Traveling from Avalon Harbor to Isthmus Harbor on Catalina Island, a distance of about 12 miles, there is a good breeze from the stern (about 10 degrees starboard) with a following sea with about 6 foot docile swells. The main is up and out however am also motoring to maintain hull speed so I can reach Isthmus before dark (late start). Jib is furled due to being cantankerous with a stern wind. A large trawler overtakes me on the port. There is a big wake that eventually catches me. So as not to have the boom swing around and everything rocking back and forth (no side resistance with main swung way out) I sheeted the main to prevent wild jibe and cut about 60 degrees to port. The wind turned out to be sizzling at about 25 knots (guessing) however I didn't realize this as the apparent wind was less due to motoring. (the folowing happens in a span of about 10 seconds) She heels over so dramatically that I have to brace with my legs in the cockpit while working the tiller to try and steer back to the original course. However the rudder is useless and only pushing the bow into the water. We hit the wake and the keel comes out of the water momentarily between the waves. The mast hits the water, I fly into the lifelines and everything not nailed down hits the cabin side. The boat stops and then rights itself. I steer back on course. No damage except a huge mess inside even though everything had been (so I thought) stowed or secured. Where were the mistakes?
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What to do, what to do??
I would have centered the main, then eased the mainsheet as I turned to port. How's that? Buenos nachos, Arturo.
I would have centered the main, then eased the mainsheet as I turned to port. How's that? Buenos nachos, Arturo.
surf it!
First off, our mainsail also blankets our headsail on a run so, our headsail being larger, we usually run with the main down. An accidental gybe of the headsail isn't such a big deal: If the gybe isn't a big deal, then you don't need to worry about the wake of a passing boat causing one. Second, when we do sail anything in the way of a broad reach with the main up, we always rig a preventer. Especially if there's any sort of swell: If the wind is only 10 degrees off your centerline it won't take more than a second's inattention on the helm to let a wave bump you that far off course and cause an accidental gybe. If the gybe isn't a big deal, then you don't need to worry about the wake of a passing boat causing one. The wakes of passing boats can make your sailboat rock back and forth in a nasty way. Some people address this by yelling epithets at the boat causing the wake (not very effective). Others deal with it by turning sharply into the wake to cross it faster and take it at a better angle so they don't rock as much. This works but it can scare the begeezus out of other boaters in the area who may not be expecting violent manuevers on your part and, in strong winds and waves, can produce unpleasant boat motion. With (a lot) of practice, you can steer a straight course as the wake goes by. This requires very rapid rudder movements (small, but fast): You are essentially trying to deliberately make the boat "wiggle" in very small deviations around your desired course. By doing so, you are focussing on keeping the average course where you want it and, in concentrating on that, you automatically compensate for the effects of the wake which are much slower than your "wiggling." With even more practice, you can actually surf the wake...But practice in calmer waters and not in narrow channels until you feel good with it!
First off, our mainsail also blankets our headsail on a run so, our headsail being larger, we usually run with the main down. An accidental gybe of the headsail isn't such a big deal: If the gybe isn't a big deal, then you don't need to worry about the wake of a passing boat causing one. Second, when we do sail anything in the way of a broad reach with the main up, we always rig a preventer. Especially if there's any sort of swell: If the wind is only 10 degrees off your centerline it won't take more than a second's inattention on the helm to let a wave bump you that far off course and cause an accidental gybe. If the gybe isn't a big deal, then you don't need to worry about the wake of a passing boat causing one. The wakes of passing boats can make your sailboat rock back and forth in a nasty way. Some people address this by yelling epithets at the boat causing the wake (not very effective). Others deal with it by turning sharply into the wake to cross it faster and take it at a better angle so they don't rock as much. This works but it can scare the begeezus out of other boaters in the area who may not be expecting violent manuevers on your part and, in strong winds and waves, can produce unpleasant boat motion. With (a lot) of practice, you can steer a straight course as the wake goes by. This requires very rapid rudder movements (small, but fast): You are essentially trying to deliberately make the boat "wiggle" in very small deviations around your desired course. By doing so, you are focussing on keeping the average course where you want it and, in concentrating on that, you automatically compensate for the effects of the wake which are much slower than your "wiggling." With even more practice, you can actually surf the wake...But practice in calmer waters and not in narrow channels until you feel good with it!
