Sophmore Solo sailor and first time in a GOOD gust?

[joes new addiction]

Had the "itch" soooo bad to go sailing, I HAD to go up to my boat at the Palpac. The night before had we had terrible wind and heavy rain, later in the day more rain and wind was called for, but now all is good (or sort of good).
Plus, there wasn't a power boat to been seem on the lake, just 3 sailboats!
I made a new set of dock lines, the sun was shining and when I saw another set of sails pass by me on the water, I HAD to join them.
Set her up and headed out.
I slipped out of the dock and wasn't out 20' away from the "no wake bouy", (my personal marker to raise sails).
She instantly filled the sails and we were on a run, I mean RUN! The most wind I have sailed in in my short sailing career
"hmmm, we're really moving here, cool!
The breeze would do weird things, full sails once second, next the sails would flutter, then fill again. I swear the wind were swirling @ me, (they say Lake Walenpalpac is a weird lake to sail in, wind comes from all over).
I went to go @ a island on the starboard side (never pass it on that side before, but the run was so good!). Saw a set of bouys that showed I was going in the wrong direction if I went farther, (never saw them there before)
(No problem I LOVE to tack!!), Port tacked, close hauled, a clean one, then it hit!
A gust hit me like a sledge hammer, she healed ALOT! Scared the sheets out of me!
I turn into the wind and settled her back down. (This PT 1/4 handles really well),
The breezed pick up ALOT all of a sudden. Powerful gust for a few seconds, then a steady breeze then a GOOD gust, like that).
I knew I should have....................
1. pulled the jig block cars back on the track (I had it set for kinda light wind, moved forward) (I shoulda done this when I hoisted the jib and saw there was a good stiff breeze)
2. Pulled the main sail tight on the boom. I had the main set kinda loose for light winds
3. Reefed the main.
I gotta tell ya, first time I was ever in a stiff breeze like this and the gust rattled me.
I was under control, but.................
I ended up tacking back to the dock staying close to the windward side of the lake in the lee of the shore where it was a bit more stable winds, (well close to the dock, I headed into the wind and fired the motor the last 100 yards til the marina hills blocked the wind.
(I usuaully head down this cove where in the past there has been little or no wind, lower the jib , throw out the bumpers and motor into the docks.
Today, when I looked down there I saw a sail boat with a FULL set of sails comming out, so I knew that was out, lowered the jib (not as neat as I would have like to but it was lowered, freed up the main sail, motored back to the dock. (I lower the main at the dock)
So, I knew WHAT I had to do when the gusts hit, but how does a solo sailor DO All that when she under a good gust and you gotta keep the tiller under control?
How do I pull the main sail tight on the boom underway?
How do I reef the main on the water?
After I got back to the dock, tied her up, stored everything ,sat back to relax and enjoy the moment, I looked back at it (then) and was excited and pleased at how I handled it, but whilist it was going on, I was a bit nervous!
Ideas on what I should have done? Things I didn't do? Things I screwed up?
Joe

 

[whatfiero]

solo sailer

just point into wind and set up a classic tiller hold ; a rope wrapped around tiller

 

[Manureva]

i use a lot of my autopilot in these case!

 

[zeehag]

on windy day, ye might consider leaving dock with reefs already in main....

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Lake sailing always presents problems with gusts and wind veers. You'll just have to learn to adapt. I'm always complaining about the wind veers, but complaining isn't going to help, is it?

When I'm sailing solo in gusty conditions, I try to make sure to have a jib size that is manageable even in the strongest gusts, because releasing the jib sheet in a gust isn't an option, and the flogging is very bad overall. Moving the blocks back for more twist is a good idea, but I can't do it under load, so I don't worry about it when reacting to gusts. I don't think it makes much difference in the amount of heeling anyway. I just wait for a good opportunity to move them back on the next tack.

