Sailing in Soup

[M_boultbee@hotmail.com]

Fog Sailing

Approach your harbour slowly. Your anchorage has been previously scouted and you know where you want to be. Use VHF to alert others of your intentions to anchor and solicit support. Post watch on your bow to identify nearby vessels. As you pass other vessels, note type of mooring employed so that you can use the same method and avoid fouling of anchors. Radar may help but GPS will not be definitive enough nor will it show other boats in your way. Once anchored, you must notify other boats in your anchorage of your postition - even relative to other boats or landmarks obvious to all. Please display an anchor light - Not at masthead - but halfway between deck and spreaders so that others can see you. Post a watch until fog has cleared and enjoy.CheersMonty

 

[Mike Pajewski]

Eerie Sunset Photo from Lake Michigan

Here is a picture I took during the trip.

 

[Dave]

Piece of Pie....err...Cake

I was traversing from Pt. Judith to Watch hill. No LORAN or GPS or Radar several years ago. 25 foot catalina. Had compass, depth, and watch. It was so thick I had trouble seeing the bow. My wife was stationed near the mast as a lookout for fishing boats. Stayed in 30 feet of water, if it got shallow I cheated to the south, if it got deep I cheated to the north, so I stayed between 25 and 35 feet of water. All of a sudden my wife started screaming!!! A huge fin appeared right in front of the boat which she took for a huge shark!!! It was actually an ocean sunfish which proceeded to submerge and swim right under the keel. A beautiful sight indeed. Rest of passage was uneventful. Despite the cold water in block island sound I have seen two sea turtles, several ocean sunfish, and assorted other sights over the years, sightings are rare but awesome when they happen.Dave

 

[Steve G.]

Use your VHF

Radar and GPS are great tools, no doubt. As Gordon mentioned, regular security calls are also important> giving coordinates, speed and heading (don't forget to mention "magnetic" even if it seems obvious). Always remember however, that even in the worst conditions, not everyone is listening. Speaking of listening, your lookout has that responsibility also. Don't forget your sound making device. Watch out for fishing vessels and lobster boats, they're on the job no matter what, and often don't report their position. Just reminders...

 

[Van]

Sailing in fog in Southern California

Sailing overnight to Catalina from San Diego or mornings from Oceanside harbor is often done in thick fog, with visibility almost zero.We ususally plot our route and keep track of our progress using GPS and dead reckoning. Our 37.5 Hunter Legend is equipped with radar too. A must instrument to keep track of who else is around you. We select routes that whenever possivel include navigation aids as waypoints, to be able to check our progress, in case of GPS and Radar failure.If visibility is really bad we wait offshore for the lifting of the fog before attempting to get into the harbors.

 

[Cherie]

Fog on Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan is famous for fog banks that hang just off the Western shore of the lake. They can move in and out over the course of a day.We have sailed many many times in the fog. When on our own boat, we are equipped to handle the challenges and just make sure we keep an extra good watch.The worst time was during a race off Racine Wisconsin on a friends boat. He had a Loran that he didn't know how to use, no way points, no hand bearing compass and charts that were not the proper scale for the close in navigating we needed to do to get safely in the harbor. The fog was so thick that a veil was between the helm and the bow. The only way we got in safely that night was to guess the heading we needed and post watch at the bow. They saw the rocks of the harbor wall and we went hard to port to go around them and into the harbor.NOT SOMETHING I WILL EVER REPEAT!!!

 

[Mike DiMario]

Block Island is Where?

Last year, on our trip to Cape Cod from Atlantic City, fog rolled in at early morning. We are about 1 mile off, near Red #4, when this picture was snapped. Although we were prepared with radar, I am much more comfortable without the fog. Unlike the Chesapeake, grounding usually involves rock in this area. That alone can be a nail biter!

 

[Doc]

Fog

Steamed for two days in very thick fog on a DD on which I was ass't navigator, made fifteen knots most of the time using radar constantly monitored both on the bridge and in CIC. Location? Enroute from Newfoundland to Boston off the Can/US coasts. Evalution? Fifteen knots was too fast.

 

[Harley Nygren]

PRIMITIVE

In the old days on Puget Sound you used your compass, took handlead soundings, and followed a depth contour to where you wanted to go. No radar, GPS, autopilots,etc. just common seamanship.

 

[Bert de Frondeville]

Newport thru Fisher Is. Sound in deep fog

Going West from Newport under sail, fog allows barely 10' vision once out of the bay. Without radar and GPS plotter, I have logged in the waypoints to Fisher Is. Sound East thru West ends. I sound the foghorn (am the only one to do so, I'll pass a couple of boats who are silent) and listen hard, helped by the silence of the wind/sea. Log position every hour, come to western entrance of Fisher Is. Sound by closing on the beach to the East of it, move along and around Wachung Hill light unseen, so I make sure that I do not overshoot the Sound entrance to hit the jagged rocks to the west of it. Huge thunderstorms hit then, with vis. down to 5ft, but waypoints all the way to West Hbr, sighting each buoy, bring me in for the night. Halleluyah! No need for radar or electronic plotting, just solid nav. on 2 handheld GPS (one for back up) and fall-back positions, such as seeking the beach east of the western entrance to Fisher Is. Sound on my forward looking sonar.Be well and safe, by the Grace! Bert dF, Allied Seawind IIK Pianissimo, AYC Rye NY.

