What is Heavy Weather? When you risk losing control of your boat due to wind and sea state. A Force 6 (22-27 Kts) breeze is about twice the speed of a Force 4 ( 11-16 kts) breeze but it is eight times as powerful. A Force 9 (41-47 kts) strong gale is another eight times as powerful as a Force 6 wind. The power in the wind goes up with the square (V 2 ) of the wind speed
Voyage Planning/Pilot Charts
Important Weather Tools Onboard SSB and VHF Radio Weather Fax Cell Phone By Alan Watts Barometer Sat Phone
Weather Considerations Passage Weather http://www.passageweather.com/ Ocean Prediction Center http://www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/ Marine Weather Fax http://weather.noaa.gov/fax/marine.shtml Hurricane Sandy 2012
X Plotting the Mariners 1 2 3 Escape Route Rule 72 Hr Dangerous Semicircle X 48 Hr Wind Direction CCW Northern Hemisphere X 24 Hr X Current Gale Radius 34 Kts
Boat Design is a Factor 50 Knots Expedition Boat Aluminum construction Foam insulation Low freeboard Hard dodger/ small dry cockpit 7 Draft Slab reefing Bigger is not necessarily better 30 Knots All Purpose Cruiser Fiberglass construction Large interior volume High freeboard Large open cockpit Shoal Draft 5 8 In mast reefing
Righting Moment Curve and Design influences on Capsize Avoid the breaking part of the wave stay out of currents (Gulf Stream etc.) 30/60 Capsize rule for breaking waves in deep water
Sailing into Big Seas 5 4 3 2 1 5 3 1
Running in Big Seas
Jordan Drogue
Para Anchor and Galerider Prevents surfing and pitch- poling in high seas when running downwind Can also be used to retrieve a MOB Para Anchor Galerider
Heaving To Jib backed, mainsail out, helm to leeward Watch Chafe on Weather Sheet Prevents Fore-sailing when hove to
Beware of a Lee Shore Breaking waves will occur at a depth of 1.3x the wave height at shoals ( 10 Wave Breaks in 13.3 of water)
ISAF Offshore Special Regulations Do you carry? Safe Harbor Charts MOM Lifesling EPIRB & PLB s AIS Liferaft Grab Bag Life vest and Harness U.S. Sailing Prescriptions
Prepare for the worst and hope for the best On Deck Preparation Jack Lines Rigged Hatches secured and taped Reef lines led Coil and secure all lines and halyards Rig inner forestay and backstays Preposition all storm and heavy weather sails Hatch boards in and secured Cockpit lockers secured Rubber Flap over Engine Exhaust at Transom
Above Decks (Cont.) Weather cloths out and rigged Radar reflector rigged, Test Nav. lights Rig blocks for storm sails Deck Knife, Ck. steering gear above and below decks Ck tie downs on life rafts and inspect all safety gear AIS transmitting? Remove all extra cockpit canvas and dodgers Check halyards and move away from mast to reduce noise Rig boom preventer if running Check for Chafe and Rig Check Periodically
Below deck Preparation Secure all heavy objects batteries, floorboards, books etc. Lock Gimbaled Stove and Reefer doors Stow sails in proper order heavy on top Test pumps (lanyards on pump handles) Close all unnecessary thru hulls Call in position Charge batteries Install or have ready ventilator caps for dorades Preposition buckets below Have a grab (ditch) bag at the ready
Below Deck (Cont.) Stow all galley equipment (pots and pans) Pre prepare thermos of hot soups make sandwiches and put out snacks and energy bars, freeze dried food Get rigging cutters out with a lanyard attached Brief crew on what to expect, review safety brief and emergency drills Rig lee cloths on the bunks
Personal Preparation Take seasickness pill early Use the head early Have a hot meal Wear appropriate clothing (layers) and stay dry Knife and headlight with you at all times Organize duffle bag, use zip lock bags Drink plenty of liquids Have your safety gear close at hand when sleeping
