Seamanship
The art of seamanship is not getting yourself in a positon where you need seamanship. Enough said. -S-
The art of seamanship is not getting yourself in a positon where you need seamanship. Enough said. -S-
- Status
What would one do?
Learn from this experience. Is not one taught never to go out sailing when there be a storm abrewing? But if one gets caught in an unexpected gale, all one has is information they may have read to go on. One cannot gain experience sitting on their couch reading. Yes, it might help to go over in one's mind what one would do. But one never knows until the poop hits the prop! Me? First off I would not show concern or that I might have made a potential fatal error. A sure way to kill your crew is for the captain to show indecisiveness. Maintain a possitive attitude regarless of how gloom the situation. Remember, YOU are in charge and everyone looks to you for decission. Next, drop the headsail and reef the main. Have all hands dawn PDFs and get them busy doing something, anything, like stow any loose gear, or try and mop up any water that got into the cabin. Then, head for the nearest sheltered harbor. With the engine gone it might be difficult to impossible to get into the harbor, but at least you are going somewhere and there is a plan in place. However, until this happens, I do not know what I will do. Having never experienced such a situation (and I hope I never do), we will have to see what happens when it happens.
Learn from this experience. Is not one taught never to go out sailing when there be a storm abrewing? But if one gets caught in an unexpected gale, all one has is information they may have read to go on. One cannot gain experience sitting on their couch reading. Yes, it might help to go over in one's mind what one would do. But one never knows until the poop hits the prop! Me? First off I would not show concern or that I might have made a potential fatal error. A sure way to kill your crew is for the captain to show indecisiveness. Maintain a possitive attitude regarless of how gloom the situation. Remember, YOU are in charge and everyone looks to you for decission. Next, drop the headsail and reef the main. Have all hands dawn PDFs and get them busy doing something, anything, like stow any loose gear, or try and mop up any water that got into the cabin. Then, head for the nearest sheltered harbor. With the engine gone it might be difficult to impossible to get into the harbor, but at least you are going somewhere and there is a plan in place. However, until this happens, I do not know what I will do. Having never experienced such a situation (and I hope I never do), we will have to see what happens when it happens.
what...
I have not read previous posts... Here is what I would do... PFD's on all Calm your passangers. If the skipper is too busy, then get support from your partner. Get some saltines into your seasick one, and try to calm the sobbing one. Skipper and partner need to be solid as rocks. Let them know you have many options to make it through this safely. Set some sail to try to claw your way offshore and toward your marina. Are you making progress toword the marina? If so, Great. Call on 16 for Towboat US, or other vendors and explain that you will need some help getting into your marina. Make a security call to the Coast Guard. Give them your position, heading, and destination. Let them know that you are standing by on 16. Ask them what the weather forcast is for the next few hours. stay on 16. If you begin to lose ground to the lee shore, Use Pan Pan call. This means that though there are no life threatening issus right now, there is the potential for threats in the near future. This will upgrade your emergency. Other vessels may be asked to assist you. keep in contact with the Coast Guard. If the situation becomes life threatening either by that lee shore, or the illness of the crew or passengers, you will need to issue mayday. At that point, all resources available will be deployed (we hope) to assist you. Then the wind goes away and the sun shines... Close enough for governtment work? I wonder how I did? Eric
I have not read previous posts... Here is what I would do... PFD's on all Calm your passangers. If the skipper is too busy, then get support from your partner. Get some saltines into your seasick one, and try to calm the sobbing one. Skipper and partner need to be solid as rocks. Let them know you have many options to make it through this safely. Set some sail to try to claw your way offshore and toward your marina. Are you making progress toword the marina? If so, Great. Call on 16 for Towboat US, or other vendors and explain that you will need some help getting into your marina. Make a security call to the Coast Guard. Give them your position, heading, and destination. Let them know that you are standing by on 16. Ask them what the weather forcast is for the next few hours. stay on 16. If you begin to lose ground to the lee shore, Use Pan Pan call. This means that though there are no life threatening issus right now, there is the potential for threats in the near future. This will upgrade your emergency. Other vessels may be asked to assist you. keep in contact with the Coast Guard. If the situation becomes life threatening either by that lee shore, or the illness of the crew or passengers, you will need to issue mayday. At that point, all resources available will be deployed (we hope) to assist you. Then the wind goes away and the sun shines... Close enough for governtment work? I wonder how I did? Eric
OK
Now that this thread has deteriorated to bickering I'll post my thoughts. Tell the guests to cut the PFD's in halfs, duct tape the halves to each knee and one around their heads. (Being a prepared sailor we had an extra PFD to split.) Then tell them to stand on the bow pulpit and point to the rocks. Tell the guests the momentium will catapult them to safety on impact. The Captain must be chained to the helm prior to guests positioning themselves. In other words, quit bickering, people may learn something here and I like hearing the many opinions. A common theme is to stay calm, get some sail up, calm the guests by asking them to get you another beer, and continue thinking. After regaining control of the boat downwind with maybe a little jib. Make a new decision weather or not to try to head back upwind. How's that?
