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Boat vs. Big Green Buoy

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/16/2011 : 11:42:42

So, we had an exciting race yesterday for the Constellation Cup, and today I'm exhausted, so, while I'm resting up, I have time to tell you about it.

The winds were predicted in the area of 20, with gusts to 30. They turned out to be around 25-28 most of the time, and the strongest gust we saw was 38 kts apparent. We sailed for long periods of time in winds in excess of 30 kts. That's the most wind I have raced in since starting to race around the Bay about 8 years ago. Usually race committees start to think about postponing or cancelling a race when the winds on the Bay are above 25 kts. A long fetch on the Bay makes the waves very rough, boat gear can get broken in that much wind, and people can get hurt. The RC decided not to call the race yesterday, probably because the race was entirely on the Patapsco River and not the Bay. Thus, the fetch was not long enough to generate very big waves. Also, the race course and wind direction were such that the race would be a beam reach all the way, usually easy sailing, with no hard slogs to windward against big, choppy waves, and no high-wind spinnaker runs.

The boat is a fast, 40' Canadian Sailcraft, with 7' draft, and a PHRF rating in the mid-seventies, and she likes wind. The skipper has his six-pack license, has won his class in the Bermuda Race, and when not racing has a lively business taking people on sailing excursions around the area, as well as making long-distance yacht deliveries for hire. Some of the most skilled skippers in the area learned to race by crewing for him. The crew were all experienced racing sailors, and the foredeck man is as good as they get. I was working the starboard side primary winch in the cockpit, trimming the jib on port tack, releasing the jibsheet when tacking or gybing over to starboard, and tailing when tacking or gybing over to port. Since we wouldn't be flying a chute that day, the foredeck man would be doing the same work as me, except on the port side primary winch.

Rather than keep you in suspense, I'm going to tell you the moral of this story, so you can see how the whole situation developed into a big, fat cluster-muck-up ."Whenever you're sailing in winds ranging between 25 and 40 kts, never permit yourself to believe that you can maneuver the boat with the same precision and timing that you could in milder conditions, no matter how good you are."

We were approaching a green buoy on a beam reach, on port tack, and the sailing instructions required us to round the buoy clockwise, so that the buoy remained on our starboard side as we rounded it. That meant we had to gybe around it, and come out of it on starboard tack and on a beam reach. There were three other boats at different stages of rounding it. Someone shouted to the skipper, "Cut between him (one of the other boats) and the mark! The skipper responded that it was too close. Nevertheless, I believe that suggestion caused the skipper to become over-anxious, and he commenced the turn too early. To compound that error, after the gybe, the jib tailer on the port side hardened up the jib trim too much, and that caused the boat to start driving very fast to windward, almost closehauled. Instead of beginning the new leg of the course on a beam reach, the boat was sailing closehauled to windward. Instead of leaving the mark on the starboard side of the boat, the boat was driving straight at the mark. Because the skipper had begun his gybe too early, he was too close to the mark for the crew to be able to react in time to release the sheets and avert a collision with the buoy. Although the skipper shouted for the crew to release the sheets, it's a big boat, and the loads on the sails and sheets were too great, and there wasn't enough time to avoid the impact. The boat took the hit just inches to the portside of the bow. As the buoy passed along the port side of the boat, the mainsail's boom and the clew of the mainsail were smudged with green paint, but not damaged seriously. The bow of the boat had an area about 6" in diameter where the gelcoat was pulverized, but the fiberglass appears to be unharmed. A hole about 1' in diameter was punched through the middle of the skipper's expensive, heavy #1 genoa.

