Heavy Weather Sailing How to be prepared

Transcription

1 Heavy Weather Sailing How to be prepared Vancouver International Boat Show Introduction: Who has been in heavy weather? What did you experience? 1

2 INTRODUCTION strong & gale force winds not survival techniques proven tactics encourage preparation & training The ideas I will present today will be equally applicable to sailing in local waters or offshore sailing. 2

3 WHAT IS HEAVY WEATHER? What is heavy weather? When we talk about heavy weather we primarily think of wind. However, what is really dangerous to the boat is not the wind but big waves, especially breaking waves. This presentation is about how to manage heavy wind before and during storm. It is subjective: For some 20 kts can be intimidating for others the fun starts at 30 kts. In the same vein: It s crew & boat dependent: A light boat will handle heavy weather differently than a heavy offshore cruiser. Experience of crew. Short handed vs fully crewed. This presentation is not about survival tactics in hurricane force winds, but about what can we do to be prepared for gale & storm force winds and what to do should you get into a heavy gale or a storm. 3

4 WHAT IS HEAVY WEATHER? Wind & sea state Subjective Boat & crew dependent Are you prepared? What is heavy weather? When we talk about heavy weather we primarily think of wind. However, what is really dangerous to the boat is not the wind but big waves, especially breaking waves. This presentation is about how to manage heavy wind before and during storm. It is subjective: For some 20 kts can be intimidating for others the fun starts at 30 kts. In the same vein: It s crew & boat dependent: A light boat will handle heavy weather differently than a heavy offshore cruiser. Experience of crew. Short handed vs fully crewed. This presentation is not about survival tactics in hurricane force winds, but about what can we do to be prepared for gale & storm force winds and what to do should you get into a heavy gale or a storm. 3

5 WHAT IS HEAVY WEATHER? strong wind big waves > both manageable breaking waves > dangerous Breaking seas: Light boat ~ a wave approx 30% of the boat length can capsize a boat: 40 boat: 12 wave Heavy cruiser ~ a wave approx 60% of the boat length can capsize a boat: 40 boat: 24 wave In other words, a wave about 2 x the beam. 4

6 WHAT IS HEAVY WEATHER? Strong wind waves small 5

7 WHAT IS HEAVY WEATHER? Strong wind waves small 5

8 WHAT IS HEAVY WEATHER? Strong wind waves big not breaking 6

9 WHAT IS HEAVY WEATHER? Strong wind waves big not breaking 6

10 WHAT IS HEAVY WEATHER? Breaking waves 7

11 WEATHER FORECAST Weather forecast Avoid Understand forecast: Waves: up to 2x higher Wind: up to 40% stronger Wind over current Prepare 8

12 WEATHER FORECAST Wind speed: forecast vs. gusts Gust can last up to 30 s, 40% more wind speed, almost doubles force on sails 9

13 WEATHER FORECAST forecast (significant wave height) vs. maxim Forecast: Significant height - average of largest 1/3 of waves 10

14 BOAT PREPARATION Before you go Inspection & maintenance Rig Sails Other: engine electronics tools hull: keel bolts? 80% of a successful passage can be directly attributed to proper preparation. 11

15 BOAT PREPARATION Before you go Crew - gear: Easy to use: jack lines tether harness Crew - training 12

16 HEAVY WEATHER SAILS Mainsail: reef points Heavy weather sails storm sails sail plan? Voice of reason Here it is perhaps time to talk about heavy weather sails & a sail plan. Voice of reason 13

17 HEAVY WEATHER SAILS Mainsail: reef points Heavy weather sails storm sails sail plan? Voice of reason Here it is perhaps time to talk about heavy weather sails & a sail plan. Voice of reason 13

18 HEAVY WEATHER SAILS - MAIN reef points high clew when reefed lazy jacks battens: secure leach line: at tack preventer practice 14

19 HEAVY WEATHER SAILS - JIB size shape: flat high clew sheet lead leach line sail change? inner forestay Considerations with roller furling: As wind increase - furl sail - shape - load where it s not supposed to be - If sail is too big: furl in fully or if need to change: unfurl when least desirable - chafe at furler! 15