Now that this thread has deteriorated to bickering I'll post my thoughts. Tell the guests to cut the PFD's in halfs, duct tape the halves to each knee and one around their heads. (Being a prepared sailor we had an extra PFD to split.) Then tell them to stand on the bow pulpit and point to the rocks. Tell the guests the momentium will catapult them to safety on impact. The Captain must be chained to the helm prior to guests positioning themselves. In other words, quit bickering, people may learn something here and I like hearing the many opinions. A common theme is to stay calm, get some sail up, calm the guests by asking them to get you another beer, and continue thinking. After regaining control of the boat downwind with maybe a little jib. Make a new decision weather or not to try to head back upwind. How's that?
When lyn and Larry Pardey were transiting
the Panama Canal in Seraffin with a borrowed outboard engine. The engine failed, Larry's first command was "get the sails up." Without engine and without sails you are a "will-o-the wisp" and no better off than if you had lost your rudder. edited for punctuation.
the Panama Canal in Seraffin with a borrowed outboard engine. The engine failed, Larry's first command was "get the sails up." Without engine and without sails you are a "will-o-the wisp" and no better off than if you had lost your rudder. edited for punctuation.
Don't worry...be Happy!
Drop anchor...call Sea Tow immediately for a tow back to safe harbor...make coffee.
Drop anchor...call Sea Tow immediately for a tow back to safe harbor...make coffee.
A Synthesis
A quarter of the responses ignored or wanted to change conditions of the situation as it was given, and either made the situation more dire, e.g., failed radios, or less than was specified in the question: you fail, because you are pessimists from the get-go, or you will not be able to sprinkle the same Pixie Dust on the situation when it happens in the real world. Half of the responses scolded the hypothetical skipper of the boat for making such unwise choices, and then lectured us on proper seamanship, thus avoiding part or all of the question: you also fail, because while you were pontificating, the boat went up on the lee shore, the crew doesn't even have PFDs on, and no one even knows you're there. Let's hope you succumb to the hypothermia first and shut up. A few responses made good headway and are very reasonable responses, with a few misunderstandings (reefing sails that are completely doused, for example), but I think no one put it all together. I'm adding nothing new, but rather snipping and stitching together pieces from several of those responses. *** *** *** *** For the purposes of discussion, let's say it's the husband who is seasick, and his wife who is crying. This hypothetical skipper faces a bull with two horns: the practical seamanship that will secure the safety of his yacht and passengers; and the affective challenge that has incapacitated two-thirds of his potential crew. Both problems need to be addressed, either by direct action or delegation. 1) With the help of your spouse, tighten up the mainsail's outhaul before it gets tensioned by the wind and is impossible to adjust, get the main back up carrying its deepest reef; mainsheet hard in, halyard banjo tight, and pinch up to forereach. Ease the traveler car as necessary. This will get the boat moving and reduce the heavy rolling that is causing your passengers much of their physical and emotional distress. Only if the little production boat simply cannot handle the conditions should some sort of passive strategy be attempted, i.e., dragging anything you can as a sea anchor to keep the bow on to the wind and slowly drifting down on that lee shore that is a couple of hours away, hoping the gale will abate to allow you to get going under sail again, or finally calling for rescue as you approach the lee shore when the CGs resources may be occupied elsewhere is a greatly less-preferred strategy, and a gamble as well. 2) Your spouse is an important overlooked resource in this scenario: call her over, tell her things will be okay, but that for that to happen, you will need to depend on her to both be available to you for essential work on deck, and to take up the burden of the physical and psychological welfare of your passengers/erstwile crew. 2) Announce to the three that things have gotten challenging, but there is no reason to believe that you cannot make it back up the seven miles to your home marina under sail. Still, the conditions warrant the precautionary steps of: a) breaking out PFDs (foul weather gear for you and your spouse; whatever else is available for your guests) for everyone. (The