As it all unfolded, everything began to appear to be happening in slow motion. As the buoy passed along the boat's portside, the jibsheet snagged on the buoy, and the 40', 18000 lb boat swung around 180 degrees, with it's bow pointing at the buoy as if it was hooked to a giant green mooring ball. But, the sails were still up in 30+ kts of wind, and my next fear was that, if the wind caught the sails, they could start driving the boat again, and drive her right back into the buoy, doing still more damage. As the boat fell back on the snagged jibsheets, I saw my sheet begin to pull taut just in time to see it brought to a stop when the figure eight stopper knot was pulled into a turning block. I looked to the skipper and asked for a knife, but, he was busy starting the engine, to try to regain some control. (In over 30 years of sailing and racing, I have never needed a knife, but I guess I'll be in the market for a good one this winter.) Meanwhile, someone on the other side of the boat got the stopper knot out of his jibsheet, and it freed us from the buoy.

We were lucky. Nobody got hurt, other than the usual array of skinned knees and shins that you get on a sailboat in big winds. Considering the fact that we drove a big-a$$ sailboat head-on into a big-a$$ green buoy, the boat was damaged about as little as one could hope to expect. So, all's well that ends well, and, although I'll be going home to Ohio for the winter in the next few days, I know the rest of my shipmates will be there whenever the skipper needs them. They're as friendly a crew as one could find anywhere.

Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore

Edited by - Steve Milby on 10/16/2011 11:51:31

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 10/16/2011 : 14:26:01

Whew!! Big winds make everything 10 times as complicated. Sounds like everyone stayed relatively cool and did what had to be done. Those big buoys can be intimidating... Going by them (and the rip-rap around the day-marks) around the entrance to Mystic, the cross-currents can surprise you--I've done some hurried maneuvers and come closer than I wanted to a few times.

On sailboats, I've tried to always have a rigging knife on me, with a partially-serrated blade and a marlin-spike. I recently lost mine somewhere--guess I shouldn't go sailing till after Christmas.

Anyway, you have an interesting memory and story to carry you through the Ohio winter. Thanks for writing it up!

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 10/16/2011 : 14:36:04

I got curious and found this pic of a CS-40...

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Response Posted - 10/16/2011 : 15:44:50

That's what she looks like, minus the inflatable dink and the cruising gear. She's fully rigged and equipped for racing, with all control lines run to the cockpit, has an array of about 7 Brooks & Gatehouse instruments that compute the boat's target speed from all the data collected, i.e. the speed she should be making in the conditions, and then show her speed through the water, so the skipper knows whether she is equaling or exceeding the target speed. The instruments don't sail the boat for you, but they tell you whether you're sailing it well enough to be competitive. If not, then the skipper and crew must figure out why not.

The following is a description of the CS 40 that is included with a broker's listing of one on Yachtworld, and, after crewing on one for the entire summer, I can say it is all true, especially the part about being a joy to sail.

"This CS 40 was designed by the very successful British Yacht Designer Tony Castro. Her lines and sail plan are essentially those of a modified Castro One Ton race boat and is a classic example of Perfect Performance Cruising Yacht. In appreciation of the design, quality and finish of the CS 40 SAILING WORLD voted her the "Top of the Class" in BOAT OF THE YEAR in 1987. A Racing Pedigree gives a yacht certain essential qualities; maneuverability, efficiency and speed. She is stiff, responsive, beautifully balanced, powerful and very fast and is a complete joy to sail."

Edited by - on

glivs
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USA
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Response Posted - 10/16/2011 : 18:52:45

Great story Steve....especially given the context of the experience on board.

Edited by - on

JimGo
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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 10/16/2011 : 21:36:48

Sounds like a lot of excitement and "fun". Glad everyone was OK!

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2011 : 04:34:47

I should have added that, after we got free of the mark, we continued to sail the course, purely for fun, because we were hopelessly behind by that time. The race ended in Baltimore, in the Inner Harbor at the site where the historic, restored sloop of war, USS Constellation, is docked. During the race we sailed twice past Fort McHenry, which inspired the writing of the national anthem.

