was wondering what everybodies experience with rough weather and heavy swells has been. i'm sure there are some nasty stories. i'm curious how much my old venture 222 can handle without breaking in two 
worst seas in you macgregor
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I no it's not much but my M handled really well in 3 footers with the spray freezing to everything, but I've only had it out once Theres lots of videos of macs on youtube as well.
Theres lots of videos of macs on youtube as well.
The V222 is a tough little boat. My '72 has seen a lot of rough weather the whole time it has been in my family. On the water, the worst I can remember is 3.5 to 4-foot swells on the lake I sail on. The boat was bobbing up and down and pitching bad enough that the prop on my outboard kept lifting out of the water. No problems. It was a white-knuckle ride that probably took years off my life and had my wife completely mortified, but the boat did great.
This happened to me in about 3' exiting a channel w/ rocks on each side... was down to 1.5 knts... I raised the main and was able to stabilize the boat enough to get out and fall off.
scared me too. I really didn't want to burn up the ob like that!
sailing wise, I've got confidence she can take more than I can.
3 feet doesn't sound like much but when surfing i have been rolled by waves like that and it gives you a little respect for what a volume of water can do. Timo those pictures are neat just looking at the thumbnails you really don't grasp the hieght of the swell that is a pretty big boat dissapearing. the worst seas i have been in were inland and really only white caps but the gusts were so high that making way in my house boat was almost impossible with most of the boat being above the water.
Been in 4' seas in an 19' trophy on icy straits AK. That was more than nerve racking. Had to tail the wake of our buddies 25' aluminum pilothouse to get out. Was worried then, but the 3 footers in the Mac was nothing. the first wave or two when I healed over was white knuckled but it rounded up quick then I settled in and enjoyed putting the bow into the next wave, real smooth compared to any power boat i've been in, cut into the wave and popped up to take the next one no pounding. The wife was along for the ride and she didn't really seem to notice that anything was happening
I am a sissy.
Southern California has so many sites for weather ( surf, nooa, satalites, etc.) that I hardly ever get caught out in a storm.
I have been sailing when 14 foot waves were slaming into the breakwater while I was safe sailing in the harbor.
I have been out in 10 foot swells with 15 knot breezes that was fun, it all depends on the time between swells.
I do believe my Mac will take more the me.
It's kina like a bicycle over a bumpy road or a Caddie, they will both get you there but the ride is different.
Southern California has so many sites for weather ( surf, nooa, satalites, etc.) that I hardly ever get caught out in a storm.
I have been sailing when 14 foot waves were slaming into the breakwater while I was safe sailing in the harbor.
I have been out in 10 foot swells with 15 knot breezes that was fun, it all depends on the time between swells.
I do believe my Mac will take more the me.
It's kina like a bicycle over a bumpy road or a Caddie, they will both get you there but the ride is different.
Last summer I had my V222 in the Albemarle on a sail from Alligator Creek Marina to Elizabeth City. The day had 25 mph winds with gust to 30. The chop was steep and closely spaced. What I learned that day is the ride is much smoother and actually fun with the engine OFF. With the engine on I felt like we hit the waves instead of sailing through the waves. I put up a storm jib (25%) and two reefs in the main. No problems. She heeled over about 30 deg and started slicing through the waves. The helm was well balance and it was a wet and fun ride. We made the crossing in about an hour and forty min. Passed two other sailboats on the way.
I am fortunate. When I found my Mac it came with 5 sails (a light air main and a working main with two sets of reef points) and three diff. sized head sails (25%, 75% & 130%). I've learned that sail balance makes a HUGE difference in how the boat deals with heavy air. If the boat is heeled over too far and you are wrestling the helm you stall and then get slammed by the waves. If you boat is making good speed through the water it slices through the waves. I have found that since I have acquired this boat (with its sail inventory) I actually look for higher wind days (15 to 20 is my favorite but I'll go out in 30).
I am fortunate. When I found my Mac it came with 5 sails (a light air main and a working main with two sets of reef points) and three diff. sized head sails (25%, 75% & 130%). I've learned that sail balance makes a HUGE difference in how the boat deals with heavy air. If the boat is heeled over too far and you are wrestling the helm you stall and then get slammed by the waves. If you boat is making good speed through the water it slices through the waves. I have found that since I have acquired this boat (with its sail inventory) I actually look for higher wind days (15 to 20 is my favorite but I'll go out in 30).