captain dons his as well: good practice and good leadership), and b) giving the Coast Guard a "Hello" as standard practice so that they can monitor your situation and connect you with a tow service once you get up to your channel, if that becomes necessary (don't say the word "rescue." That was their first thought when you said "Coast Guard." Leave them with the thought that you are capable, but prudent, and that it is not time to panic). Tell them that most of these gales are short-lived, and by the time you get near your marina, chances are things will have settled down enough to anchor outside and attempt engine repairs so you can enter the channel under your own power. Now you have a crew, a boat that is on her feet, and a leader with a plan. 3) Make the Pan-Pan call, providing the CG (I'm assuming the CG will respond to your Pan-Pan) with your boat's name, description, number of crew, the conditions you are experiencing (including your failed engine), your sail configuration and the boat's response to it, your best position fix and destination. Ask for a weather forecast. Advise them you will monitor Ch. 16 and give half-hour updates. 4) Get your crew busy with tasks to occupy them, at least temporarily: the one who is seasick doesn't have the skill to man the helm and keep the boat pinched up and steady, but if he's not totally given over to mal de mer, he can stow loose gear or help you try to roll out a little headsail if the boat can carry it. Make him your lookout for other boat traffic, fetch your harness, read instruments from the companionway and report back, whatever. In the meantime, your spouse has consoled the crying woman and they've gotten busy securing gear and possessions down below, getting some crackers up to your seasick crewman, and any other food into everybody else; if they can use the stove safely to heat water for soup, broth, tea or coffee, all the better. The husband now has something to do to keep his mind off of his nausea; the wife feels much better, both seeing her husband contributing to her (everyone's) safety and being part of a positive plan of action herself, with your wife for additional comfort. Try to get the women back up in the cockpit as soon as possible and as heel/space allow; it really is a better ride up there. If the husband is incapacitated, his care devolves to your wife, or his wife if she is showing enough fortitude, to free up your one experienced crew woman. Give the crew a recap of your conversation with the CG. If the weather forecast is for improving weather, relay it to the crew. 5) When you notice the wind reducing, the swells getting smaller, the boat standing up taller, or any positive event that can be used for boosting morale, announce it to your crew. If you have GPS, give periodic distance updates to them. Anything substantive will be good for their outlook and determination to bond together as a crew. References to the movie "The Perfect Storm" would be contra-indicated. Now you're a functioning team. 6) When you get outside your home marina, a couple of hours have gone by, and the conditions are likely to have improved. Try to find any available shelter. If conditions/depth permit, anchor, make sure you have a good set, rig chaffing gear if it's still necessary, and notify the CG; then check in with everybody, tell them it's either repair the engine or be towed in, so it's likely that they all will live now. Allow for some emotional catharsis, thank everyone for their help, then get to the engine. Lowered RPM prior to stalling suggests fuel supply, and the timing of the problem suggests clogged a filter from tank grime, so check lines and spin on a new filter before getting into deeper trouble-shooting. Don't forget the tank pick-up tube and its screen, a common culprit. If the swell is still high and driven, and/or anchoring is impractical, it's better to congratulate yourself for getting back safely, and call for your tow while under sail outside your marina. 7) The gale is likely blown over by now. If you can't get the engine running in an hour, call for a tow inside to your slip. 8) When you're back in the slip, thank your crew for their steadiness and dependability when things got interesting; praise them for rising to the challenge and giving their best when it was needed. Be available to let them do more "de-briefing" talk before you get them and their gear safely to their car. Wave and smile as they pull away. Don't let them see your hand shaking. 9) Bestow you wife with TRIPLE PRAISE for being the best, most dependable, dedicated crew you could ever imagine having, and suggest that you take a "Heavy Weather Tactics" course together before she has a chance to say it. Secure the boat with just the essentials, get her home, and cater to her for the rest of the evening. 