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Wrung her out good....7+ kts!!

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soulfinger
1st Mate

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USA
29 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/16/2008 : 21:41:41

Last saturday, we went out on Galveston Bay in the most exciting conditions we've yet experienced. The winds were forecast to be blowing 10-15, yet when we got down to the marina, it sure felt like it was towards the higher end of that range. Normally, when the prevailing east wind starts getting in to the teens, we'll make other plans---galveston bay is very shallow, and develops a very nasty short chop that makes sailing in our boat less than enjoyable--all the waves focus right at the opening of the Kemah channel, and it makes it very hard to get out. The boat starts hobby-horsing, the prop starts coming out of the water, and you get "stuck in a hole".

This time we decided to go for it---the wind was from the South (off the land). We also had a friend with us that we'd been trying to sail with for a very long time. He's a life long sailer and racer that has seen everything, so that gave us confidence!

It was really something else! Indeed the water was quite calm, but the wind was howling! Sustained winds in the high teens, variable direction, gusts at least in to the mid 20's. We put up a reefed main, and rolled the 135 out to about ~100% size. That got us moving! It took some getting used to--I had to be very aggressive with the wheel. We've never had the boat heel that much before, and past about 25 degrees, the steering really goes downhill. But where we ever moving! My speedometer isn't working, so I pulled we pulled out the GPS. We were plowing along above 6 knots most all the time, and at times, we were going faster than 7 kts!

We tried a variety of points of sail, and my friend coached us on sail trim, wrestling the helm, and reading the wind. We even jibed once, though I don't think I'd do it again in those conditions. Jibing was difficult, because as we brought the mainsheet in to prepare for the jibe, it became very hard to continue to sail downwind due to the excessive weather helm. When we finally jibed, there was still just a bit of slack in the mainsheet---I didnt't think it would be that big of a deal, but the boom came across with quite a bit of force. As soon as it did, the boat wanted to round up, which made for a fairly sloppy manuver, but oh well. Once we determined that we had survived, we let out the mainsheet and continued on a broad reach.

It was certainly an exciting experience---not exactly a relaxing saturday afternoon, but I feel better prepared for bad weather, now that I have a better idea as to how the boat will react in a stiff wind.

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2008 : 08:22:07

SF,
Sounds like you had a blast! I have learned so much from other sailors, that I can't imagine sailing safely by only reading books or even the great advice on this forum.

Your Kemah channel sounds challenging, so you have to know how to handle your boat in a variety of conditions to enjoy getting out or coming in safely! Way to go!

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2008 : 18:28:15

Andy, very good account of a good outing.

The jibe in windy conditions is probably one of the most feared actions a sailor deals with and for good cause. If it is not managed well, it can wreak chaos.

Something I learned while sailing beach cats having a mains'l that can't be reefed is to control the jibing boom manually. Before saying yikes, this guy is out to lunch... read a little farther.

If the boom is left to jibe by the force of the wind, it will certainly do so and suck out any slack in the mainsheet tackle in a hurry and hit very hard and as you put it, force a wee bit of yaw. The jibe even in very windy conditions should not be hurried in an effort to get the nasty deed over with. Rather, helm so that the jibe takes some time and approach the dead down wind point slowly and just as you reach it and having brought the sheet in well, either the helmsperson or the crew should grab the sheeting tackle lines and pull the boom across. It may not come immediately but as the wind is lost in the sail and the jibe continues it will come I promise. By manually bringing the boom across prior to the point that the sail fills after the jibe and slams the boom across, the boom action is mitigated considerably.

While this effort is a little akin to placing ones fingers on the side of a circular saw blade to kill the rotation quicker, the skilled sailor can do it without risk as the wood working craftsman can the saw and it will yield a smoother and safer jibe. I should add, I also got in the habit in those Hobie Cat days of wearing sailing gloves in heavier weather. These are leather gloves with the finger tips missing so as to protect the hand from rope burns but not interfere with the ability of the fingers to do many task. I'm not sure I'd hand the boom across without the gloves.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2008 : 21:20:23

I do a different version of the same idea. As we do the jibe we go slowly and I use the mainsheet to haul the boom to center and then let it out again so that the mainsail and boom are never allowed to slam across.

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soulfinger
1st Mate

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USA
29 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2008 : 21:32:09

I think that is standard practice for jibing--the issue is that with winds in the upper teens, it gets really difficult to continue sailing downwind (broad reach) when you start cranking in the main sheet to keep the boom under control. I'll defer to Arlyn's experience, but I would be careful about "manually" manipulating the boom in high winds---once the boom decides to go, it's going to go with a lot of force, which could conceivably jettison someone from the vessel! Additionally, as the boom is jibing, the heal of the boat is going to change, further destablizing the crew member responsible for moving the boom. However, we certainly have employed that technique in light air.

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Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2008 : 22:12:04

I use Randy's standard technique when jibing. What I have found is that if you take too long the boat will slow down causing the apparant wind be even more forcefull. Arlyn's account takes this into consideration where he quickly moves the boom over therefore not loose much speed.

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Seadog
Deckhand

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USA
13 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2008 : 14:04:58

Another option if you are uncomfortable with the previous suggestions is to install a preventer or [url="http://www.catalina470.org/html/boom_brake.html"]boom brake[/url].We use the preventer during offshore cruising to stop the chance of a "suprise" new destination jibe. We attach a line from the end of boom forward to a block on the genoa track just past the mast (the bow is a better location when in heavy seas to avoid snapping the boom should a large wave push your heeling angle far enough to put the boom in the water) and back to the cockpit spinnaker winches. Since I don't own a 250 wk yet, I am talking about a large boat 40' Passport, we have dedicated spinnaker winches in the cockpit. To jibe you all you do is turn the helm letting the genoa come over. Then when the boat is under control easy the preventer sheet bringing the boom over to the new position, then move preventer to the other track. For night watches and heavy seas we rig a preventer for both starboard and port tacks. Similar to a jib there is one working preventer sheet and one lazy preventer sheet.

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