Storm Sails Storm Trysail Area Not greater than 17.5% of P (Mainsail Luff) X E Mainsail Foot Storm Jib Area Not greater than 5% of I Squared ( I is the height of the foretriangle))
ISAF/U.S. Sailing Required Sails Category 0,1,2 ( Trans- Oceanic, Bermuda, Coastal ) Heavy Weather Jib Storm Trysail Mainsail (with 10% reef) Storm Jib Category 3,4 (Protected, short daylight) Heavy Weather Jib Storm Trysail or Mainsail with a 10% & 40% Reef Storm Jib
Heavy Weather Sails Sail Selection Chart 44 Sloop
Separate Trysail track Eliminates requirement to remove mainsail Trysail can live on deck Highly recommended Separate track mandatory for in mast and Leisure Furl type sails
Storm Trysail and Jib Setup Boom tied off to one side Two sheets on Trysail Inner forestay rigged Mainsail removed or furled and lashed to boom Two jib sheets to outboard lead Running backstays to cabin top Trysail lead outboard/aft (adjustable) PRACTICE to see what works on your boat
Storm Jib vs. Heavy Weather Jib Navy 44 Heavy weather jib not greater than 13.5% of I Squared 5% I 2 13.5% I 2 Independent means of attachment for any luff grove devices
Double Head Rig Ideal for setting the storm jib Storm jib can be pre-positioned in a sail bag With storm trysail sail area is centered above CLR Safer than having someone hank on a sail up at the bow in large seas Requires running backstays to meet point of attachment of inner forestay Stabilize mast with runners in a seaway Excellent with a staysail under a genoa when reaching Can be moved back to mast when sailing upwind in light air
Gale Sail As an alternative to a rolled up Genoa Advantages No need to lower jib Piston hanks/grommets Prevents unfurling of jib Adjustable tack height No inner forestay Flatter sail than a rolled up genoa Disadvantages Forward of the CLR Must install early
Mainsail Reefing US Sailing prescribes mainsail reefing to reduce luff by 10% Cat. 0-3 Races, including a storm trysail ISAF requires either a storm trysail or reefing to reduce luff by 40% for Cat 3 races In mast furling storm trysail must be able to be set with mainsail furled In boom roller furling (tedious when windy as boom alignment is critical) Single line reefing (increased friction and chafe at the tack) Slab reefing produces the flattest sail in the foot area
Single Line Reefing Stress on bottom sail slide Advantages Operated from the cockpit with main halyard Ideal when short handed Disadvantages Promotes chafing of sail in tack area Stress on lower slides Sail ends up fuller along the boom
Slab Reefing 1. Adjust boom topping lift (if applicable) 2. Ease mainsheet and boom vang 3. Lower main halyard and secure tack at gooseneck 4. Tighten main halyard (be sure it is tight) 5. Tighten reef line at new clew (very tight, flattens the lower sail) 6. Trim mainsheet and adjust vang 7. Secure loose sail at boom with sail ties (around the sail not the boom)
Cascading Events 1. Boat hauled because of Sandy no sails on at departure 2. No offshore charts on board 3 days before 3. Sailing to a schedule 4. SSB not working ( Fixed in Little Creek) 5. 48 Hr. weather window from Little Creek 6. Crew of four one seasick Monday on 7. Compass and instrument lights went out first night in ocean 8. Radar went out
Events (Cont.) 9. In Gulf Stream winds 30-40 kts. 10.Lifeline failure 11.Roller jib failure 12.Ran out of fuel & heads clogged up 13.Crew fatigue down to two helmsman 14.Leaky hatches and loose gear down below 15.Mainsail in mast furling failed 16.Steering failure and no emergency tiller on board (Steering failed 1 year ago) 17.EBIRB worked!
Good Seamanship Prepare the boat Practice Plan early Prevail Captain John Bonds
Questions?