10) Before you take the boat out again, a) inspect standing and running rigging from masthead to chain plates for stress-related damage/weakening, b) survey your major systems (electrical wiring, battery straps, pumps, hoses, anything else you think could have shaken loose, and any remaining engine issues, and c) review your decision-making process and people skills, and pre-sailing procedures (like getting a wx forecast before every day sail), and list the specific equipment/provisions you want on board against similar conditions: Sea anchor? Hot cocoa packets? Take the opportunity to reflect on good seamanship, your skill level, and safety issues over the next few weeks.
A quarter of the responses ignored or wanted to change conditions of the situation as it was given, and either made the situation more dire, e.g., failed radios, or less than was specified in the question: you fail, because you are pessimists from the get-go, or you will not be able to sprinkle the same Pixie Dust on the situation when it happens in the real world. Half of the responses scolded the hypothetical skipper of the boat for making such unwise choices, and then lectured us on proper seamanship, thus avoiding part or all of the question: you also fail, because while you were pontificating, the boat went up on the lee shore, the crew doesn't even have PFDs on, and no one even knows you're there. Let's hope you succumb to the hypothermia first and shut up. A few responses made good headway and are very reasonable responses, with a few misunderstandings (reefing sails that are completely doused, for example), but I think no one put it all together. I'm adding nothing new, but rather snipping and stitching together pieces from several of those responses. *** *** *** *** For the purposes of discussion, let's say it's the husband who is seasick, and his wife who is crying. This hypothetical skipper faces a bull with two horns: the practical seamanship that will secure the safety of his yacht and passengers; and the affective challenge that has incapacitated two-thirds of his potential crew. Both problems need to be addressed, either by direct action or delegation. 1) With the help of your spouse, tighten up the mainsail's outhaul before it gets tensioned by the wind and is impossible to adjust, get the main back up carrying its deepest reef; mainsheet hard in, halyard banjo tight, and pinch up to forereach. Ease the traveler car as necessary. This will get the boat moving and reduce the heavy rolling that is causing your passengers much of their physical and emotional distress. Only if the little production boat simply cannot handle the conditions should some sort of passive strategy be attempted, i.e., dragging anything you can as a sea anchor to keep the bow on to the wind and slowly drifting down on that lee shore that is a couple of hours away, hoping the gale will abate to allow you to get going under sail again, or finally calling for rescue as you approach the lee shore when the CGs resources may be occupied elsewhere is a greatly less-preferred strategy, and a gamble as well. 2) Your spouse is an important overlooked resource in this scenario: call her over, tell her things will be okay, but that for that to happen, you will need to depend on her to both be available to you for essential work on deck, and to take up the burden of the physical and psychological welfare of your passengers/erstwile crew. 2) Announce to the three that things have gotten challenging, but there is no reason to believe that you cannot make it back up the seven miles to your home marina under sail. Still, the conditions warrant the precautionary steps of: a) breaking out PFDs (foul weather gear for you and your spouse; whatever else is available for your guests) for everyone. (The captain dons his as well: good practice and good leadership), and b) giving the Coast Guard a "Hello" as standard practice so that they can monitor your situation and connect you with a tow service once you get up to your channel, if that becomes necessary (don't say the word "rescue." That was their first thought when you said "Coast Guard." Leave them with the thought that you are capable, but prudent, and that it is not time to panic). Tell them that most of these gales are short-lived, and by the time you get near your marina, chances are things will have settled down enough to anchor outside and attempt engine repairs so you can enter the channel under your own power. Now you have a crew, a boat that is on her feet, and a leader with a plan. 3) Make the Pan-Pan call, providing the CG (I'm assuming the CG will respond to your Pan-Pan) with your boat's name, description, number of crew, the conditions you are experiencing (including your failed engine), your sail configuration and the boat's response to it, your best position fix and destination. Ask for a weather forecast. Advise them you will monitor Ch. 16 and give half-hour updates. 