Hello all:
My first post to this site. Lets say I am an accomplished and proven sailer. What would be the worst conditions encountered in the open ocean (wind and wave) that I could expect to safely sail my O'Day 22 in? What are the worst conditions people have experienced sailing an O'Day 22?
Thanks for any responses!
My second post to this site. Please let me rephrase my first post. Lets say I am an accomplished and proven sailer. What would be the worst conditions encountered anywhere (wind and wave) that I could expect to safely sail my O'Day 22 in? What are the worst conditions people have experienced sailing an O'Day 22?
Thanks again for any and all responses.
 
Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
that question cannot be answered by anyone who is qualified to consider answering the question..... why? because there are too many variables that have to do with a safe passage in any kind of weather. and the term "safe" is relative in itself... it has a distinct meaning, but a guy sailing across the bay in 6kts of wind may be relatively safer than the ocean racer pushing on thru 40-50 knot storm winds.... but they may both reach their destination safely.

how are the boat and crew prepared to handle a medical emergency, a capsize or a simple swamping? thats the real question,... because if that never happens, you should be able to reach your destination safely no matter what the weather was like....providing the boat and rigging holds together from being beat around in the wind and waves.....

or, how much wind and waves can your boat take before it sinks?.... it all depends on how its handled....

preparedness, experience, and luck.... in about that order. and the worse the conditions, the more you batter have of each..... although lots of luck has gotten some people by when they had none of the other two.... and experience by itself is almost worthless(unless it means you prepared well, but then its not by itself anymore)...
so what I said previously, there are too many variables to give an answer to your question.

but there are other smaller vessels, considered less seaworthy than yours that have made ocean crossings.....:)
 
Apr 2, 2013
4
oday 22 Gloucester
Post #3 here. I am looking for opinions and experiences from people who sail the same model boat I own and who have experience heavy weather, not analytical scientifically reproducable inarguable facts. Surely everyone who has sailed more than once has experienced different weather. People who have sailed many times have probably experienced some very inclement weather. I would like to hear about those experiences. For example; if you are going to climb a particular mountain, you might want to know the range of conditions you might encounter. If one person who has climbed this mountain got caught in a nasty freezing sleet storm in July, I would want to know this and how that experienced person dealt with the event. It doesn't matter if I climb the mountain and it is 75 degrees and sunny. Knowing the other experienced climbers experience and opinion will help me prepare better and feel less anxious when I hike this mountain. I apologize that my line of questioning was not more evident. Thank you all for your responses to date and those to come.
 
Jun 7, 2007
515
Hunter 320 Williamsburg
Depends

Dreamdoer- Your post stipulates you live in Gloucester, but where: England, Massachusetts or Virginia. For a 22, I'd recommend living in Virginia for good sailing on the York River, Mobjack Bay and perhaps Chesapeake Bay.
 
Jan 24, 2005
4,881
Oday 222 Dighton, Ma.
I've been sailing my 1986 O'Day 222 since the day I put it in the water many years ago. In order to answer that question, you really need to sail this boat a lot and become familiar with it enough to know it's limits. These are small boats and if you're going to sail any distance with them, you need to pick the right days to do it.
I've sailed my O'Day 222 from the Taunton River to Block Island and I've also sailed her to the Elizabeth Islands and Martha's Vineyard to Chappaquiddick Island. She'll go just about anywhere that her big sisters will go---on good days.

Again, you need to know your boat and pick the days for any long trips.

Another thing I've always tried to do is to have an alternate plan, just in case my first plan fails.

In essence, what I'm trying to say is that you need to get out in the bay and sail this boat a lot in different wind and sea conditions to find out how she will handle. This is what I did. There will be some sudden storms that will come up that you won't be able to avoid. If you can't find a sheltered cove, batten down the hatches, get your sails stowed and motor into it if that's what it's going to take. My wife and I have hit a lot of storms in our small boat and thank God I was always able to keep my head and do the right thing. I'm sure you'll do the same when you get used to her.
 
Jan 14, 2010
18
ODAY 22 LAKE ONTARIO, NY
I have sailed my O'Day 22 on Lake Ontario in 20-25kts, seas were about 3 feet and it was comfortable, heeling 15-20 and it is a fun ride. Enjoy your 22, I love mine!
 
Dec 27, 2012
587
Precision Precision 28 St Augustine
Thanks Nick,

A normal summer day here in Jersey is 15 building to 20 knots in the afternoon. The winds are typically out of the South and the seas would normally run 2 to 3. I'm talking about days that I would choose to sail. One of my planned routes would head out my inlet ( Great Egg) and parallel the coast, north to the Atlantic City/Brigantine Inlet. Once inside there is a nice cove area on the Brigantine side. Hang out and reverse the order.
 
Dec 30, 2009
680
jeanneau 38 gin fizz sloop Summer- Keyport Yacht Club, Raritan Bay, NJ, Winter Viking Marina Verplanck, NY
stay in the bay...Red
 
Jan 14, 2010
18
ODAY 22 LAKE ONTARIO, NY
I think on a day like that you would be fine, my 22 seems to be really well balanced in winds of about 12kts. As always keep a keen weather eye, also if you have roller reefing for your main it may help to reef the main if the wind gets to 20kts, it will reduce weather helm significantly. You can also ease out the main somewhat and get nearly the same result. I love the roller reefing, I have reef points in the main but find it is easier to use the roller reefing.
 

ebsail

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Nov 28, 2010
241
O day 25 Nyack. New York
You can go anywhere depending on how much abuse you're willing to take. Are you willing to take a capsize? Or a partial flooding?. People have crossed the Atlantic in 21' centerboarders. Is it wise? I dunno. One of the problems is that at some point, probably around 30+ knots of wind, you will have to go down to 2 reefs in the main and almost no jib if you have a fuling jib just to keep the heeling within reason. Now you may not have enough power to push upwind against the waves and wind and progress will ge down to nothing. How many hours are you willing to tolerate this?
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Wind is NOT the issue. It's waves. The boat is a bay sailor and has limited stability. Of course you can sail it anywhere, but breaking wave are its mortal enemy.
 
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