Who's the Boss?

[Gary Wyngarden]

Last Wednesday I helped a friend deliver his Valiant 40 to Anacortes on the mainland for some much needed work. For a variety of reasons (long story) his boat hadn't been hauled since it was in Tahiti two and a half years ago, and the bottom growth and barnacles on the prop were seriously slowing the boat's speed making it tough to go more than five knots regardless of wind and or engine speed.The trip to Anacortes is only about 20 miles in waters we are both very familiar with. Forecasted winds were 10-15 knot Northeasters. We mostly needed to go in an Easterly direction. We had a big tidal range going from a 7.5 foot plus to a minus 2.1 that would result in a big cross current on Rosario Strait and a contrary current in Guemes Channel. The tide was supposed to bottom out about 1330. We were trying to arrive for a haulout at 1500.The first couple of hours of the trip were uneventful with little wind and currents so we motored. The excitement began when we approached Rosario Strait. The NE wind was blowing steadily in the mid 20's with our highest gust recorded at 32. We were trying to sail close hauled into it but were being set to the South by a 3.5 knot current. The course made good on my computer was showing we were being deflected 45 degrees from our heading and would not make Guemes Channel but would be pushed ashore on Fidalgo Island.So we tacked and tried to make some offing to the North so we could get into the channel. Once again we were deflected at least 45 degrees from our heading by the combination of tide and wind, and were recrossing Rosario Strait.No matter what we did, we could not make progress toward our destination. Long story made short, we continued to tack for an hour and a half keeping our boat off islands and reefs until the current began to slack at 1330. Then we were able to punch through into the channel albeit on the wrong side of the buoy (but still in 35 feet of water). We were only a little late for our haulout.Lessons learned:1. Don't wait until your boat's sailing ability is seriously impaired to get work done.2. Don't be lulled into complacency by your experience and by a benign weather forecast. We should have entered Rosario Strait to the North through Obstruction Pass and let the current take us down as we crossed.Notwithstanding the lessons, we had some great sailing with heel angles up to 35 degrees and salt spray everywhere beating into the winds and tides even on this very stiff blue water boat.So who's the boss? The wind and the ocean and never forget it!Gary WyngardenS/V Wanderlust H37.5

 

[Mark7500]

Preparedness is the boss

I don't mean to criticize your story but it seems like if the owner knew before leaving the dock that there was some serious fouling AND the trip would involve significant currents and/or wind, he should have taken a few steps to prepare:1. Scrape the fouling at least off the prop--I've done it myself in 45 degree water and it makes a HUGE difference in propulsion.2. Don't get in a hurry; wait for better wind and current situations OR turn around and go back when things get worse than you expected.3. Make the trip with another boat (power) that's big enough to help out if necessary.Sometimes it's just best to admit things are more than the boat (or you) can handle.

 

[Seattle Scott]

Hey Gary, did you guys reef down

excessively to keep the rig stain down on the "SV Deferred Maintanence" ?