4) Get your crew busy with tasks to occupy them, at least temporarily: the one who is seasick doesn't have the skill to man the helm and keep the boat pinched up and steady, but if he's not totally given over to mal de mer, he can stow loose gear or help you try to roll out a little headsail if the boat can carry it. Make him your lookout for other boat traffic, fetch your harness, read instruments from the companionway and report back, whatever. In the meantime, your spouse has consoled the crying woman and they've gotten busy securing gear and possessions down below, getting some crackers up to your seasick crewman, and any other food into everybody else; if they can use the stove safely to heat water for soup, broth, tea or coffee, all the better. The husband now has something to do to keep his mind off of his nausea; the wife feels much better, both seeing her husband contributing to her (everyone's) safety and being part of a positive plan of action herself, with your wife for additional comfort. Try to get the women back up in the cockpit as soon as possible and as heel/space allow; it really is a better ride up there. If the husband is incapacitated, his care devolves to your wife, or his wife if she is showing enough fortitude, to free up your one experienced crew woman. Give the crew a recap of your conversation with the CG. If the weather forecast is for improving weather, relay it to the crew. 5) When you notice the wind reducing, the swells getting smaller, the boat standing up taller, or any positive event that can be used for boosting morale, announce it to your crew. If you have GPS, give periodic distance updates to them. Anything substantive will be good for their outlook and determination to bond together as a crew. References to the movie "The Perfect Storm" would be contra-indicated. Now you're a functioning team. 6) When you get outside your home marina, a couple of hours have gone by, and the conditions are likely to have improved. Try to find any available shelter. If conditions/depth permit, anchor, make sure you have a good set, rig chaffing gear if it's still necessary, and notify the CG; then check in with everybody, tell them it's either repair the engine or be towed in, so it's likely that they all will live now. Allow for some emotional catharsis, thank everyone for their help, then get to the engine. Lowered RPM prior to stalling suggests fuel supply, and the timing of the problem suggests clogged a filter from tank grime, so check lines and spin on a new filter before getting into deeper trouble-shooting. Don't forget the tank pick-up tube and its screen, a common culprit. If the swell is still high and driven, and/or anchoring is impractical, it's better to congratulate yourself for getting back safely, and call for your tow while under sail outside your marina. 7) The gale is likely blown over by now. If you can't get the engine running in an hour, call for a tow inside to your slip. 8) When you're back in the slip, thank your crew for their steadiness and dependability when things got interesting; praise them for rising to the challenge and giving their best when it was needed. Be available to let them do more "de-briefing" talk before you get them and their gear safely to their car. Wave and smile as they pull away. Don't let them see your hand shaking. 9) Bestow you wife with TRIPLE PRAISE for being the best, most dependable, dedicated crew you could ever imagine having, and suggest that you take a "Heavy Weather Tactics" course together before she has a chance to say it. Secure the boat with just the essentials, get her home, and cater to her for the rest of the evening. 10) Before you take the boat out again, a) inspect standing and running rigging from masthead to chain plates for stress-related damage/weakening, b) survey your major systems (electrical wiring, battery straps, pumps, hoses, anything else you think could have shaken loose, and any remaining engine issues, and c) review your decision-making process and people skills, and pre-sailing procedures (like getting a wx forecast before every day sail), and list the specific equipment/provisions you want on board against similar conditions: Sea anchor? Hot cocoa packets? Take the opportunity to reflect on good seamanship, your skill level, and safety issues over the next few weeks.
