Worse than a Spanish galleon?

V

vhoisington

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Mar 13, 2011
175
Islander Freeport 41 Longmont
Having had the privilege of helming the Californian, a top sail schooner, during a blow off San Diego (yes water running down the decks, seas 15-25 feet), I can say that even these boats don't go to weather very well. Tacking is an exercise in patience and practice. You must fall off a point or two to pick up speed and then time it just right to put the helm over. To complete the tack the boat must start about 7 or 8 points off the wind and then carry all the way through to the the same point on the new heading. Only then can you harden up to somewhere around 6 points. to finish that trip we actually got caught off shore San Diego and spent almost 4 hours trying to get into the harbor due to minimal engine assist and wind blowing directly out the harbor mouth.

One of my most fun sailing adventures even though it wasn't on my boat.
 
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PotomacDaysailer

PotomacDaysailer

.
Jun 14, 2010
307
Seafarer 29 Oologah, OK
vhoisington said:
Having had the privilege of helming the Californian, a top sail schooner, during a blow off San Diego (yes water running down the decks, seas 15-25 feet), I can say that even these boats don't go to weather very well. Tacking is an exercise in patience and practice. You must fall off a point or two to pick up speed and then time it just right to put the helm over. To complete the tack the boat must start about 7 or 8 points off the wind and then carry all the way through to the the same point on the new heading. Only then can you harden up to somewhere around 6 points. to finish that trip we actually got caught off shore San Diego and spent almost 4 hours trying to get into the harbor due to minimal engine assist and wind blowing directly out the harbor mouth.

One of my most fun sailing adventures even though it wasn't on my boat.
Click to expand
That sounds awesome and I do mean that literally!
 
V

vhoisington

.
Mar 13, 2011
175
Islander Freeport 41 Longmont
yes it was, the really awesome thing is I don't have to exaggerate the size of the waves or anything about the day. When you can look out to the horizon and see the waves (instead of a straight line), you know its going to be exciting.

It was a historical society cruise that almost didn't happen, once they decided to leave port and we cleared the harbor the waves really hit. Most of the paying passengers (who were were way older than the boat) were expected to act as crew but ended up seasick instead. The captain asked my buddy and I to helm while he want to the bow to help the 1st mate shorten sail since the 1st mate was riding the bowsprit and getting dunked on each wave. Once he saw we could handle her, he let us helm for most of the day. My wife was having a ball until we got it broadside by a 45' rogue wave which threw the boat sideways, lunch (chili) was splattered across the walls of the galley and her and a friend were knocked across the boat. She then proceeded to huddle on a bench the rest of the day seasick and more than just a little scared.

Not your typical schooner cruise for sure.
 
topcat0399

topcat0399

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Aug 22, 2011
1,113
MacGregor Venture V224 Cheeseland
vhoisington said:
yes it was, the really awesome thing is I don't have to exaggerate the size of the waves or anything about the day. When you can look out to the horizon and see the waves (instead of a straight line), you know its going to be exciting.

It was a historical society cruise that almost didn't happen, once they decided to leave port and we cleared the harbor the waves really hit. Most of the paying passengers (who were were way older than the boat) were expected to act as crew but ended up seasick instead. The captain asked my buddy and I to helm while he want to the bow to help the 1st mate shorten sail since the 1st mate was riding the bowsprit and getting dunked on each wave. Once he saw we could handle her, he let us helm for most of the day. My wife was having a ball until we got it broadside by a 45' rogue wave which threw the boat sideways, lunch (chili) was splattered across the walls of the galley and her and a friend were knocked across the boat. She then proceeded to huddle on a bench the rest of the day seasick and more than just a little scared.

Not your typical schooner cruise for sure.
Click to expand

I want to do that. Twice even.
 
druid

druid

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Apr 22, 2009
837
Ontario 32 Pender Harbour
I have a short story in a short-story book called "t'Weather!". I have no idea what book it came from or who wrote it, but it is a very exciting and realistic(?) account of getting a square-rigger to sail to windward (in this case to avoid dangerous rocks). Things like "the wind's yer mark, helm!", "Are ye sailor enough to know what would happen if we set lee-boards in this wind?" and once they were clear of the rocks: "Up hellum up! Auff! Auff!"

A very good read!
druid
 
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