20 HEAVY WEATHER SAILS Trysail storm jib Special sails: Color, heavy cloth Jib - easy to sheet (hight clew) Benefit if high clew: water goes underneath & visibility Leachline: adjust at tack Trysail: sheeted to deck, not boom, separate track Leach line adjust at tack Important: Try this sails out before you actually need them 16

21 HEAVY WEATHER APPROACHING Write it down - so you don t forget What would you do? Then show the obvious Dinghy: Have you recovered a swamped dinghy in 30 kts of wind? What happens to the bimini in 40+ kts of wind? 17

22 HEAVY WEATHER APPROACHING Checklist Write it down - so you don t forget What would you do? Then show the obvious Dinghy: Have you recovered a swamped dinghy in 30 kts of wind? What happens to the bimini in 40+ kts of wind? 17

23 HEAVY WEATHER APPROACHING Checklist The obvious Batten down prepare food harness/jack lines/pfd sail plan? Write it down - so you don t forget What would you do? Then show the obvious Dinghy: Have you recovered a swamped dinghy in 30 kts of wind? What happens to the bimini in 40+ kts of wind? 17

24 HEAVY WEATHER APPROACHING Checklist The obvious Batten down prepare food harness/jack lines/pfd sail plan? Dinghy stowage Write it down - so you don t forget What would you do? Then show the obvious Dinghy: Have you recovered a swamped dinghy in 30 kts of wind? What happens to the bimini in 40+ kts of wind? 17

25 HEAVY WEATHER APPROACHING Checklist The obvious Batten down prepare food harness/jack lines/pfd sail plan? Dinghy stowage Bimini down Write it down - so you don t forget What would you do? Then show the obvious Dinghy: Have you recovered a swamped dinghy in 30 kts of wind? What happens to the bimini in 40+ kts of wind? 17

26 HEAVY WEATHER APPROACHING Checklist The obvious Batten down prepare food harness/jack lines/pfd sail plan? Dinghy stowage Bimini down Maintenance Write it down - so you don t forget What would you do? Then show the obvious Dinghy: Have you recovered a swamped dinghy in 30 kts of wind? What happens to the bimini in 40+ kts of wind? 17

27 IN HEAVY WEATHER: GENERAL crew adjust watch schedule navigation big eyes chafe address issues early - Look after your crew: Save, clipped in, they might be worried - Don t forget to navigate: In shore to avoid danger (lee shore, reefs), perhaps save harbour although at times it will be better to stay away from landfall. Offshore those hazards are less important. Sail away from more heavy weather, ocean currents? - keep an eye on potential issues. Something you forgot to store away, trip hazard on boat (lines), again your crew. Don t forget the outside world. Wind increasing? Waves? - Especially: Sheets, guys, preventer etc can chafe through in a matter of hours if not properly lead. 18

28 HEAVY WEATHER TACTICS passive vs. active Bow into the wind Stern into the wind 19

29 HEAVY WEATHER TACTICS Bow into the wind / passive: Heave to: - 45 to 60 to the wind - jib backwinded - perhaps main only - helm lashed down 20

30 HEAVY WEATHER TACTICS Bow into the wind / active: Forereaching: - close to the wind - balanced sail plan - perhaps main only - little input from helm 21

31 HEAVY WEATHER TACTICS Stern into the wind / active: Running off: - wind about balanced sail plan - perhaps jib only - tough on the helm NEVER with main only 22

32 HEAVY WEATHER TACTICS Stern into the wind / semi active: Running off: - wind about balanced sail plan - perhaps jib only - streaming drogue - easier on the helm 23

33 DANGEROUS TACTICS downwind: Main only -> unstable/round up lying ahull (sails down) - > beam on to waves being passive -> manage boat & crew 24

34 AFTER HEAVY WEATHER assess & address damage rest crew resume navigation debrief: what can we do better next time? > write this down 25

35 HEAVY WEATHER - DON T FORGET Don t fall off the boat! Skipper: Keep crew spirits & energy sustained 26

36 HEAVY WEATHER TECHNIQUES No single "silver bullet" storm technique: Depending on: > your boat; > crew training / condition; > sea state & > sea room The combination of all these factors will define what technique might be adequate. 27

37 W W W. S I M P LY S A I L I N G. C A HEAVY WEATHER - ATLANTIC 28

38 Discussion / Questions? Send an to: 29