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Sea Anchor recommendations

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5348 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/05/2011 : 08:56:51

I've been wondering about how to use a sea anchor to handle changing conditions with heavy weather.

I went out yesterday afternoon while the previously blustery north-westerlies appeared to be calming down. As the wind continued dying with a few last gasps of breeze, I was broad-reaching south before the wind and got about 5 miles out.

All of a sudden, the temperature dropped from around 80 to the low 60s and an easterly gust picked up. I had previously shortened sail and used the furler to shorten the genoa, but the winds began to build and gust from the east. Shortly, waves started to build, then whitecaps and my pocket wind guage read gusts to 30 with sustained winds around 12-15. Since I was headed south outbound, I turned back to north to return to port. The breezes and waves were really building now. Spray was everywhere.

As conditions worstened, I wanted to douse the main altogether, and while I have a downhaul, I needed to point east into the wind to budge the mainsail at all. I tried to motor into the wind, but with the waves, the prop was in and out of the water so could not get much bite.

I finally got the nose into the wind somehow and pulled down the main, but it was a struggle. On my way back in, I was still hit with lots of wind, lots of spray and the boat was rolling from side to side.

I was thinking that if I could deploy a sea anchor or a big sock to a line connected to a bow cleat, that would allow me to point the bow into the wind, slow the downwind motion of the boat and it would give me time to secure everything.

Has anybody used this approach? If so, what are the pluses and minuses?

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 06/05/2011 : 15:47:54

I've thought about these ideas for quite a while, but I have not taken any action to buy or make a drogue. There are a number of prominent designs, and I collected images of 4 of them here:
<ul><li> Sea Brake drogue </li><li> Galerider Web drogue </li><li> Delta drogue </li><li> Jordan series drogue </li></ul>

I have learned from all the sensible discussion on the Association Forum that my principal way to survive storm conditions is to avoid being out in a storm.

However, if I were planning to go anywhere offshore and out of sight of land I would make myself a Jordan series drogue, as explained on this [url="http://www.jordanseriesdrogue.com/D_15.htm"]web page[/url].

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9074 Posts

Response Posted - 06/05/2011 : 19:06:32

Let's check the function of a drogue and a sea anchor... A drogue is used to control downwind speed and direction when dealing with large following seas that could cause a boat to yaw and then broach. It pulls back on the stern, and could be simple a line with some knots, a small scoop, etc. (as in John's pix). A sea anchor is a larger (generally parachute-like) device designed to hold a boat head-to-wind. Generally, a drogue won't work as a sea anchor--it won't have enough resistance to hold the boat head-to-wind in heavy conditions--you'll likely just end up abeam to the seas, wishing you didn't have this thing tied off to the bow. Correspondingly, a sea anchor is kind of a big deal, carried by ocean passagemakers who might need to "anchor" through a big off-shore storm.

An alternative to both is heaving to, although that isn't a step toward dropping a sail.

Bruce, when the refrigerator door opened from the opposite direction, that was your signal that there was very likely big trouble ahead. If you weren't canvased as you would want for a big blow, it was immediately time to make your adjustments. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200! Better to over-react to those signals than to find, according to your own words, that "as conditions worsened, (you) wanted to douse the main altogether." This is Weather/Sailing 301--generally not learned in the classroom but by experience on the water. You just had your lesson, in the flesh.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 06/05/2011 19:18:48

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2011 : 05:40:15

I've also thought about a sea anchor but agree that early reefing and or dousing the main is the best bet. A sea anchor costs a lot more than than a good dose of prudance.

That being said, a strategy I use when caught in similar conditions is to tack as close as possible to windward with a reefed genoa slightly luffing but keeping the boat moving. Let the boom out until the the main is flogging, then drop the main. At this point I don't care if it gets wet since my main objective is to get it down and into the boat. Once it's down, haul in the boom and tie up the sail as best you can until conditions allow you to either make it look pretty or reset the sail.

I use this same strategy when reefing the main. With an autopilot and reefng lines led to the cockpit it is easily accomplished.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2011 : 05:42:20

Ah yes, a C25 will certainly make you a damn good sailor if you survive long enough and go thru enough underwear. That outboard is a problem and she can be a bit tough to manage under those conditions.