Lots of words ...
to add detail to the first response. Be a Sailor In the interest of making friends and all ... 30 knots in almost any production 30 footer I've ever seen should not be any kind of emergency. I'll wager the boat could be sailing in less time than it takes to make the VHF call. Every sailor from the SF Bay area deals with chop and 20+ on a regular basis. 30 knots is barely out of a small craft warning. The physics of the scenario are sudden 30 knot wind that whips up a 5 foot chop. Do some research, find out how long it takes for a 30 knot wind to create a 5 foot chop. How much fetch is needed? It would take hours of 30 knot winds to generate 5 foot chop. Trying to formulate a serious answer to a situation that is based on conditions that are not likely and a non-emergency caused by a skipper that had a brain fart is the real challenge. It's kind of like asking what would you do if you had a wading pool, 20 gallons of Crisco, and the Girls Gone Wild cast didn't show up.
I've got my flame suit on ... fire away
to add detail to the first response. Be a Sailor In the interest of making friends and all ... 30 knots in almost any production 30 footer I've ever seen should not be any kind of emergency. I'll wager the boat could be sailing in less time than it takes to make the VHF call. Every sailor from the SF Bay area deals with chop and 20+ on a regular basis. 30 knots is barely out of a small craft warning. The physics of the scenario are sudden 30 knot wind that whips up a 5 foot chop. Do some research, find out how long it takes for a 30 knot wind to create a 5 foot chop. How much fetch is needed? It would take hours of 30 knot winds to generate 5 foot chop. Trying to formulate a serious answer to a situation that is based on conditions that are not likely and a non-emergency caused by a skipper that had a brain fart is the real challenge. It's kind of like asking what would you do if you had a wading pool, 20 gallons of Crisco, and the Girls Gone Wild cast didn't show up.
I've got my flame suit on ... fire away
Heeve to! If you don't know how I would strongly suggest you learn. In fact, I would suggest that every skipper do this on a nice sailing day at least once or twice a season so they don't forget just how easy and calming it really is. The scenario you are describing is only a nightmare if you don't have the sailing skills to handle the situation.
Heave-to
When attacked by a bear, do we fight or curl-up and play dead? I've read all the responses. The overwhelming majority suggest challenging Mother Nature in one way or another. You can never win. My advice is drop anchor and batten-down the hatches and hunker-down. Make your guests as comfortable as possible. Get on the weather radio, laptop or whatever and get an idea of what's going on. Contact support via VHF if desired. Ride out the storm in the safety of the cabin. Keep an eye on things like anchor dragging and such. Increase scope. Roll out enough headsail to stead or aid stability, but remain safe. Tom
When attacked by a bear, do we fight or curl-up and play dead? I've read all the responses. The overwhelming majority suggest challenging Mother Nature in one way or another. You can never win. My advice is drop anchor and batten-down the hatches and hunker-down. Make your guests as comfortable as possible. Get on the weather radio, laptop or whatever and get an idea of what's going on. Contact support via VHF if desired. Ride out the storm in the safety of the cabin. Keep an eye on things like anchor dragging and such. Increase scope. Roll out enough headsail to stead or aid stability, but remain safe. Tom
Little Boats need the same attention
Having just bought my first boat - Capri 14.2, I would like to get some insight into how to handle this type of situation when singlehanding and on a slightly smaller scale. I plan to sail local lakes and eventually the coast of Maine and MA. I plan to always have my PFD on! It is rigged with a strobe and I carry a VHF portable and GPS... My plan would be to reef the main and furl in the jib as needed and continue towards any safe place. I would heave to in order to reef, and get everything battened down. Might even put a drogue out to keep head to wind while doing so. Make a Securite call including GPS coordinates and intended direction, SOB, etc. Head for safe place and concentrate on the very hot shower and two fingers of single malt awaiting my safe return. Good... Bad... Ugly... What do you all think. Namaste, Jon Frost S/v Namaste Southampton, MA
