Since many of us won't be sailing til spring. wouldn't this be a great time for some great yarns? like the time you tied the tiller to your leg... or the time you thought you could go aloft and found yourself in the drink.. or the time you knew that sand bar wasn't there... or the time when the fish were actually jumping into your boat.. Or the time...
- Status
OK, I'll Bite
Tim and his friend had been in Galveston and the party was pretty much non-stop. At some point it all had to end and Tim and friend headed back toward home in Panama City. Friend was essentially passed out in the v-berth. The tiller was lashed to keep the 31 foot sloop headed east and Tim was on the bow. Nature called so Tim stood up to answer the call. The boat hit a wave and Tim fell down. He started rolling. And rolling. And he just kept rolling. And. And. And. You guessed it. He rolled right off of the boat. Sobriety came instantly. The boat was making about 4 knots of headway and Tim new his swimming wasn't up to that kind of performance. As the boat continued east and he saw the transom getting smaller, he figured that land had to be about 18 miles to his left. He was wearing a wristwatch and a pair of red swim trunks. No PFD. Tim started swimming to the left. Hours passed and Tim was getting pretty tired. In the distance Tim saw a boat. It was a shrimp boat and it was getting closer. Could he really get that lucky? It finally got close enough that Tim took off those red swim trunks and used them as a flag to get the attention of someone on the shrimp boat. Sure enough, they saw him. When they got him aboard they questioned him about what he was doing swimming 18 miles from shore. He explained that he fell off of his sailboat. They said, "What sailboat?" Tim told them he had been in the water for about 3 hours and the boat was out of sight heading east. They looked on the shrimper's radar and, sure enough, there was a target about 13 miles east of them, heading east. Being nice guys, and due to the unusual nature of the situation, the shrimpers took Tim to his boat. When Tim jumped off of the shrimp boat onto his own deck, it made enough noise to rouse his sleeping friend. The friend came topsides just in time to see the shrimp boat pulling away. It is pretty unusual to see such a big boat up that close when you are 18 miles offshore. Tim's friend, of course, wanted to know what was going on. The only response he was able to get from Tim was, "Don't ask." Note: I've heard a lot of stories on the dock; most of them BS. I know Tim. I have to tell you; I believe this one.
Tim and his friend had been in Galveston and the party was pretty much non-stop. At some point it all had to end and Tim and friend headed back toward home in Panama City. Friend was essentially passed out in the v-berth. The tiller was lashed to keep the 31 foot sloop headed east and Tim was on the bow. Nature called so Tim stood up to answer the call. The boat hit a wave and Tim fell down. He started rolling. And rolling. And he just kept rolling. And. And. And. You guessed it. He rolled right off of the boat. Sobriety came instantly. The boat was making about 4 knots of headway and Tim new his swimming wasn't up to that kind of performance. As the boat continued east and he saw the transom getting smaller, he figured that land had to be about 18 miles to his left. He was wearing a wristwatch and a pair of red swim trunks. No PFD. Tim started swimming to the left. Hours passed and Tim was getting pretty tired. In the distance Tim saw a boat. It was a shrimp boat and it was getting closer. Could he really get that lucky? It finally got close enough that Tim took off those red swim trunks and used them as a flag to get the attention of someone on the shrimp boat. Sure enough, they saw him. When they got him aboard they questioned him about what he was doing swimming 18 miles from shore. He explained that he fell off of his sailboat. They said, "What sailboat?" Tim told them he had been in the water for about 3 hours and the boat was out of sight heading east. They looked on the shrimper's radar and, sure enough, there was a target about 13 miles east of them, heading east. Being nice guys, and due to the unusual nature of the situation, the shrimpers took Tim to his boat. When Tim jumped off of the shrimp boat onto his own deck, it made enough noise to rouse his sleeping friend. The friend came topsides just in time to see the shrimp boat pulling away. It is pretty unusual to see such a big boat up that close when you are 18 miles offshore. Tim's friend, of course, wanted to know what was going on. The only response he was able to get from Tim was, "Don't ask." Note: I've heard a lot of stories on the dock; most of them BS. I know Tim. I have to tell you; I believe this one.
