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
My Tsunami Experience
Awake = about 36 hours, At Sea = about 16 hours
No “Crew” available at 1 am when I left the dock at “La Mariana Sailing Club” – so it was all solo. Of course there were hundreds of boats out there.
20 kt winds and 8 ft waves according to the weatherman, which meant it was like riding a bucking bronco on this lil’ boat. – for hours ! And I’m thinking, did this last year, but with daytime pleasant conditions, and it was a false alarm.
After returning from 10 miles out in the afternoon Friday, Coast Guard wouldn’t let us return to any harbor. I assumed it was due to surges after the initial wave.
I had been motoring all this time but now my motor QUIT.
I put up the sails and killed time sailing back and forth between Diamond Head and Keehi harbor – for hours !
Listening to “Marine radio” told me that my harbor was closed due to “debris”, so I knew I was in trouble.
Later I heard that my dock was gone, so I had no place to return to.
Went to AlaWai Harbor ( Waikiki ) where people are on a wait list for 3 to 7 years to get a slip.
A Good Samaritan towed me down the channel ( he was not competent so it was a wild ride) and I found an open slip and docked there about 4 pm.
Went home – food – sleeeeeeep.
Next day the harbor master gave me a one week permit and hinted I might be able to stay.
Whew!
Fixed motor – a 10 cent O-ring at fuel tank connection failed.
Boats were damaged – docks A and B were wiped out at “La Mariana Sailing Club”. Keehi Marine docks – gone. I’ve been told many boats are “gone”. Either swept out to sea or are on the bottom of the harbor.
Allstate Boat Insurance should appreciate that I saved them from paying a bunch. All I lost was my dockbox, worth a few hundred.
My MacGregor M26 performed flawlessly, of course!
My experience is so trivial now that I see the real destruction in Japan.
worst seas in you macgregor
- Thread starter thomasgoodmaniii
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Last August (2010) off the coast of Atlantic City was hurricane Earl (it was 100 miles off shore) I was a half mile off shore in 3 footers... I was getting to close to the beach and as I started to head out to sea I saw a 6 footer coming my way...
Under full sail in 12 knots of wind I just sailed over the top at a 45 degree angle and the next wave that followed it was the same height... Smoothed over the top of that one too!!! Then I headed out farther and had 3 foot seas the rest of the day.
Under full sail in 12 knots of wind I just sailed over the top at a 45 degree angle and the next wave that followed it was the same height... Smoothed over the top of that one too!!! Then I headed out farther and had 3 foot seas the rest of the day.
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