Big Freakin' Sails - Page 197

bubb2 · #**1961** 09-19-2010

I am proud of you Smack, it sounds that you did everything right,

smackdaddy · #**1962** 09-19-2010

Thanks Mike. That means a lot.

I do have a serious question though on the kids...

When something crazy and fast is blowing in like that, is it better for them to be below or in the cockpit? I did forget to drop in the hatchboards prior to the blast (and definitely should have) - but in retrospect, it still kind of freaks me out to think about shuttering them in down there. My wife and I and our friends were up top and all the kids were below.

What do you think?

blackjenner · #**1963** 09-19-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubb2

I am proud of you Smack, it sounds that you did everything right,

Yeah, what he said. Nice job, Smack.

blackjenner · #**1964** 09-19-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by smackdaddy

Thanks Mike. That means a lot.

I do have a serious question though on the kids...

When something crazy and fast is blowing in like that, is it better for them to be below or in the cockpit? I did forget to drop in the hatchboards prior to the blast (and definitely should have) - but in retrospect, it still kind of freaks me out to think about shuttering them in down there. My wife and I and our friends were up top and all the kids were below.

What do you think?

down below.

They can't get blown or washed overboard if they are down below. You can concentrate on the boat. Put the hatch boards in and keep them in a nice safe, mostly watertight, cocoon, while you do a good job playing captain.

tdw · #**1965** 09-19-2010

and the bugger snuck by me when I wasn't looking......

St Anna · #**1966** 09-20-2010

Hey Smacker,

You did well. Great stuff.As the skipper, NO MATTER WHAT, you dont lose it! How are your kids now.

It may have just been the photos, but was it a tornado or a squall?

With squalls as a general rule that I (alone) follow, the rougher the lower edge, the stronger the gusts - and that baby looked like a 50+kn sucker!

I see you have joined me in the #@#%@ hate club. It wouldn't matter if he noticed you gesticulating like a mute politician in taiwan, he wouldn't give a damn.

bubb2 · #**1967** 09-20-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by smackdaddy

Thanks Mike. That means a lot.

I do have a serious question though on the kids...

When something crazy and fast is blowing in like that, is it better for them to be below or in the cockpit? I did forget to drop in the hatchboards prior to the blast (and definitely should have) - but in retrospect, it still kind of freaks me out to think about shuttering them in down there. My wife and I and our friends were up top and all the kids were below.

What do you think?

Kids belong below in a storm is my opinion. but never have the companionway boards locked or pined. Your kids are old enough to side back the the overhead companionway hatch or escape though a regular hatch. If not it is time to teach them. practice with life vests on. I found the easiest way was to make a game out of it. I would tell Michael I needed him on deck by way of the forward hatch or by way of the companionway. sometimes I would tell to come up on deck though one of the hatches and go below though the companionway and button it up behind him. i kept life vests in the cabin where the kids could get to them easily. When the weather gets rough I would tell the kids to get below and into vests and I know they would as we had drilled doing it. there are enough things going on above deck that the kids must able to do things for themselves.

It's funny how things change, due to my heart pump i can not get wet as the batteries and the computer controller are on the outside of my body. The last storm we were in, it was my son telling me to go below. As long as he doesn't tell me to get my fat ass up though the forward hatch things will be OK.

sailingdog · #**1968** 09-20-2010

Hey Mike—

I didn't know they made forward hatches that large...

smackdaddy · #**1969** 09-20-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by St Anna

Hey Smacker,

You did well. Great stuff.As the skipper, NO MATTER WHAT, you dont lose it! How are your kids now.

It may have just been the photos, but was it a tornado or a squall?

With squalls as a general rule that I (alone) follow, the rougher the lower edge, the stronger the gusts - and that baby looked like a 50+kn sucker!

I see you have joined me in the #@#%@ hate club. It wouldn't matter if he noticed you gesticulating like a mute politician in taiwan, he wouldn't give a damn.

It was definitely a tornado - although it was very brief and not well-formed just prior to coming over the lake. The giveaway was the dust/debris cloud coming up from the ground to meet the descending funnel. That pic was taken right as that was happening. I then realized we needed to do something quick.

Hey! What did I miss? Who was the jealous schmo hatin' on me?

cb32863 · #**1970** 09-20-2010

So I am just curious, what was the forecast that day? I am thinking it wasn't for possible severe weather.....