Boom Brake
Rig a jibe preventer for long downwind runs or install a boom brake. Either will prevent or dampen erratic boom motion caused by wakes or confused seas or chop. The boom brake offers the added advantage of controlling the boom in either a planned or accidental jibe.
Rig a jibe preventer for long downwind runs or install a boom brake. Either will prevent or dampen erratic boom motion caused by wakes or confused seas or chop. The boom brake offers the added advantage of controlling the boom in either a planned or accidental jibe.
Why sheeting the main
I am not sure is I would have done anything better, but on hind-sight, why did you sheet the main and then turn to a beam reach? I understand you wanted to control an accidental jibe, but I think it might have played better if you had just made the turn into the wind and let the sail luff a bit. By sheeting (depending how hard you sheeted in) and turning into the wind, it is expected to become over-powered, with excesive heel, and the eventual rounding-up. The conditions might not have warranted it, but the basic sequence of "steer to course, then set sails" may have avoided this situation.
I am not sure is I would have done anything better, but on hind-sight, why did you sheet the main and then turn to a beam reach? I understand you wanted to control an accidental jibe, but I think it might have played better if you had just made the turn into the wind and let the sail luff a bit. By sheeting (depending how hard you sheeted in) and turning into the wind, it is expected to become over-powered, with excesive heel, and the eventual rounding-up. The conditions might not have warranted it, but the basic sequence of "steer to course, then set sails" may have avoided this situation.
wind
Seems you were sailing in Santa Ana winds which can be high and were coming from the North East. The usual wind is from the S.W. or S.S.West. I think you would have noticed and felt the waves generated from tbe wind unless they were cancelled out by the island which does not make sense. Nice to know that the boat will right it self like it is supposed to.
Seems you were sailing in Santa Ana winds which can be high and were coming from the North East. The usual wind is from the S.W. or S.S.West. I think you would have noticed and felt the waves generated from tbe wind unless they were cancelled out by the island which does not make sense. Nice to know that the boat will right it self like it is supposed to.
you turned the wrong way!
well, here's my two cents. The overtaking boat was to leeward(port side), while you are on a run, the boom out to port with the wind over the starboard quarter, right? Fred, what you did was jibe the boat, under power no less and with the sails powered up, presenting your hull to the oncoming wake waves causing the vessel to spin out of control and nearly be knocked down. I think that's called a broach. IMHO, you should have headed up to windward, away from the over taking vessel, avoiding any kind of a jibe, and surfed the wake waves for a little fun. Simply trim the main in a bit so it won't flog, you're still under power, right?, then resume your course after the wake waves pass.
well, here's my two cents. The overtaking boat was to leeward(port side), while you are on a run, the boom out to port with the wind over the starboard quarter, right? Fred, what you did was jibe the boat, under power no less and with the sails powered up, presenting your hull to the oncoming wake waves causing the vessel to spin out of control and nearly be knocked down. I think that's called a broach. IMHO, you should have headed up to windward, away from the over taking vessel, avoiding any kind of a jibe, and surfed the wake waves for a little fun. Simply trim the main in a bit so it won't flog, you're still under power, right?, then resume your course after the wake waves pass.
That was it!
Thanks Joe, that was it. The following sea and wind pushed me down when I turned broad to the swells and fully sheeted the main. The wake was the clincher when it allowed the keel to surface. Yes, under power and sail and swells and wake the combined forces made a menacing 10 seconds. Next time turn to windward and surf.
Thanks Joe, that was it. The following sea and wind pushed me down when I turned broad to the swells and fully sheeted the main. The wake was the clincher when it allowed the keel to surface. Yes, under power and sail and swells and wake the combined forces made a menacing 10 seconds. Next time turn to windward and surf.
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