 

[michael w jones]

Socked In, Called Harbor Master!

I sailed from San Francisco to Santa Barbara.Tired after about 28 hours at the wheel and almost there, the fog rolled in...Pea Soup! One minute two strong buoy lights were there the next I couldn't see either one.I sailed a DR course and lucked out. There was a buoy. It was the intrance buoy to Santa Barbara. ON the chart it says entrance channel varies widely due to almost continuos dredging. I sailed a little way in, came close to the cement pier and decided to return to the buoy. I back tracked and lucked out again. I called the harber master and his guy came out in a nice boat and was leading me into the harbor when he went aground! I saw the boat stop suddenly and I backed before my 5'3" depth also went into the sand. I could feel the keel dragging along the bottom before I managed to back out. The help boat with twin engines easily did the same. We started again into the harbor and again he had the problem. I steered clear. We finally made it in and I could just see the berths. I found an empty one, parked the boat then went in and thanked the guys. I went back and slept for perhaps 12 hours then my daughter (UCSB Student) came over and woke me up. That afternoon I motored back out and was amazed we had gotten in with all that fog. I went for a nice sail and almost got caught by the fog again. I made it in before it socked in.Santa Barbara Entrance is not for the weak hearted!I've also been in the soup in San Francisco Bay many times. If you know the tides and where you are before it socks in, you can usually DR fairly well. Now that I have a radar and GPS, the old hear in throat doesn't happen in the fog. I don't miss those "Good old days"!

 

[J. Quinn]

Fog = Caution & Stress

I sail my 36' ketch in ME, Nova Scotia, & Newfoundland with RADAR, LORAN, GPS, an autopilot remote & plenty of fog horns. In my opinion, knowing exactly where I am at all times (plotting a fix on chart & log every hour) is my best prep for fog. When it descends, I mark my position, crank up the RADAR, make a plot of targets, & tune in Channel 16. If there are boats around, or I'm cruising a rocky coast, I'll furl the genoa and motorsail for maximum manouverability & one less thing to concentrate on. If I detect a potential collision course with another boat (especially at night), I'll hail her on the VHF to learn her intention. In fog, I plot a fix every half hour. My "fog seat" is on the top companionway step under the hatch dodger, where I can see the RADAR screen, listen & watch that thick gray stuff for the horror of my constantly anticipated dark shadow heading broadside for me out of the mist. I have had a couple of stressful minutes, one of which entailed a fast moving target off Cape Roseway, NS, when a silent RADAR target was heading right for me. My only option beside holding course was to turn toward a nasty cluster of rocks. My radio pleas in English & college French went unanswered, as I emptied at least one canister of air in her direction--no response. Edging more to starbord as the target disappeared into that green mass at the center of my screen, I saw a 50' Canadian schooner creaming by me about 100' to port, all hands waving cheerfully. "GET A DAMNED HORN," I yelled at them. Which was answered by a proper blast of freon accompanied by good-natured taunts at an nervous American. The skipper should have known better, but what the hey! Defensive driving isn't just for cars.

 

[Bob Camarena]

Motored not Sailed

The worst I ever experienced was on a Grand Banks 36 trawler that we chartered in the San Juan Islands. I've sailed in California Delta tule fog and in and out of the fog in SF Bay on my Catalina 30, but the soup in the San Juans was a total whiteout. Knowing that there were ferries everywhere made it even more intimidating.Even though we had radar, it wasn't much help to me since I didn't have any previous radar experience. After 15 or 20 minutes, we decided to anchor in a safe place and wait for the fog to lift.

 

[Mark Wieber]

Serious Buisness that fog

One of my first racing experiences, still having "sand bag" status, involved getting socked in badly on the way home. The Columbia 26 had a LOUD outboard motor, a fairley novice crew, and a great skipper. As daylight faded to dusk, it became difficult to tell where the fog stopped and the water started. Seemingly non-plused, the skipper posted a watch on the bow, and at both shrouds. We shut off the motor every few minutes and listened like our lives depended on it. Using the compass and the depth finder we followed the shipping channel edge all the way to Mare Island Channel. I was terrified, but I learned something about compasses, depth finders, and calm confidence.My boat has 2 GPS's, and Furuno Radar, but it also has a fog horn, a great compass, and a depth finder. Fog is always dangerous, but it is a fact of life on San Francisco Bay. My advice, be prepared, be equiped, stay calm, make good your destinationHappy Sailing!

 

[Wind Chimes]

Ya we kin doo dat!

First off, let me say that sailing in fog is not my favorite pastime. But, it can be done.There are several areas on Lake Huron that are somewhat notorious for fog. When in those areas, I do my best to know where I'm at....GPS, placing my position on the chart regularly, keeping close track of course, speed, etc. As long as you have a fairly good idea of where you're at, you're ahead of the game. You also have to be able to trust your compass! As long as you have a good chart position, compass, watch, and know how fast you're going, you'll usually be all right. GPS is a a real lifesaver, but....when you need it the most is usually when you get the dreaded 'lost satellite' message.