When you say "tighten the main to the boom" we really are not sure what you mean. I'm thinking that you mean that you want to flatten the sail with the outhaul. I use my outhaul alot and I want it to be convenient, that is why I led the control line back to the cockpit where I can adjust it with the cabin top winch if necessary. Your only choice is to set it right to begin with, or set up the controls so you adjust it easily. When you are on a lake in gusty conditions and wind veers, going to the mast to adjust the outhaul just isn't going to work very well.

On a boat your size, you will need to be able to feather the main sail in gusts. With a hand on the tiller and a hand gripping the mainsheet, you should be able to adjust the angle of attack to avoid those round-ups and sudden heeling. Most in here will say that the traveler is the way to dump wind. On our small boats, I don't think it makes any difference (I've been doing it both ways for a long time now, and I find my mainsheet far easier to play when in gusty conditions, and more effective). You should be able to handle just about anything that comes along, simply by feathering into the wind with the tiller, and spilling some of the wind with the mainsheet. If you react calmly, you will avoid the lurching actions that result from over-reacting.

You have to learn to interpret the signs that the wind is telegraphing to you. You will soon learn to anticipate gusts by reading the water and the feel of the air. It's far easier to deal with gusty winds and wind veers when you learn how to anticipate ahead of the changes rather than react too late when the gusts and veers take you by surprise.

As far as reefing goes, you need to have a way to keep the boat into the wind with the wind just slightly on one side in order set the reef, which takes more than just a few moments. Obviously, it helps the most if you have crew to manage the tiller. Without crew, learning how to heave-to will make reefing easier. I've been able to reef by balancing the rig while pinched into the wind, but you have to move very quickly (I have to go to the mast to hook the tack to the ram's horn).

When I need to reef when single-handed, I always manage the overpowering conditions and sail into the lee of high ground for protection, set the reef, and then sail out into open wind again. We can do that easily on a small lake. It won't be so easy in open water.

 

[SchwarckT]

If overpowered and needing to reef, I ease the mainsheet and come up on a close reach with the jib drawing. Now with the main luffing, I lash the tiller and go to the mast and apply a single-line jiffy reef to the mainsail. I also use this procedure at the end of the sail to drop the main and secure it to the boom before sailing into the dock under jib alone(no motor on my 15'er).

 

[rgranger]

Years ago I had to change my headsail from a genoa to my storm jib while underway. The deck was pitching, the horn cleat on the bow was trying to tear parts of my body off... I got flogged half to death....and ever since then, I take the attitude that it is much easier to add sail than to shorten it. So when I leave the dock, I do so with a conservative amount of sail up and then add it as the day progresses. Okay so that is my solution for the head sail. On the main... do you have slab reefing? If not consider putting a slab reefing line. It is not hard to set up and you can practice reefing quickly from the dock until you are confident that you could do it in 30 seconds or so.

I also do a lot of sailing on a lake. The points of land cause the wind to bend, and sometimes swirl. You can sometimes get a feel for how the wind direction is changing by looking at the "cat claws" on the water. Study them and you will see how a point of land effects the direction of the wind. Then you can make adjustments to your heading in advance of getting stalled. The "cat claws" also will let you know of a gust coming. Keep your eye on those and if you see a gust coming, let out your main sail a bit and you should be able to take it without getting knocked down.

 

[joes new addiction]