Can't top Tim
but my first day out, here in Texas, and on my current boat, I took it out of Galveston Bay into the Gulf...well...almost. After seeing that it was getting dark and that the south jetty was longer then I thought, I turned around to motor back into the bay so I could anchor out and spend the night. It was my first time being out after dark and didn't know how to turn on the lights to the instruments, so I used a flashlight now and then. I stayed to the south side of the shipping lanes so I wouldn't get in the big ship's way, but turned out I was too far and ran into a sandbar. Was stuck on it for about an hour until it broke free after a swell came in...only to run aground just a few yards later. Seemed I was stuck in a hole with very shallow water on all sides. It took the tow 2 hours to get out there and another 4 hours to pull me free. That was one expensive lession that the bay is shallow and it's not easy navigating at night time in tight areas. 2 months later after coming back from a weekend of Gulf sailing I saw another new Ben stuck in the same hole
I felt much better after seeing that.
but my first day out, here in Texas, and on my current boat, I took it out of Galveston Bay into the Gulf...well...almost. After seeing that it was getting dark and that the south jetty was longer then I thought, I turned around to motor back into the bay so I could anchor out and spend the night. It was my first time being out after dark and didn't know how to turn on the lights to the instruments, so I used a flashlight now and then. I stayed to the south side of the shipping lanes so I wouldn't get in the big ship's way, but turned out I was too far and ran into a sandbar. Was stuck on it for about an hour until it broke free after a swell came in...only to run aground just a few yards later. Seemed I was stuck in a hole with very shallow water on all sides. It took the tow 2 hours to get out there and another 4 hours to pull me free. That was one expensive lession that the bay is shallow and it's not easy navigating at night time in tight areas. 2 months later after coming back from a weekend of Gulf sailing I saw another new Ben stuck in the same hole
I felt much better after seeing that.Nightmares
It was not a real event, only a movie. The best nightmare is the movie Dead Calm. Lots of sailors get all freaked out after watching that movie. I don't blame them.
It was not a real event, only a movie. The best nightmare is the movie Dead Calm. Lots of sailors get all freaked out after watching that movie. I don't blame them.
Got some good ones
Got a few good ones. Some from my Navy days. Sailors missing movement, asking new sailors to go to the engine rooms and ask the engineers for "Elbow Grease". Midnight initiations/hastings/blanket parties. Sheelback parties at the ecuator. I recently invited a very hot looking insurance sales executive to joing me and another friend on a Snapper / Grouper trip. Well, she managed to get two hooks pirced through her hand. The first one I kindly took out without making a big deal. The second I gave her some looks and attitude. Then she drops my fillet knife in the water and before returning to the ramp she drops my fishing pliers in the drink. Once or twice a year I come across a Gilligan like this. No matter how many times I tell myself that I am not going to go through it again, here comes another one along and ends up in my boat. Looking forward to a great new year.
Got a few good ones. Some from my Navy days. Sailors missing movement, asking new sailors to go to the engine rooms and ask the engineers for "Elbow Grease". Midnight initiations/hastings/blanket parties. Sheelback parties at the ecuator. I recently invited a very hot looking insurance sales executive to joing me and another friend on a Snapper / Grouper trip. Well, she managed to get two hooks pirced through her hand. The first one I kindly took out without making a big deal. The second I gave her some looks and attitude. Then she drops my fillet knife in the water and before returning to the ramp she drops my fishing pliers in the drink. Once or twice a year I come across a Gilligan like this. No matter how many times I tell myself that I am not going to go through it again, here comes another one along and ends up in my boat. Looking forward to a great new year.