Having just bought my first boat - Capri 14.2, I would like to get some insight into how to handle this type of situation when singlehanding and on a slightly smaller scale. I plan to sail local lakes and eventually the coast of Maine and MA. I plan to always have my PFD on! It is rigged with a strobe and I carry a VHF portable and GPS... My plan would be to reef the main and furl in the jib as needed and continue towards any safe place. I would heave to in order to reef, and get everything battened down. Might even put a drogue out to keep head to wind while doing so. Make a Securite call including GPS coordinates and intended direction, SOB, etc. Head for safe place and concentrate on the very hot shower and two fingers of single malt awaiting my safe return. Good... Bad... Ugly... What do you all think. Namaste, Jon Frost S/v Namaste Southampton, MA
Fetch and time to develop waves
30 knots is 15+ m/s and Force 7 A Force 7 (moderate gale) needs 30 hours and 500 km of fetch to generate fully developed waves. 7 miles from the windward shore, 30 knot winds for 15-30 minutes are not going to produce extreme conditions. There simply is not enough time or fetch. In this case, reducing the fetch by sailing upwind will reduce the wave height. Since the suddenness of the wind marks it as a squall, the wind will be moderating while you sail. There is every indication that things are going to get better, not worse.
30 knots is 15+ m/s and Force 7 A Force 7 (moderate gale) needs 30 hours and 500 km of fetch to generate fully developed waves. 7 miles from the windward shore, 30 knot winds for 15-30 minutes are not going to produce extreme conditions. There simply is not enough time or fetch. In this case, reducing the fetch by sailing upwind will reduce the wave height. Since the suddenness of the wind marks it as a squall, the wind will be moderating while you sail. There is every indication that things are going to get better, not worse.
I agree with Franklin
If 5' seas needed 500 km to develop, the Great Lakes would never get there and the Edmund Fitzgerald would have made it to Detroit. I've seen 10-15 footers blow up in less than 2 hours and last much longer than you want them to. I guess that's what we get for sailing on a mill pond. Pull your spheres back out, put the sails back up and tell your guests, "Hey, this is just starting to get good!" Then start yelling, "YEEE-HAW" every third or fourth wave you crash through. You'll get there eventually.
If 5' seas needed 500 km to develop, the Great Lakes would never get there and the Edmund Fitzgerald would have made it to Detroit. I've seen 10-15 footers blow up in less than 2 hours and last much longer than you want them to. I guess that's what we get for sailing on a mill pond. Pull your spheres back out, put the sails back up and tell your guests, "Hey, this is just starting to get good!" Then start yelling, "YEEE-HAW" every third or fourth wave you crash through. You'll get there eventually.
Sounds about right
The Capri 14.2 that I know of is an open cockpit daysailer. I don't think I'd find myself in open water unless I was very sure of my skills and crew and had a good forecast and some local knowledge. That said, your plan to shorten sail and keep the boat under control is exactly the correct response. If you intend to sail in open water close to shore, I would take the boat out in heavy air in protected waters and practice. There is a big difference in knowing what works in heavy air and being able to make those adjustments easily and quickly (since you have practiced them) and having to figure it out on the fly. Force yourself to go sailing in Small Craft Warning conditions so you develop faith in yourself and the boat. Perhaps get a friend with a larger boat to be on stand-by just in case you need a hand. Having a plan before you need it is half the battle, I have no doubt that you will do just fine.