thanks!
All good tips and kinda what I wanted to do and did.
Some of it was "captian's error"
The sailing school boat was passing on my port side, (where the gust came from, starboard was the tip of the island), I was calling out to them, the instructor was saying something about if I was going to crew this weekend with the club's first race comming up. They didn't pass out of the gust so it was a new event.
I usually watch the water, cuz this lake (I'm learning) has wind "lines" and "sunburn" lines where your full sail 1 second, dead in the water the next.
The water was funny that day, (at least to me), not white caps, but all "swirly" if you could call it that, I couldn't make out just what way the winds was comming from. (I'll damn sure know next time I see that, the sheet storm is comming)!
I wanted to "flatten the main sail" sorry.
I have a line made up that clips on my tiller and over the 2 rear cleats that I use to hold the tiller straight if I need to leave it, but with the gust (actually it was a bad storm moving in) hitting her I was worried that if I left the tiller to reef or.... and she heeled, I might be swimming whilsit she sailed into history without me!
I just calmly turned into the wind a few degrees ans she settled, turn back to my orginal heading, til I realized SOMETHING was brewing and it was tie to call it, the "rookie get off the freakin' water" alarm was going off in my head.
The coastgaurd boat was motoring up and down so that made me feel better, dunno what they were doing but they seemed in a hurry back and forth? Nice boat!
Lesson learned, get a lean indicator? heel indicator? keep her 10-15 degrees, look at the weather before I head out, (my phone is up for change, this is a good chance to get a "smart phone" wiht all the bells and whistles on it),reef the sail early at the dock (to date I've never reefed, maybe I'll try sailing reefed and unreefed to feel the difference) IF I think it might be bad,
I HAD planned on making this first half of the season "fair weather" sailing, but trial by fire? gust? is a good learning tool!
I figure the boat is 41 years old, she should be taking care of me when I get into new water! We had a long talk at the dock and she know now that sometimes she has to do the thinking!!
Joe
Another notch in my belt, 9,999,999,999 to go and I'll be a real sailor!

 

[wflowe2]

If it is windy, and you aren't racing, try sailing on head sail alone. I went out single hand one day last week with winds in the 14 to 24kt range and just used my 125 genoa. Had a great afternoon and didn't work my ### off. I could still hit hull speed and point pretty well. The boat is a Catalina 320 with fin keel.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Joe, I've done more than my share of cussing at the wind in those conditions! There are days when it seems that no matter which way I'm headed, the wind is eventually on the nose. There have also been a few times when no matter how I meander around the lake, the wind is following!

 

[Joe Diver]

Well Joe...I haven't felt the need to discuss this on any sailing forums I haunt, but I have in great depth with my sailing coach. Since it also happened to you....it happened to me too.

In my year and a half of sailing, I had a good experience every time I've been out. Some better than others of course, but always a good time. That changed 3 weekends ago. It was the first time sailing actually scared me.

The winds were forecast to be 10-15 kts and not nearly as gusty as previous days. I set sail across the lake, good clip, moderate heel, all was going well.

Then, the wind decided it had no idea what to do. It would go from a good steady breeze to nothing...stalled...then back to a breeze with small puffs. Then the wind would radically change direction, so everything was off and I'm trimming again. The wind would stop and even come from behind. It was very difficult sailing as I just could not get on anything steady, to sit back and relax.

Then it happened. Suddenly, out of nowhere, I got hit with a puff stronger BY FAR than anything else I'd encountered so far that day. The boat heeled over violently. Everything was creaking and groaning and the base of my stanchions hit the water. For the first time ever, I felt like I might actually be thrown from the boat. I struggled to hold on, the weather helm was impossible. She was going to round up and there was nothing I could do about it. As she turned the bow dug in making the turn harder and the heel more. Terrified I just held on, eased the tiller and let her do her thing. She faced the wind, uprighted and the sails luffed violently. It was so loud. As soon as it happened, it was over.

Now, I recount this to you able to take time to describe things in hindsight. In reality, it all happened an just a matter of seconds.

I sat there in shock, quite frightened. It was like being in a car accident, where you didn't get hurt but are quite taken by it. I regained my composure and while pointing into the wind, doused and secured the main, leaving the jib to sail by. I didn't cleat the jib, but had 4 wraps around the winch and the bight in my hand, so I could "play" the sail in these crazy conditions. I sailed for a few more hours, but during the 3rd becalming (each lasting 20-30 minutes) I gave it up and just drifted in the boat, relaxing and enjoying just being on the water.

I had a nice long chat with my sailing coach about it...and it comes down to two basic things:

1. I failed at situational awareness. Had I been less focused on keeping my trim and heading, coming out of a stall and picking up speed...if I had just looked around, maybe I would have seen that puff coming so I would have had time to ease the main and jib.