Nightmare for sure
Last February my father-in-law and I decided to take my brother-in-law's 30' Catalina out for a little sail. My brother-in-law and his wife had moved to Atlanta from Houston and ask if I would take his boat out once in a while to make sure everything was working. No problem. The boat is a 1984 model so you have to warm up the glow plugs pretty good to get the engine started. After about an hour trying to get the engine going it finally kicked in. Away we went and had a great day sailing. Coming back into the Clear Lake channel I decide it's time to get the engine going. Fires once and then won't start again. It is getting late in the day so I decide to sail the boat in as winds were favorable and there was little traffic. No problem again. I knew if I could get it back to the marina I could dock it and get the engine going so we could maneuver the boat back to its slip. Sailed the boat right up to the first dock in Watergate Marina(for those who know the Kemah area), bring the boat to the dock and instruct my father-in-law not to jump but to step onto the dock. He is 67 years old by the way. He stepped up on the deck and starts to step onto the dock but doesn't realize he has his foot under the headsail sheet. As he is falling toward the dock his weigh pushes the boat away. He then attempts to jump but hits the dock and falls into the water. This is February remember and even in Texas the water is about 50 degrees, he is not wearing a PFD. The boat is still moving down the dock and he is floundering in the water. I rush to the deck, grab a line and jump onto the dock. Securing the boat I ask how he is doing. He has managed to get a hold of a piling but everything in his pockets is floating away; money, cell phone, wallet. He then informs me that he can't move his right arm and that something is very wrong. It becomes evident that there is no way I will be able to get him in the boat or up on to the dock by myself. To make a long story short, a motor yacht pulls up and one of the passengers is a young guy that is a lifeguard. He went into the water and with his help we are able to get my father-in-law onto the dock. By this time he is starting to feel the effects of hypothermia and is need of immediate medical attention. Called an ambulance and got him to a hospital where he was treated for a dislocated shoulder. I learned a valuable lesson that day on how quickly things can go bad. The result could have easily been much worse. My father-in-law just missed hitting his head on the dock as he fell. Tom s/v At Last
Last February my father-in-law and I decided to take my brother-in-law's 30' Catalina out for a little sail. My brother-in-law and his wife had moved to Atlanta from Houston and ask if I would take his boat out once in a while to make sure everything was working. No problem. The boat is a 1984 model so you have to warm up the glow plugs pretty good to get the engine started. After about an hour trying to get the engine going it finally kicked in. Away we went and had a great day sailing. Coming back into the Clear Lake channel I decide it's time to get the engine going. Fires once and then won't start again. It is getting late in the day so I decide to sail the boat in as winds were favorable and there was little traffic. No problem again. I knew if I could get it back to the marina I could dock it and get the engine going so we could maneuver the boat back to its slip. Sailed the boat right up to the first dock in Watergate Marina(for those who know the Kemah area), bring the boat to the dock and instruct my father-in-law not to jump but to step onto the dock. He is 67 years old by the way. He stepped up on the deck and starts to step onto the dock but doesn't realize he has his foot under the headsail sheet. As he is falling toward the dock his weigh pushes the boat away. He then attempts to jump but hits the dock and falls into the water. This is February remember and even in Texas the water is about 50 degrees, he is not wearing a PFD. The boat is still moving down the dock and he is floundering in the water. I rush to the deck, grab a line and jump onto the dock. Securing the boat I ask how he is doing. He has managed to get a hold of a piling but everything in his pockets is floating away; money, cell phone, wallet. He then informs me that he can't move his right arm and that something is very wrong. It becomes evident that there is no way I will be able to get him in the boat or up on to the dock by myself. To make a long story short, a motor yacht pulls up and one of the passengers is a young guy that is a lifeguard. He went into the water and with his help we are able to get my father-in-law onto the dock. By this time he is starting to feel the effects of hypothermia and is need of immediate medical attention. Called an ambulance and got him to a hospital where he was treated for a dislocated shoulder. I learned a valuable lesson that day on how quickly things can go bad. The result could have easily been much worse. My father-in-law just missed hitting his head on the dock as he fell. Tom s/v At Last
Movie???