As we neared the Inner Harbor, we were surrounded by tall buildings, which broke the wind in places, but when we got clear of the buildings, the winds came roaring back. The maneuvering room became increasingly limited, and the race committee established the finish line at the point where there was nowhere else to go. Just 100 yds. before crossing the finish line another 40' boat made a bad tack, lost control and was blown bow-first into a dock. He started his engine, furled his jib and backed off. We crossed the line, tacked out and had no further problems.

The after-race party was held on board the USS Constellation, and we were treated to a guided tour of the old ship, hors d'oeuvres and free drinks. I had a dark & stormy and a painkiller, both of which seemed appropriate to the occasion.

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2011 : 06:51:43

Great story Steve.
I've always said that racing in a drifter wears you out mentally, but racing in a half-gale wears you out physically.

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2011 : 07:09:51

My lady's son spent about eight months crewing on the skipjack Sigsbee and living aboard the retired USCG cutter Taney (a dump) on the north side of the Inner Harbor--fun place! We spent a day on the Sigsbee with a class of 4th-graders in similar winds--had her at hull-speed for sure, and the kids got a little wet up forward! You were lucky you didn't have a container ship sail right through the middle of your mayhem.

Edited by - on

PCP777
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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2011 : 07:15:57

Great story, thanks!

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2011 : 07:25:01

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 ...You were lucky you didn't have a container ship sail right through the middle of your mayhem.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Actually, we did. Even with a big hole in the genoa, we regained enough time to catch up with the back of the fleet, but a huge container ship blew his horn, indicating that he was coming out, and we had to duck to leeward of him. There was so much wind that, even when he blanketed us we were still getting a lot of wind, so he really didn't delay us as much as we thought he might.

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Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2011 : 08:24:12

Good one Steve, Exciting and well written. You guys on lake Erie have all the fun.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2011 : 09:36:26

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Renzo
 You guys on lake Erie have all the fun.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes we do!

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2011 : 13:08:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PCP777
 Great story, thanks!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Thanks. We all like to talk about our successes, but I think our failures are much more interesting, just as long as you all understand that we aren't always this inept.

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OLarryR
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USA
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Response Posted - 10/17/2011 : 20:08:05

Steve - Great story !

You said you may be in the market for a good rigger's knife. I bought one recently. It's a bit pricey...but you being the expert sailor you are, should only get the best - A Boye Knife. It won't rust and it will cut throught a thick high tech core line in one pull ! The blade is made of Cobalt and it has a Titanium Marlinespike.

http://www.landfallnavigation.com/boyeboatknife.html

Edited by - OLarryR on 10/17/2011 20:08:45

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 10/18/2011 : 05:01:03

http://www.rangerjoes.com/Knife-SAMISH-P1223C315.aspx

I've kept this on my dive gear for years. Short blade but If sharpened it would cut well. Good sheath design and lanyard hole.

I wanna have a good knife around but not some kbar.. gives me the creeps.

It can come out of the sheath if you were wearing it, so the design is that you mount the sheath somewhere and tie a small cord to the sheath. Cut the cord if you need the knife. I've never had to use it but it is always there if I do. Every other knife I've had gets used cutting food, and then ends up missing or in the dish washer.

Edited by - redeye on 10/18/2011 05:06:50

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2011 : 09:54:46

Here's a Davis knife for under $30:

http://www.amazon.com/DELUXE-RIGGING-Yachtsmen-Stainless-Popular/dp/B005CFCHZO/ref=sr_1_37?ie=UTF8&qid=1318956827&sr=8-37

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2011 : 10:30:28

Since we're talking knives... I keep one of these on the boat and usually on my lifejacket. They are designed for paddlers, but seem to work well for sailors, although not as a marlinspike knife. The idea behind them is juxtaposed against the knives shown thus far.

The intended use is to cut a line that has wrapped itself around some part of you when you dumped your canoe in a rapid. The blunt end would have a hard time digging into your skin. The edges however, are serrated and I can attest to it that they will eat through a rope very quickly, no matter what type it is. A good one will have a hook at teh bottom of the blade to cut small stuff. Key is that teh knife attach to your lifejacket in a way that you can get it quickly, deploy it, and return it - all while underwater.