I was in Galveston bay and got caught in a storm that came up very quickly. The winds were over 30 mph and the waves were three to four feet. I tried to sail back to the marina but that was not possible. Next I decided to take the sails down but could not keep the sailboat pointed into the wind. I then set my anchor out and the boat lined up behind the anchor and then I was able to get my sails down. We (myself, wife and two small children) decided to ride it out. The only damage done to the boat was around the housing around keel. The housing was easily fixed. We were stuck out there from around 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm when the winds slowed down. The boat held up well.
I've yet to launch my Mac22 (hopefully in May) and this is the only sailcraft I've had except for a Windsurfer.
Worse, I live in Hilo (windward on the Big Island) where the water even on a mild day can be pretty flat inside the breakwater, and a washing machine outside. So, I'm reading all your reports with great interest, and trying to learn what I can from them. Thanks!
My plan is to sail the boat inside the breakwater for a few days until I get a feel for it. Then I'm going to trailer it over to the Kailua-Kona side (leeward) where the conditions are usually like glass, so I'm told. There are some large protected areas near Kawaihae I can practice in; and if I start feeling bold I'll try some short coastal jaunts, maybe.
But I know from windsurfing: eventually, we all fall down. I'm wondering about the inevitable moment when she heals over TOO far, and I dunk the sails.
How hard is it to get a 1978 Mac 22 (with a 500# iron keel) back upright once she's gone (as the locals say) huli-over? What's the procedure?
Any tips on how to recognize when you're about to go too far; immediate action to avoid laying the boat over; and what to do when that inevitably happens, would sure ease my troubled mind.
VBR,
Pat
Worse, I live in Hilo (windward on the Big Island) where the water even on a mild day can be pretty flat inside the breakwater, and a washing machine outside. So, I'm reading all your reports with great interest, and trying to learn what I can from them. Thanks!
My plan is to sail the boat inside the breakwater for a few days until I get a feel for it. Then I'm going to trailer it over to the Kailua-Kona side (leeward) where the conditions are usually like glass, so I'm told. There are some large protected areas near Kawaihae I can practice in; and if I start feeling bold I'll try some short coastal jaunts, maybe.
But I know from windsurfing: eventually, we all fall down. I'm wondering about the inevitable moment when she heals over TOO far, and I dunk the sails.
How hard is it to get a 1978 Mac 22 (with a 500# iron keel) back upright once she's gone (as the locals say) huli-over? What's the procedure?
Any tips on how to recognize when you're about to go too far; immediate action to avoid laying the boat over; and what to do when that inevitably happens, would sure ease my troubled mind.
VBR,
Pat
when in doubt let everything go (sheets and tiller). and lock the keel down.
- do that and it will not roll.
- do that and it will not roll.
Have a look on utube under sailboat knockdown. I'm not sure, but I think there was one of a Hunter 27 washing the sails. You can see how the boat will right itself very quickly.
Thanks guys, that's what I needed: simple and to the point. Got it. Going to U-Tube now. Mahalo!
VBR,
Pat
VBR,
Pat
Over, over, over untill the rudder comes out of the water and then weather helm turns the boat into the wind and that 500 pounds at almost 90 degrees starts to asert it power and rights the boat.
Here is an old thread and the video is there
http://forums.macgregor.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=122295
http://forums.macgregor.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=122295
Now there is a story of a famous sinking of a Mac called "Gone in three min." or something like that.
The reason for this mishap is the fact that the keel was not locked down so take heed.
The reason for this mishap is the fact that the keel was not locked down so take heed.
Nemosuit
Here is a link to what can happen if you don't lock your keel
http://sbo.sailboatowners.com/components/com_mtree/attachment.php?link_id=7671&cf_id=24
Here is a link to what can happen if you don't lock your keel
http://sbo.sailboatowners.com/components/com_mtree/attachment.php?link_id=7671&cf_id=24
August 1977. Wife seven months pregnant. Left Santa Barbara for Santa Cruz Island, 25 miles, mid afternoon along with first mate Dale. My buddy was aboard his V-25 with us. Wind picked up to 40+. Waves breaking over the bow. Secured my wife below decks. Mast sits 32 feet off the water. When I went down in one trough couldn't see mast top of other boat same height. Tanker passed us in mid channel and waves were breaker over the bow. Made it safely into Frye's harbor. No damage just wet and tired.
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