JC, You mentioned Dead Calm ... I once saw a grade B movie late at night (one of the kids was sick) ... anyway - it was about a sail boat in the Gulf of Mexico being chased by a fishing boat ... the fishing boat liked to rob the sailors, lock them in their cabin and then ram their 'plastic' boat thereby eliminating any witnesses. One of the scariest movie I've ever seen. Has anyone else seen it? Know the name? Thanks, Tom Grass Grasshopper II H 26 #174
JC, You mentioned Dead Calm ... I once saw a grade B movie late at night (one of the kids was sick) ... anyway - it was about a sail boat in the Gulf of Mexico being chased by a fishing boat ... the fishing boat liked to rob the sailors, lock them in their cabin and then ram their 'plastic' boat thereby eliminating any witnesses. One of the scariest movie I've ever seen. Has anyone else seen it? Know the name? Thanks, Tom Grass Grasshopper II H 26 #174
30o6
with armor percing rounds would take care of that problem Put 6 rounds in just below the waterline and he will be too busy fixing his leaks or calling for help to try to catch you and also not sure what to do if he does catch you. Not that I want to start the "I carry arms" flame again.
with armor percing rounds would take care of that problem
Put 6 rounds in just below the waterline and he will be too busy fixing his leaks or calling for help to try to catch you and also not sure what to do if he does catch you. Not that I want to start the "I carry arms" flame again.Wow..
quite a thread this became! the good the bad and the... ugly thanks for all the stories! keep em coming! and yes Dead Calm was a terrifying movie! thanks! Denise ps All I can offer is my 2nd time out the winds were about 25mph. and the boat was a leaning pretty bad! but.. learned how to let the mainsail spill!
quite a thread this became! the good the bad and the... ugly
thanks for all the stories! keep em coming! and yes Dead Calm was a terrifying movie! thanks! Denise ps All I can offer is my 2nd time out the winds were about 25mph. and the boat was a leaning pretty bad! but.. learned how to let the mainsail spill!
Man Overboard
We were enjoying our long planned boys-sail-get- away this September on a 3 night sail around the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior. We were a little crowded on the my H26 (Willie Tipit) as we had 5 guys and all their gear along for the trip. The weather on this great northern lake can be cool and cruel this time of year but the Lord was smiling down on us and we had sunny skys, warm temps in the 80's, and finally this particular afternoon a nice brisk wind. The crew was my son, son-in-law, and two other long time friends. The brisk wind was starting to give us some 20 degree heeling moments so a couple of the guys decided they would like to hike over the side to help keep the boat level. Of course to do this right and to make the most difference in the heeling it would only be proper to make like a hobbie-cat and have some sort trapeeze aparatus. The two trapeeze artists began rigging up a rope with a boat cushion for a base and secured it to the mast. Sure enough this invention seemed to work and soon we had heavy a counter weight in place to balance out the powerful puffs. The guys were having a great time taking turns flying along horizontal to the water hiking way out over the side of the boat that was breezing along nicely at about 7 on the GPS. It seemed like the perfect time to record this for posterity with my video camera so I readied the camera and aked for the big friendly wave and smile. Of course you can all see what is coming and yes the rope gave way at this very moment and down went the flying burrito-brother into the cool waters of Lake Superior. I am so glad I had taken the time early in trip to review man-overboard drills with my crew so we were able to circle back and retrieve our friend in short order. After we had him back onboard we had a good laugh over the situation. Then we realized the video camera caught the whole thing so we were able to all see the instant replay. Reviewing the tape caused even more laughter but at the same time we were very thankful that nobody was hurt and we decided it was probably best if we just stowed the trapeeze away for the remainder of the trip. This was just one of 3 major bullets we dodged on this trip, the night before our mast was hit by lightning during a storm and nobody got hurt, and the last morning we had a campfire on shore and a large tree fell off the steep bank near the fire narrowly missing my son. Sometimes the Lord just smiles down and it is best not to ask too many questions.
