Storms in Open Water?

[OldCat]

Some Options

The original poster said "open water", but also contrasted the question with "at anchor", so, this depends on how 'open' open water is (at least not an anchorage).One place to hide is in the lee of land, such as an island. I once got caught in a gale off Catalina Island in a chartered Catalina 34, Cat harbor reported 35kts wind. But, it was not that bad because the island protected us from any big waves. We just motored, always keeping an eye on sailing options just in case the iron genny died.On lakes here, I have also hove too under power with no sail up while a thunderstorm rolled through. Small lakes have small waves, so the outboard was not at risk of flooding or the prop coming out of the water. We used the motor to hold position with the bow just a comfortable amount off the eye of the wind. Motoring can be a good storm tactic as long as you have a plan in case the power dies.These are far from the only good options. What to do in a storm will depend on the boat, conditions where you are, and how many options that you have prepared for in advance. The more options planned and practiced in advance in less dire weather, the better.OC

 

[Chris Connor]

Caught in a storm

Hello Mike:I was thinking some more on your initial question. I think it would also depend a lot on the seaworthiness and to a lessor extent the seakindliness of your boat. When i was in coast guard college we had Contessa 32's. They were very capable offshore boats. When I went looking for my present boat I took what Earnest k. Gann's said to heart: "I want a boat that drinks six, feeds four and sleeps two." We ended up with a Catalina 310. The storm tactics I would use for the two boats would differ dramatically. The Catalina 310 has higher freeboard and is very beamy and carries her beam well aft. It is not fun running downwind under power or sail with a following sea that is building.A recent USCG report discussed the option of using a line with small cones sewn the length of it (it's referenced in the Practical Sailor article)streamed out astern on a bridle. Again, I would be reluctant to do this with a 310 because of the 'walk-through' stern for fear of being pooped.I would suggest taking an offshore course from US Sailing or CYA. I agree that experience is a great teacher as long as you have someone along to mentor you through the learning process!Since it seemed important earlier I have to admit, I don't have as much heavy weather experience under sail or small vessels as I would like. It was limited to working as Chief Coxswain in a CCG Search and Rescue 45' self-righting motor lifeboat stationed on the East Coast of Canada. Most of my heavy weather experience was gained on larger vessels on the Grand Banks - where 40 knots and dense fog is a normal day much of the year.I did have the opportunity over a couple of summers to command the sailing vessl MAR, a ketch rigged wooden vessel about 75 feet long. She was originally built for Earnest K. Gann (and I believe to his specifications as well). She circumnavigated twice. There again, even the type of rig you carry can influence your storm tactics. Now that's my idea of a seaworthy and seakindly sailboat!I've looked at Coles' "Heavy Weather Sailing." at the bookstore not too long ago. I think I'll pick it up next time I'm at the book store.I come home from an oil rig in West Africa on the 4th. I will be sailing on the 5th.Regards,Chris

 

[mseifert]

Thanks for the advice

Thank you to everyone who responded to this post. I appreciate the advice. I need to just get out there now and start getting some experience. --mike

 

[Cap'n Ron]

Not the place for ADVISE....

The best is at sea, barring that Tonga, Fiji, or the pub just below the Charthouse in the Alawai, changed the name of it.You talk to cruisers, not weekend sailors, wanna be's or liveaboards.Most smart sailors learn at sea to have a worst scenerio planned out, why? Because you may not have time during that big one that hits you.Active macho "storm tactics" have their place in real time, especilly with highly experienced or racing crews, but at the end of the day, as the wind increases and it chnges from a 'normal' gale into a full-fledged STORM even the saltiest of the brave will be heading down the companionway and buttoning up under a mattress on the sole.If you are in the cockpit in a storm, you will get hurt, allmost for sure. Down below, nothing you can do anyway you - are caught on the giants back - down below you will not be thrown into the stanchions, rigging, or worse.You will not go overboard like many do in "active strom" tactics and the vessel will be fine taking care of herself, usually much better.Read John Rossmaniere's "Fastnet 79" over 300 vessels in big trouble, RACING yachts with the best crews in the world.What did they do?After trying "active storm tactics" they all called for rescue, except for ted Turners and a few more that were out of the dangerous semi-circle.They were taken off and out of all the racing yachts with fin, bulb and fancy keels not designed for tracking, only one ended up on rocks and was damaged beyond repair.The others were found, after the storm, to be in good condiiton after taking care of themselves through the 'bomb' that was not predicted by meterologists.Some of the participants died getting into the rafts that they need not have boarded.IN fact, one man was left alone by the 'crew' aboard one yacht.It is a psych strain of tremendous preportions to be in a real storm, all white, can't see, can hardly see the waves for all the spray and the sound is defeaning (I wore a wet suit with hood, and dive mask), and every thing is going wild your world has become a swirling mass of movement....you just want OFF! reason seems to fly out the window, folks do some weird things, even in gales.