Dave is right - of course

- a drogue is often confused with a sea anchor - AKA parachute anchor.... wrong boat unless properly set up. I have a copy of Lin and Larry's storm tactics DVD in which they deploy one - but as Dave suggested, it really is a heavy weather tactic used by cruisers, etc..

That been said, it could prove useful if properly rigged...

sten

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2011 : 06:55:25

I have never known a casual coastal cruiser or daysailor who used either a drogue or a sea anchor. Those devices are generally used by sailors who are far offshore, and who are caught in long-lasting, severe storms, who have ample sea room, and who can no longer actively sail the boat because they need rest. In this case, a drogue or sea anchor probably wouldn't have been much help, because, with easterly winds, you weren't offshore far enough to have much sea room. The boat would have drifted to the west under sea anchor or drogue. Moreover, once deployed, sea anchors and drogues are very difficult to retrieve, and for a singlehander, you might become exhausted in the effort, or have to cut it away.

The best advice is to constantly monitor the radio, and don't be out there when severe weather is coming through. Predictions of severe weather were probably broadcast, warning of 15 kt winds gusting to 30. My present boat is 35' and ruggedly built, and if singlehanding and not going anywhere in particular, I probably would have been heading for shelter when hearing of those conditions. There isn't much latitude between the conditions that you encountered and true survival conditions, especially for a smaller, outboard-powered boat, and, if you make a mistake, or something unexpected happens, it can become a survival situation very easily.

Because the boat was rolling from side-to-side as you were going in, it was uncomfortable, but you were apparently able to keep it on it's feet, and that's really your primary concern. You might have been able to reduce the motion somewhat by alternately steering, under bare poles or reduced sail area, onto a broad reach in the lulls, and downwind in the gusts. Steering a zig-zag course in that manner also might have helped prevent the outboard's prop from lifting clear of the water periodically.

If you have enough sea room, sailing or motor-sailing downwind with deeply reefed sail(s) is generally a good tactic. Otherwise, lowering all sails and motoring, preferably downwind, is a good alternative. Obviously, the best choice is to get to shelter before it hits. Being close to shore when a storm hits is a bad place to be for boats of all sizes, including commercial freighters.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 06/06/2011 07:29:01

glen
Captain

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359 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2011 : 08:42:16

I have a drogue on board, just in case, but as Steve said I have never really needed to use it. I have played with it on nasty days to see what it will do, and it does help. I have also tried letting an anchor line drag which works. There is another item I found that makes a pretty good drogue. Keep a Milk Crate on board to store what ever, then if needed take it, rig a bridle to it, and drag it behind you. I believe if you do need to use a drogue (or tow a dinghy) on one of our boats, it should be connected to a bridle so it rides center. If I am incorrect in this procedure please let me know

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5348 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2011 : 15:50:01

Ok I got it, a sea anchor would have probably made matters worse. But my aim was to get 10 minutes relief from the helm to manage the sails, not to last for hours in a blow. The conditions would have put me on the leeward shore in about two hours. I can't say whether or not I would have had trouble trying to douse the sea anchor once deployed.

But here's the 'sitch. The easterlies started out fresh & fun - I and several other smaller boats were flying at 5+ knots playing in gusts. I was on a 15 degree heel with the main reefed and the genny furled. The others were heeled too. Wow! what a trip. Then all hell broke loose.

But the weather radio reported "east winds at 5-10 kts, waves 1-2 feet". No indication of foul weather coming, only more of the same was predicted.

I realize now I should have dropped the main sooner, but we're talking about the matter of minutes before I got her down. I used the approach described by Al with a little genny furled out and head up to wind to get the wind off the main. At no time was I heeled more than 20 degrees.

I later went back to check on the local weather reporting stations -- Groton, New Haven and Bridgeport (two to my east, one to my west) and all within approx 1 mile of Long Island Sound.

Looks like temps went from about 80 to 62 between 4:45pm (Groton) and 5:15pm (Bridgeport), the wind clocked around from North + NNE to due East. Most reporting stations showed winds in the 15-20 range with gusts to 30 (although Groton maxed out at 25).

