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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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40 mph gusts, sail slugs all snapped!

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Unsinkable2
Captain

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USA
273 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/29/2008 : 23:17:58

We took the boat out tonight in what I expected to be stiff breezes. About a 1/4 mile out of the marina, the Admiral pointed into the wind and I went on deck to raise the main.

With the main up, she started to fall off to a beam reach when suddenly the winds jumped to 40 mph! There was no warning, and before we could take any action, the sail was suddenly laying in the water and the boom laying across the lifeline.

I was stunned. I looked up the mast and everything was in place (except the missing sail). The boom was still attached. Somehow the sail had gone from fully raised to laying in the water in the blink of an eye.

And that's when I realized that ALL of the sail slugs had snapped off!

We were able to quickly pull the sail back onto the boom and secure it with a spare line while we turned the boat around and headed for the marina. In those winds and waves, it took us 10 minutes to go the 1/4 mile back to safety. All the way, I was ready to drop anchor in case something happened to the motor or we got into some other trouble.

Well, that was sobering! And just when I thought I was becoming an able seaman!

Back on shore, a 30 year veteran of these waters told me this had happened to him 3 times over the years. He also clued me on on what cloud patterns to watch for next time.

But my question is, what do I need to consider in replacing the sail slugs? At first I thought I should buy something heavier duty than the plastic, but then I wondered if they were designed to be the breaking point (instead of a torn sail, ripped out rigging, or a de-masting).

Please advise!

--Skipper of the Unsinkable2
http://blog.unsinkable2.com
1977 Catalina 25 SK/SR #246 "Unsinkable 2"
1964 Lido 14 #1878 "Tomato Sloop"

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2008 : 23:33:47

>"designed to be the breaking point"

No... not really. Having your mainsail in the water at a critical time could have been pretty disasterous.

Were your slugs the 'all plastic' ones?

If you use that style you need to replace them every couple years.
UV deterioration and fatigue will cause 'em to snap off under high loads.
(Don't ask how I know this)

The nylon slug with stainless bail type last a lot longer but still need to be checked and replaced every so often.

Lots of slugs shown here: http://www.sailrite.com/Categories?search=slugs&range=1%2C10%2C33

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2008 : 07:33:43

Wow, what a shocker!!!

Last year I had to replace one sail slug that was sliced off when I forced the main down after it caught the wind a bit. I bought a few slugs like the old ones.

I cut off the stitching holding one end of the slug strap onto the sail, put the strap through the new slug and then sewed the strap back on, with 8 strands of heavy thread using pliers to push the needle. A "sailor's palm" would be nice to have for sewing like this.

I couldn't see any other way to replace the broken slug without sewing the strap.

Several others have discussed the wild wind patterns on their local lakes, so I guess this "local knowledge" of the sky, not only the rocks and sand bars, is important to have.

Edited by - JohnP on 07/30/2008 07:47:24

Ed Cassidy
Captain

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USA
365 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2008 : 08:07:09

What happened at the top of the sail? Did it come off the halyard? If I understand your description, the sail was loose in the water but still attached to the boom. That would imply it came loose at the halyard too. These reports make me nervous and I need to know everything I can so that when it happens to me..........

Edited by - on

Stardog
Captain

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USA
319 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2008 : 08:20:56

How very odd, I can't imagine the halyard parted, the weak link would be along the leech, somewhere below the headboard, but even then the boltrope would hold unless it was rotted. I would take the whole thing to a sailmaker for evaluation and repair.

Edited by - on

Unsinkable2
Captain

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USA
273 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2008 : 09:06:33

I'll take some pictures of the damaged slugs so you all can see what happened.

The halyard stayed attached. Actually, it would have kept the top of the sail up (with a flapping luff (the luff is the side of the sail directly against the mast, right?)) EXCEPT that I had just raised the main and was reaching down to cleat it off when the wind struck, so the halyard was ripped right out of my hand, letting the halyard line get pulled back up the mast by its snapshackle on the sail's head.

I don't know how old the slugs were, I picked the boat up this spring. But with the humbling benefit of hindsight, I can see that they were probably uv-worn. Not enough to warrant concern, because I guess I assumed that they may break one at a time as they wore out. It was shocker to have them ALL snap off in a single split second.

The slugs were the all plastic (nylon) kind, connected to grommets on the luff by a metal stirrup and bolt - just like the first few in ClamBeach's link above. So it sounds like I don't need to switch to metal, I just need to plan on replacing the nylon every 2 years or so?

