When the Wind's Too Strong for Your Engine

[Gary Wyngarden]

Reading the "Worst Day" stories reminds me of stuff I've read about the wind just overpowering an auxiliary engine. Coming back from Barkley Sound last month, we motored for six hours through fog with no wind and an eighth of a mile visibility. When the fog finally burned off, the wind picked up and we set sail for a downwind romp. Within an hour and a half the wind was blowing at 30 knots (welcome to Juan de Fuca Strait). We were headed for Port Angeles and had to round Ediz Hook and come back upwind through the harbor for 2.5 miles to reach the marina. Running the diesel at 2900 rpm (our normal cruising speed) while we doused the rest of the main, we were only able to make 3 knots against the wind. We'd normally be doing 7 at that rpm. It was a reminder that a not too much stronger wind would have brought us to a standstill.Have you ever been to the point where your auxiliary engine was overpowered by the wind? How hard was the wind blowing? What did you do? Run off? Set storm sails? Make a burnt offering to the wind gods?Gary Wyngardens/v ShibumiH335

 

[Jim Willis]

Three bladed max prop (and/or motorsail)

My Gulf 32 used to have that problem in the SF Bay. This boat has a pilothouse with lots of windage. Of course there we had big currents too!However, I was amazed that when I changed to 3 bladed max prop (from the piddly 2 blader) the boat forged through the chop like a little battleship!Another thing I found (since the boat does sail to weather well with lots of sail up) is that motorsailing helps you sail even closer to weather, even though you might have to zig and sag a bit.Jim W