Funny thing, the sky conditions (clouds, haze, ceiling, overcast) did not change one iota. With a cold frontal passage, you get strato-cumulus or cumulo-nimbus changing to cirrus or cirro-stratus, the air goes from hazy to severe clear and the ceiling goes from 2,500-10,000 feet to 30-60k. This must have been a "back-door cold front" common in New England. Oddly, this is when the weather retrogrades from east to west rather than west to east.

Live and learn, I guess.....

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9074 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2011 : 20:08:37

Looking at the NOAA data for New London Ledge on Sat. 6/4, I see the temp dropped suddenly around 12 deg. F at around 3 PM, and went back up at about 5:30. The [url="http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/realtime2/BRHC3.txt"]Bridgeport data[/url] shows about a 7F drop and a wind shift at about 5:30 PM, at very low speeds. Maybe you were caught in a localized "micro-burst", which I've experienced "out of nowhere", with wind that seems to be coming from no particular direction--or all directions at once, hard. (It probably was coming straight down.) I got through it on my little centerboard Daysailer, but I don't have any advice on what to do in that situation except ease the sheets and hang on!

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 06/07/2011 20:09:44

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2011 : 05:05:41

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by glen
 I have a drogue on board, just in case, but as Steve said I have never really needed to use it. I have played with it on nasty days to see what it will do, and it does help. I have also tried letting an anchor line drag which works. There is another item I found that makes a pretty good drogue. Keep a Milk Crate on board to store what ever, then if needed take it, rig a bridle to it, and drag it behind you. I believe if you do need to use a drogue (or tow a dinghy) on one of our boats, it should be connected to a bridle so it rides center. If I am incorrect in this procedure please let me know
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

All good.... In addition, a drogue can be used as an emergency rudder if properly rigged. I just bought one - military surplus - at an area swap meet that claims it is the only drogue/storm chute that can be towed with one or two lines. I suspect the model I purchaced for $50 would be big enough to act as a sea anchor for a 25' boat, but I bought it for running while maintaining my 40' boat under control. The benefit to towing with two lines is that retrieval is easy, just let one of the lines go and voila' - haul it in...

The guy does not have a website, however his email addy is stormchute at gmail.com and his telly is 619.277.0593

Best 50 bucks I have spent lately...

sten

Edited by - redviking on 06/08/2011 05:08:09

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2011 : 05:54:54

I've always kept one on the power boat we used offshore, with two long lines, but we never needed it. From West Marine. The Gulf Coast does not get that nasty that fast.

Edited by - redeye on 06/08/2011 05:55:12

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9074 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2011 : 07:13:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 ...I suspect the model I purchaced for $50 would be big enough to act as a sea anchor for a 25' boat...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">[url="http://www.seaanchor.com/seaanchor.htm#specs"]Para-Tech[/url] specifies a 12' diameter parachute to hold a 25-33' sailboat into strong wind. That's quite different from a little drogue.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 06/08/2011 07:13:35

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2011 : 07:20:32

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 ...I suspect the model I purchaced for $50 would be big enough to act as a sea anchor for a 25' boat...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">[url="http://www.seaanchor.com/seaanchor.htm#specs"]Para-Tech[/url] specifies a 12' diameter parachute to hold a 25-33' sailboat into strong wind. That's quite different from a little drogue.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The one I bought is about that in total diameter - it wouldn't be perfect, but in my opinion after playing with it, it should hold a 4500 lb. boat sorta OK... Again, not ideal, but it is one big ass drogue...

sten

Edited by - redviking on 06/08/2011 07:24:02

C25OBrien
1st Mate

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USA
44 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2011 : 11:27:32

I was out on Gardener's Bay at the same time on Saturday. That was a heck of a shift. I lost my Mt Gay regatta hat de-powering the boat but the crew (2 girls, 1 other gent and 2 dogs) were OK. We furled in the jib and sailed with the Main. We were overpowered but were only a half mile from the lighthouse at the time, and it calmed once inside. The crew was a little shook as they are novices. Those are the times when experience is crucial in order to maintain the safety of the boat and those on board. Reading the shift and knowing how to instantly de-power before anything bad happens is critical. It was a fun sail after that!

Edited by - on

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