Very humbling experience, it certainly has made me review a lot of my practices. The admiral was at the helm last night when it happened, and she was really shaken up and came away wanting to know what we should have done differently in that situation. (By saying "the Admiral was really shaken up" I am really meaning me too, I'm just too proud to admit failure :)

My thoughts are

1) When in doubt heading out, ride it out in the harbor

2) In inclement weather, set the reef EARLY

3) Replace any suspected worn parts (this is the tough one on a 30 year old boat)

4) Practice Practice Practice. We've been sailing for about 2 years now, and had this happened in the first year we would not have been able to handle it. We made it through the experience this time, but probably could have handled it much better. We need to practice basic tasks so they become automatic motor skills, not problems we have to work through in our heads.

5) I've never heard an Old Salt speak without saying something about "respecting the water and wind, because as soon as you don't, mother nature will rise up and slap you in the face, hard." When they make that comment I sensed they weren't being patronizing, they were speaking from their scars. Now I have one, and will be a little bit better sailor because of it.

Edited by - Unsinkable2 on 07/30/2008 09:08:40

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2008 : 09:12:24

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Well, that was sobering! And just when I thought I was becoming an able seaman! <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Haha, that sounds pretty familiar to me. I think instances like this keep our feet on the deck and keep us safer.

p.s. Oh, and thanks for the link Clammy, I wasn't aware of that site!

Edited by - DaveR on 07/30/2008 09:18:45

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2008 : 09:36:41

A fellow sailor at my marina was out once in moderate conditions when suddenly his plastic slugs started letting go rapidly, one after another, as if someone were unzipping the main from the mast.

I like stainless steel bails on sail slugs.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2008 : 09:37:34

I can see how you lost the halyard... It sounds like that gust hit you from a different direction, making an impact on the main rather than luffing it. A fast-moving, low layer of clouds is often a clue that it's about to happen. Another clue, although one that gives you less warning, is a dark area on the water (wind whipping it up) moving toward you. In blustery weather, the helmsperson should always keep an eye on the water to prepare for gusts--in this case, to turn into one. You can usually see them at half a mile or so.

Regarding reefing, in questionalble conditions, I like the strategy of setting the reef at the dock or mooring--it's easier to shake one out if you decide you really don't need it than to tuck one in when you've waited a little too long. Perfect timing rarely happens, as illustrated by your blast.

Our other approach when "daysailing to nowhere" in blustery conditions was to pull out our roller-130 alone. The boat performs nicely, and is much more comfortable in gusts because more of the sail is down lower than with the main. Main-alone on a C-25 is much slower with more heel. The only downside to genny-alone for us was a neutral to just barely lee helm, which always feels strange to me.

How to handle that situation next time? Fuggetaboutit--there won't be a next time. But there might be something else... You had the perfect instinct when you started thinking about the anchor--too many people don't. When things get too dicey, you just want to plant the boat and hold it head-to-wind. I did it once, and it's a great relief when you're feeling stressed.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2008 : 09:59:54

<font size="1">Quote: "I sensed they weren't being patronizing, they were speaking from their scars. Now I have one, and will be a little bit better sailor because of it."</font id="size1">

And you'll get a few more

. 'Tis what it is all about. I could pontificate about a bunch of stuff in your scenario, but I'll start with - don't fall off until YOU the capitan is back in the cockpit! If the lugs had not broken, you woulda probably been in the water! Shoulda probably tucked the reef in to begin with too...

Sten

DPO Zephyr - '82 C25, FK, SR
SV Lysistrata - C&C 39 - Newport, RI

Edited by - on

Stardog
Captain

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USA
319 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2008 : 14:09:35

I liked the comparison to a zipper, which is so true; when those slugs are fatigued, they'll pop right off, one after the other. I really recommend bringing it to a sailmaker and having them make sure the sail was not compromised, it's better to make sure it's all put in order now, rather than finding out later when the the lufftape or bolt rope tears out.

Edited by - on

Deric
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2008 : 16:35:14

Wow, I would never have thought something like the failure of the slugs could happen as described above. This is something to be aware of. I suppose it is the unexpected events that sharpen our skills.

You bet I'll be checking the slugs on my boat.

Thanks for sharing.

Deric

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2008 : 18:02:56

Couple weeks ago I was blathering on about how great my new sail slugs are. I had a couple of the old plastic ones break so I replaced them all with metal bail nlyon slugs that made raising and lowering the sail a breeze. This past weekend I got hit by one of those sudden weather events that this area is famous for....My slugs held but my sail didn't. 12 inches of bolt rope and a slug grommet seperated from my main sail. I think I'd rather have your problem.

maybe crappy slugs are the better way to go?!?!?!?

Edited by - stampeder on 07/30/2008 18:03:44

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