We were enjoying our long planned boys-sail-get- away this September on a 3 night sail around the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior. We were a little crowded on the my H26 (Willie Tipit) as we had 5 guys and all their gear along for the trip. The weather on this great northern lake can be cool and cruel this time of year but the Lord was smiling down on us and we had sunny skys, warm temps in the 80's, and finally this particular afternoon a nice brisk wind. The crew was my son, son-in-law, and two other long time friends. The brisk wind was starting to give us some 20 degree heeling moments so a couple of the guys decided they would like to hike over the side to help keep the boat level. Of course to do this right and to make the most difference in the heeling it would only be proper to make like a hobbie-cat and have some sort trapeeze aparatus. The two trapeeze artists began rigging up a rope with a boat cushion for a base and secured it to the mast. Sure enough this invention seemed to work and soon we had heavy a counter weight in place to balance out the powerful puffs. The guys were having a great time taking turns flying along horizontal to the water hiking way out over the side of the boat that was breezing along nicely at about 7 on the GPS. It seemed like the perfect time to record this for posterity with my video camera so I readied the camera and aked for the big friendly wave and smile. Of course you can all see what is coming and yes the rope gave way at this very moment and down went the flying burrito-brother into the cool waters of Lake Superior. I am so glad I had taken the time early in trip to review man-overboard drills with my crew so we were able to circle back and retrieve our friend in short order. After we had him back onboard we had a good laugh over the situation. Then we realized the video camera caught the whole thing so we were able to all see the instant replay. Reviewing the tape caused even more laughter but at the same time we were very thankful that nobody was hurt and we decided it was probably best if we just stowed the trapeeze away for the remainder of the trip. This was just one of 3 major bullets we dodged on this trip, the night before our mast was hit by lightning during a storm and nobody got hurt, and the last morning we had a campfire on shore and a large tree fell off the steep bank near the fire narrowly missing my son. Sometimes the Lord just smiles down and it is best not to ask too many questions.
Question
Bill, Regarding your lightning strike - was your mast grounded? Was it stock? What did it do to your electronics? I'm sure a bunch of us would want to know this. How did your boat handle Lake Superior? We're thinking of bringing Grasshopper II north to Lake Michigan next summer - just wondering. Tom Grass Grasshopper II H-26 #174
Bill, Regarding your lightning strike - was your mast grounded? Was it stock? What did it do to your electronics? I'm sure a bunch of us would want to know this. How did your boat handle Lake Superior? We're thinking of bringing Grasshopper II north to Lake Michigan next summer - just wondering. Tom Grass Grasshopper II H-26 #174
More on the Lightning
The only damage from the lightning as far as I know was the light bulb at the top of the mast. At least I think it is the bulb, I will look closer this spring. It was stock, I did nothing to ground it. It happened when we were tied to a dock on Oak Island and my son was out of the boat standing on the dock, the rest of us were down below around the table playing cards. My son noticed his hair standing up and soon 'Crack boom' he saw the flash go from the mast upward. All of us in the boat heard the crack boom and two seconds later my son jumped in the boat and said "Did you guys hear that? It was lightning that hit the mast!" We were fine and felt nothing other than hearing the big crack boom. Of course my son was a little more shook than us because he witnessed it firsthand. By the way the boat handled that part of Lake Superior just fine. In amonst the islands the winds and waves are manageable. I am unsure of taking this boat a long passage across the big part of the Lake. Has anyone done that??? Say, Bayfield to Isle Royal??
The only damage from the lightning as far as I know was the light bulb at the top of the mast. At least I think it is the bulb, I will look closer this spring. It was stock, I did nothing to ground it. It happened when we were tied to a dock on Oak Island and my son was out of the boat standing on the dock, the rest of us were down below around the table playing cards. My son noticed his hair standing up and soon 'Crack boom' he saw the flash go from the mast upward. All of us in the boat heard the crack boom and two seconds later my son jumped in the boat and said "Did you guys hear that? It was lightning that hit the mast!" We were fine and felt nothing other than hearing the big crack boom. Of course my son was a little more shook than us because he witnessed it firsthand. By the way the boat handled that part of Lake Superior just fine. In amonst the islands the winds and waves are manageable. I am unsure of taking this boat a long passage across the big part of the Lake. Has anyone done that??? Say, Bayfield to Isle Royal??