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Paddling/KnivesSnorkelGear/PRD~5023-233/nrs-pilot-knife.jsp

Edited by - on

redeye
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Response Posted - 10/18/2011 : 11:10:02

AND it is a beer opener! We have a winner.. Oh wait.. that's how they disappear.. Still.. worth the risk.

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dlucier
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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2011 : 12:25:11

I'd opt for the knife similar to that posted by Ray. It has a fixed blade and plastic locking scabbard that allows one handed deployment of the knife. At a safety seminar I attended, they specifically recommended this type of knife which in the demonstration they had it sewn onto a tether harness (on the upper chest with the handle of the knife facing downwards) so all you needed to do was reach up, depress the thumb lock, then pull the knife down and out.

The problem with non-fixed blades, especially those requiring a good fingernail to open, is that you need two hands to open the blade. Might be a problem if you are using one of your hands to hold on to the boat to keep from going overboard. If it's dark outside, with a fixed blade you can reach up without looking to get the knife whereas a non-fixed blade might take some fumbling around before you get it opened. When seconds count, simple and quick is best.

Edited by - on

Prospector
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Canada
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Response Posted - 10/18/2011 : 13:14:08

The downside of that knife is that its point could leave quite the stab wound if you were trying to cut a rope that was wrapped around your (Insert body part here). Hence the flat tip on the river rescue knife, with all the other amenities on Ray's. At the end of the day though, anything is better than nothing.

Sliding a blade between a swollen limb and a rope is difficult without slicing the victim up.

Edited by - on

redeye
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Response Posted - 10/19/2011 : 04:38:22

yepper.. I've got it rigged kinda like that on the dive gear, only we blunt the ends of the knives. Like Prospector says, we have always blunted the end of the dive knives if they came with a point. We kept a big knife on the catalina 30 on the mast in a plastic wench handle holder, but again I always found it to be an expensive knife and one that would eventually end up overboard if it was useful for anything else. It was hard to get to it on the mast for the usual fruit and cheese so we would not try to use it, but If I added anything in the cockpit of the 25 I can see it disappearing, especially if it was a bottle opener.

Anyhoo.. thanks for listening, I answered my own question, I've got two winch handle holders just inside the cabin, so I'll add one of the big dive knives with a lanyard in one of those. I've always thought that was something I was gonna need one day when one of the sheets gets wrapped up in the prop.

Edited by - redeye on 10/19/2011 05:41:17

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2011 : 05:14:47

Good idea, Ray. I have a blunt pointed dive knife with a sheath at home. I'll bring it next year and lash it to my steering pedestal. It'll be even more readily accessible than a pocket knife. I can carry a pocket or sheath knife on other peoples' boats.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Response Posted - 10/21/2011 : 17:47:39

One of our crew sent me a couple photos that you might find interesting.

This photo shows two other racers. Both are carrying what appear to be about 130% jibs and no reef in the mainsail. We were carrying a 155% heavy air racing jib and a single reef. Coming from smaller boats, it has come as a surprise to me how much sail area these big boats can carry.

This is the container ship that passed us. Although we are fairly close, as you can see, he is on one side of the channel buoy, and we are on the other side. He had just entered the river from our starboard side and passed across our bow, just before the photo was taken.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2011 : 08:45:54

Speaking of container ships, this one is currently breaking up on a reef just off New Zealand...

He apparently did't see the "big green buoy." Big sale on refrigerators down there...

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 10/22/2011 11:22:05

hewebb
Admiral

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USA
761 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2011 : 04:56:49

Thanks guys. I had not thought of having a knife to cut a line in an emergency.

I carry a small pocket knife but sure like the idea of the fixed blade that ray suggested and just ordered one.

Edited by - on

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