2. I got "punched". It happens to everyone. Now it's happened to me. Deal with it. Learn from it.

 

[sinnettc]

Yep. I had my "punch" on our Capri 16.5. Went out on an evening when the only other boats on the lake were 25' and up. Sailing with a first time sailor who spoke English as a second language. Smart, huh?

As we left the mostly protected harbor we hit a band of wind channeling around the hill to the north of the east facing harbor entrance. Next thing I knew we were flying down the lake. I managed to get the boat under control and we "hid" in the next little harbor while I caught my breath. We then spent 2 hours beating our way the mile back up the lake and trying to get back into our harbor. We did fine in the lee of the hill, but the 50' wide band of strong wind would send us flying each time we tried to cross it. Pepe thought it was a blast, meanwhile I'm cussing because my main is flogging like crazy every time I have to let out to keep from going swimming.

After about 10 tries we finally made it through the band of strong wind and I relaxed as we sailed along the YC docks on the way to our own marina. Next thing I know we get hit by a huge gust. I let the main run but Pepe can't get the jib sheet to release. The boat is on the verge of going over and I'm deciding whether to go off the stern or onto the main when he finally pops the sheet free of the cam cleat and lets it fly. The boat settled and as the gust faded we made a hasty dash for my slip.

That was about as close as I wanted to come to dumping the Capri 16.5, which I'm sure would have turtled. Damage was 2 chafed through batten pockets and installation of a set of reefing points by Ullman San Diego over the winter. I never got to try out the reefed main as we upgraded to Verboten the next summer.

I've had a couple of adrenalin moments with the Capri 22 but nothing like that day. Hopefully it stays that way.

 

[joes new addiction]

I thought prehaps the sailing Gods desided to HATE me cuz I painted my boat hull blue, but I guess it happens, like sheet!
Yep, guilty as charged, I was yelling (talking) to another boat, was trying to get the tell tales to behave, had looked at the water but didn't see, (or SAW and didn't understand) what was about to take place.
I WILL remember what that water looked like that day as well as the sky, how FAST the clouds rolled in,(I've heard tales of storms running boats down, but thought they might have been "asleep" at the wheel and thought that stuff can't happen to me, "hell the palpac is a small lake surrounded by high banks and mountians, well compared to the Great Lakes where I've heard these tales", but I guess it can happen anywhere.
I'm thankful my wife desided to stay home and work @ the garden! Her second vaygage may have beeb the last time she stepped foot on my boat!
For a breif moment I felt like "Skipper and Gilligan" in the "Minnow", I was about to spin the wheel, only thing that stopped me.... no Mary Ann and Ginger to take the sting outta being marrooned!
Joe
Why do some "life lessons" leave marks in your drawers?

 

[chp]

Similar experiences, but after a couple years experience and being a pilot you learn a few things about weather. Last week the wind was a nice 6-10 knts. However there were a lot heavy cumulus clouds with strong rainfall in the area. These clouds when dropping rain create a strong gust front. I had already reefed the main and was ready to furl the jib if needed. Sure enough, when one of the clouds headed my way the wind picked up to 15-25 knts. I never heeled more than 30* because I was ready for it. Although my speed wasn't record setting in between gusts, I had control of the boat in the gusts. Anyone who knows the Mac knows how tender it can be so being prepared and knowing weather really helps. Best mod to do on a small boat is a reefing system if it doesn't already have one. I can reef my sail in about 45 seconds single handed.

 

[justsomeguy]

snip-
Why do some "life lessons" leave marks in your drawers?

To remind you of the alternative. I'm in the process of felling a large, dead aleppo on my property, and some of the limb drops are doing the same thing to my drawers.

 

[rgranger]

Diver... great retelling. Thanks for sharing. I actually got my blood pressure up just reading it.

We've all been there. That is why you lock down your keel