Kid hazzard
worst nightmare: my wife and I were sailing on our local lake one august afternoon, with our young children. We had set up our h23 for sleeping for the kids to play, sleep, etc. The main cabin sets up with the seatbacks filing over the sole to form a bed across the beam, except for an area close to the v-berth bulkhead where the keel bolts come up. Since it uses the wood panels of the sole to support the seat back, the bolts were uncovered. Our then youngest daughter went in that area headfirst, suffering a depressed skull fracture - just as the wind was piping up enough to require reefing in. I was on deck by myself trying to reef in while my wife was in the cabin with our kids. We sailed back the roughly three miles to the marina because the wind propeled us faster than the outboard could. Our daughter was ok after surgery, but we were pretty shaken. Needless to say, after that experince, we always made sure that space by the bulkhead was filed with something. Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
worst nightmare: my wife and I were sailing on our local lake one august afternoon, with our young children. We had set up our h23 for sleeping for the kids to play, sleep, etc. The main cabin sets up with the seatbacks filing over the sole to form a bed across the beam, except for an area close to the v-berth bulkhead where the keel bolts come up. Since it uses the wood panels of the sole to support the seat back, the bolts were uncovered. Our then youngest daughter went in that area headfirst, suffering a depressed skull fracture - just as the wind was piping up enough to require reefing in. I was on deck by myself trying to reef in while my wife was in the cabin with our kids. We sailed back the roughly three miles to the marina because the wind propeled us faster than the outboard could. Our daughter was ok after surgery, but we were pretty shaken. Needless to say, after that experince, we always made sure that space by the bulkhead was filed with something. Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
H26 in 12 foot waves
We were on Lake Erie, returning from Put-In-Bay to our home port in Sandusky Bay and the weather report indicated a 5-7 foot chop. We had those conditions for about 3 miles then half way between Put-In-Bay and Kelly's Island (as my husband was topside reconnecting the reefing line that came uncleated) conditions changed to 9 foot waves. We rode those waves and rounded up several times just south of Kelly's island....very windy and gusty by then. Around the front of Marblehead Lighthouse, we encountered what we estimated to be 12 foot waves. The wind was so strong that smaller waves were forming on top of the large waves. We were on a course parallel to the waves... riding up one side of the wave and dropping into the trough on the other side. I know this is not a recommended point of sail, but the waves were so close together that our boat would not fit between them if we had tried to hit them at 45 degrees. Our H26 rode the waves beautifully, only tipping slightly as we were raised and dropped...it was almost like riding a bucking bronco. A 30 foot Catalina sailed by and it totally disappeared from view when it dropped into the trough. All the while, the weather station continued to report a 5-7 foot chop. We were teathered to the boat because there was no way we could have turned around to retrieve either of us had one gone overboard...the waves were so close together that we believe we would have capsized in the recovery operation. We remained on course until we were close enough to the Cedar Point break wall which held back waves so we were able to turn into the bay. That was probably our most serious adventure.
We were on Lake Erie, returning from Put-In-Bay to our home port in Sandusky Bay and the weather report indicated a 5-7 foot chop. We had those conditions for about 3 miles then half way between Put-In-Bay and Kelly's Island (as my husband was topside reconnecting the reefing line that came uncleated) conditions changed to 9 foot waves. We rode those waves and rounded up several times just south of Kelly's island....very windy and gusty by then. Around the front of Marblehead Lighthouse, we encountered what we estimated to be 12 foot waves. The wind was so strong that smaller waves were forming on top of the large waves. We were on a course parallel to the waves... riding up one side of the wave and dropping into the trough on the other side. I know this is not a recommended point of sail, but the waves were so close together that our boat would not fit between them if we had tried to hit them at 45 degrees. Our H26 rode the waves beautifully, only tipping slightly as we were raised and dropped...it was almost like riding a bucking bronco. A 30 foot Catalina sailed by and it totally disappeared from view when it dropped into the trough. All the while, the weather station continued to report a 5-7 foot chop. We were teathered to the boat because there was no way we could have turned around to retrieve either of us had one gone overboard...the waves were so close together that we believe we would have capsized in the recovery operation. We remained on course until we were close enough to the Cedar Point break wall which held back waves so we were able to turn into the bay. That was probably our most serious adventure.
one more thing
I forgot to mention that it was incredible when we were in the trough of the very close together 12 foot waves. All we could see was a huge wall of water on either side of our boat.