 

[ELindstrom]

Early morning on the Erie Canal

While taking our boat up from New Jersey we hit significant fog along the Hudson River toward our destination of Waterford, NY. The visibility was under 1/4 mile but we knew we needed to get the miles under the hull to make Waterford by nightfall.Switched on the radar (which I had never used before) and, sure enough, each channel marker sent back a ping and we could navigate through the fog for the hour it took to break.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Found this a few years ago

ONE MAN'S OPINION September 16, 1997Cruising World August 1995  I can no longer remain silent. At first I thought itwas just a few eccentrics, but I am now afraidthat I am beginning to see a pattern. I think thatthe final straw was the recent article I read onsailing in fog that said that if I didn't have a radaron my boat, perhaps I had misappropriated myboating budget. I must confess: I have no radar. Not only do I not have a radar, but I have nointentions of buying one. My new gear prioritieslist does not even contain this item.I must go on: I do not have a GPS. Can youimagine that I actually sail - even cruise - withoutone?There's more. I do not have roller furling. Yes,that's right. I actually have more than one jiband what is more, I have to hank it on - one hankat a time - every time I go sailing. Wait! Whenthe wind is up and the seas build I actually goforward, on the top of the deck and - now get this- change to a different jib. Can you believe thatanyone can be so primitive?More. My only electronics are a Loran (recentlypurchased), a speed/log, a depthsounder and acheap VHF. Yes, I will admit it. My VHF is a lowpriced model! Furthermore, my electronics arenot interlinked or whatever fancy jargonaficionados use to indicate that their electronicstalk to each other. No, I do not have ananemometer. At times I can be caught standingon deck estimating the wind speed. I even go sofar as to make sail changes based on the boat'ssailing characteristics. I have never told anyonethis, but I am ready to bare all: I don't have anapparent wind indicator. I am not lying. We usea piece of - I am so embarrassed - a piece ofcassette tape tied to the shroud. I do believe itwas from "Smurfs Do the Whitbread" orsomething like that.At any rate, we survive and make port withoutcalling for assistance. We enjoy wonderfulmeals cooked on the Weber that hangs off thestern pulpit and corn on the cob cooked on, of allthings, an alcohol stove.I could go on and on. By now you must havefigured out that my boat is OLD (1973). Heavenforbid!It's hard to imagine that I could enjoy sailingunder these abominable conditions, but the truthis that I am as addicted as the guy who has allthe equipment. I am proud to say that my boat isnot a marina queen - she lives on a mooring -from which it is easier to sail her. Her name isTrav'ler and I make sure she lives up to hername.We have lost sight of what this sport is all about. We have lost sight of nature, of ourselves, andour God, unless your God is powered by 12volts. Mine is not. Once - and I remember this -an RDF was considered a luxury. I remember atrip in fog so thick (you know the cliché) and wemade it home with nothing more than acompass, a depthsounder, a sumlog and a VHF. Once we even did a fog run without the sumlog,as it had broken. We just estimated our speed. I know my boat so well that I could estimate herspeed within a fraction of a knot. Whattremendous satisfaction there is in reaching yourport using the true skills of a seaman.We often hear the lament of how nonsailorsperceive our sport to be one that is reserved forthe wealthy. Is it any wonder when we readarticles about how we all should have radar, orhow our latest mast project only cost $1,200? These are elitist statements made by peoplewho know nothing about the lives most of us live. Sailing can be done safely and enjoyably on abudget and I feel it is about time that those of uswho sail on a budget speak up.Joe HigginsCrystal Lake, Illinois

 

[Pret Symonds]

NOP(normal operating procedure)

We get fog all the time in New London,CT, which also has Large Ferry Boats in the River, many large Powerboats, sometimes some Huge Submarines, flanked by Coast Guard, and then the barges and tugs, jeez I just scared myself! I try not to go out or get stuck coming back in the fog.... we're only in a little 25 Oday with only GPS... soooo... take reading as soon as you see it coming, get marks set for navigation, get the horn out, and listen very, very carefully.... also stay out of the channel !!!! One thing that a centerboarder comes in handy for. Pret

 

[Kevin Bladsacker]

Good map server for stories

Try these maps instead. They're nautical, topo, or aero.http://mapserver.maptech.com/homepage/index.cfm?lat=48.426&lon=-88.3571666667&scale=600000&zoom=100&type=0&icon=0&searchscope=dom&CFID=2967570&CFTOKEN=35440524&scriptfile=http://mapserver.maptech.com/homepage/index.cfm&latlontype=DMS

 

[coleman brydon]

God bless GPS

I was befogged while moving my h30 to its winter storage at Norton's from Windmill Point this December. Luckily, I had Norton's coordinates in my gps, so I used it, with my compass as a back up -visibility was less than 1/4 mile. Unluckily, I had not put the first channel marker in as a waypoint so I had to sail up and down parallel to the shore until I could spot the first marker. cb