The Capri 14.2 that I know of is an open cockpit daysailer. I don't think I'd find myself in open water unless I was very sure of my skills and crew and had a good forecast and some local knowledge. That said, your plan to shorten sail and keep the boat under control is exactly the correct response. If you intend to sail in open water close to shore, I would take the boat out in heavy air in protected waters and practice. There is a big difference in knowing what works in heavy air and being able to make those adjustments easily and quickly (since you have practiced them) and having to figure it out on the fly. Force yourself to go sailing in Small Craft Warning conditions so you develop faith in yourself and the boat. Perhaps get a friend with a larger boat to be on stand-by just in case you need a hand. Having a plan before you need it is half the battle, I have no doubt that you will do just fine.
No matter
how long it takes to get waves that high or winds that fast. This IS the seneerio. Period. I have learned as I sure others have by this forum. Some by experience and some by reading this thread. Which by the way is a good concept. I like having a differant senerios every month or so. Kinda like taking a sailing class at home for some. . I have ALWAYS been of the boy scout school, where proper planning is first and formost. Always be prepared. I know the senerio called for sudden winds and waves. But lets look at it realistically. There is some time for the capt to act and make decisions. Or in this case, some bad decisions. First, was dropping sails..Reefing them, should of been first. ALWAYS keep the sailboat sailing, be it slow or fast,but under sail and therby control. Motoring is a backup,just as the radio is. Being prepared is being confident and in control. Throwing up and sobbing has nothing to do with the operation of the sailboat. A good capt will be able to overlook the trivial things that only cause to distract his attention. Let the sobber tend to the puker and the wife(first mate) tend to the captain and his boat. Keep it up, Ctskip
how long it takes to get waves that high or winds that fast. This IS the seneerio. Period. I have learned as I sure others have by this forum. Some by experience and some by reading this thread. Which by the way is a good concept. I like having a differant senerios every month or so. Kinda like taking a sailing class at home for some. . I have ALWAYS been of the boy scout school, where proper planning is first and formost. Always be prepared. I know the senerio called for sudden winds and waves. But lets look at it realistically. There is some time for the capt to act and make decisions. Or in this case, some bad decisions. First, was dropping sails..Reefing them, should of been first. ALWAYS keep the sailboat sailing, be it slow or fast,but under sail and therby control. Motoring is a backup,just as the radio is. Being prepared is being confident and in control. Throwing up and sobbing has nothing to do with the operation of the sailboat. A good capt will be able to overlook the trivial things that only cause to distract his attention. Let the sobber tend to the puker and the wife(first mate) tend to the captain and his boat. Keep it up, Ctskip
Not what I said
I didn't say it took 500km of fetch to develop 5' waves. Force 7 generates 13.5 - 19 foot waves after 30 hours with 500 km fetch Force 7 for 15 minutes with 11 km fetch (the situation in the example) is not likely to produce 5 foot waves. *IF* you were closer to the lee shore and the bottom was shoaling, the wind driven waves will be higher. In the given scenario there are 7 miles upwind and 3 down, probably not close enough to the lee shore to make the waves a problem. It has been my experience that 12 hours of 30+ with 10-15 miles of fetch did not produce 5 foot waves in the relativly shallow waters of SF's south bay.
I didn't say it took 500km of fetch to develop 5' waves. Force 7 generates 13.5 - 19 foot waves after 30 hours with 500 km fetch Force 7 for 15 minutes with 11 km fetch (the situation in the example) is not likely to produce 5 foot waves. *IF* you were closer to the lee shore and the bottom was shoaling, the wind driven waves will be higher. In the given scenario there are 7 miles upwind and 3 down, probably not close enough to the lee shore to make the waves a problem. It has been my experience that 12 hours of 30+ with 10-15 miles of fetch did not produce 5 foot waves in the relativly shallow waters of SF's south bay.
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