I forgot to mention that it was incredible when we were in the trough of the very close together 12 foot waves. All we could see was a huge wall of water on either side of our boat.
H26 12 FOOT WAVES
Question about your h26 in 12-foot waves. What sails up? Motor? Wind coming from which direction? How did you recover from roundup in such heavy seas? I have a similar boat and wonder what I might do in conditions like that. Thanks
Question about your h26 in 12-foot waves. What sails up? Motor? Wind coming from which direction? How did you recover from roundup in such heavy seas? I have a similar boat and wonder what I might do in conditions like that. Thanks
1/2 Ellie's experience
We had our 26 out in a blow but the waves were only 6 feet and reasonably fair apart. In these conditions the outboard (long shaft) was coming out of the water. We put in our one and only reef and left the jib down. We went to weather but made a lot of leeway took 3+ hours to go about 5 miles to get around a point. Then we turned down wind but that was difficult. Lots of rudder pressure. We broached 3 times as we went downwind. The broaches were caused by the waves bouncing us around. When we got to a protected area (waves 3 foot) we cranked up the outboard and scurried bacK to the marina. Lessons learned. Its a trailerable boat. Get a ride to trailer and bring the boat home on the road. Stay away from the mainsheet in a following sea. IT will bruise you. Know your limitations. We should have stayed at anchor in that weather. Jib may have been better for the upwind leg.
We had our 26 out in a blow but the waves were only 6 feet and reasonably fair apart. In these conditions the outboard (long shaft) was coming out of the water. We put in our one and only reef and left the jib down. We went to weather but made a lot of leeway took 3+ hours to go about 5 miles to get around a point. Then we turned down wind but that was difficult. Lots of rudder pressure. We broached 3 times as we went downwind. The broaches were caused by the waves bouncing us around. When we got to a protected area (waves 3 foot) we cranked up the outboard and scurried bacK to the marina. Lessons learned. Its a trailerable boat. Get a ride to trailer and bring the boat home on the road. Stay away from the mainsheet in a following sea. IT will bruise you. Know your limitations. We should have stayed at anchor in that weather. Jib may have been better for the upwind leg.
Response to Hal
regarding 12 foot waves in the H26...we had one reef in the main, we didn't have roller furling at that time and think we had dropped the jib. As we rounded up, that action tipped the boat about 30 degrees headed the boat into the wind, and spilled the wind from the sails thereby bringing the boat upright again. The boom was out about as far as it would go before we rounded up and we had little time to react when this occured. We were almost on a broad reach when we hit the 12 foot waves. We do not believe we should have been out in our boat in those conditions. We had asked fishermen about the conditions before heading out and they confirmed the 5-7 foot chop...which is how our sail started out. It was only after we were beyond the half-way point that conditions got nasty. Luckily, the only direction that was safe for us to sail happened to be the direction that we needed to go.
regarding 12 foot waves in the H26...we had one reef in the main, we didn't have roller furling at that time and think we had dropped the jib. As we rounded up, that action tipped the boat about 30 degrees headed the boat into the wind, and spilled the wind from the sails thereby bringing the boat upright again. The boom was out about as far as it would go before we rounded up and we had little time to react when this occured. We were almost on a broad reach when we hit the 12 foot waves. We do not believe we should have been out in our boat in those conditions. We had asked fishermen about the conditions before heading out and they confirmed the 5-7 foot chop...which is how our sail started out. It was only after we were beyond the half-way point that conditions got nasty. Luckily, the only direction that was safe for us to sail happened to be the direction that we needed to go.
- Status