What a ride!! We rode through 56kt+ winds yesterday!

labatt · #1 (**permalink**) 08-19-2009

Well, we made it safely from Norfolk to NYC, arriving at around 6:30am this morning. It was fairly uneventful, unless you count:

1) A Coast Guard safety inspection as we left Norfolk Inlet (passed with flying colors)
2) A second coastie trying to board us 30 minutes later, also for a safety inspection
3) Our engine oil pressure dropping to zero as we were head to wind in 22kts and 6ft seas putting a second reef in
4) And for the finale, we got nailed by those huge storms that ripped through PA/NJ/NY yesterday. We clocked 48.6kts, but our knotmeter is broken and we were doing 8.8kts at the time, so add that in for 57.4kts. Of course it only shows maximum sustained wind, not peak gusts where we saw over 55kts, reflecting well over 60kts of wind. By the way - The 8.8kts was done with only a double reefed main up, wind at the quarter, running hard. Pelican handled incredibly well with nothing breaking and a few whoops from the helmsman (me), if that tells you how amazing it truly was. By the way, here are a couple of links about the storm where 80mph+ winds were recorded: A Brief but Intense Thunderstorm - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com and Storm fells hundreds of trees in NY's Central Park | APP.com | Asbury Park Press.

We'll have stuff up on our blog in the next couple of days.

montenido · #2 (**permalink**) 08-19-2009

Labatt, glad to hear you made it through. I had my hands full in about 25-30 knots a couple of weeks ago. I had to turn tail and run back to the lee of the island. Do you have any pictures, or were you too busy slicin' and dicin'?

Nice job, Bill

smackdaddy · #3 (**permalink**) 08-19-2009

HOLY CRAP LABATT!!! I'll be watching your blog. I smell a SERIOUS BFS!

Can I steal it from your blog and put it here in the BFS Hall of Fame?

CharlieCobra · #4 (**permalink**) 08-20-2009

It's funny how a big blow like that can be handled by a well found boat isn't it? After that, sailing in a Gale is no longer the big deal that it was. Sounds like a fun trip.

Stillraining · #5 (**permalink**) 08-20-2009

LOL... ya its amazing how one year changes opinions around here isnt it...

Good on ya Labat, sounds like a lot of fun.

labatt · #6 (**permalink**) 08-20-2009

It was incredible. The biggest help was being prepped for it - having some sail up, but reefed well in advance, talking through what we would do in various scenarios, giving each person areas of responsibility (port side, starboard side, helm), and communications during the storm (calling out wind speeds, point of sail, helm response, etc.). The significant wind (45+) only lasted about 20 minutes, but it still blew over 35 for another 30 minutes and then it was over 25 for the next hour or so. We should hopefully have a blog entry up today, and feel free to repost it

CalebD · #7 (**permalink**) 08-20-2009

Wow! I watched that micro-burst pass over the NYC region from a house on LI and the lightning show was incredible as were the short lived intense winds that I could only estimate at between 40 - 60 mph as I watched the tree limbs sway in the gusts. It was a dangerous night on land so I can only guess what a time you had out on the water. At least on board your boat Pelican you were not likely to be hit by falling tree limbs and debris.
You must have been off the coast of New Jersey when that system blew through. Guess I will wait for the blog entry to get posted.
Are you staying at Liberty Landing again and for how long?

imagine2frolic · #8 (**permalink**) 08-20-2009

What a way to end your trip. Congradulations on opening up your world to life long memeories.......i2f

SailKing1 · #9 (**permalink**) 08-20-2009

Although the storm must have been a shorts changer, I would like to congratulate you on passing the Coast Guard checks. It's shows your responsibility as a safe and responsible boater. Something we don't hear about that often. I was surprised at two boardings in such a short time period. I see the CG on the bay regularly but seldom hear of boardings especially two within an hour.

P.S. I wish I had known you where in Norfolk, I would have come down and bought you a drink.

sailingSammy · #10 (**permalink**) 08-20-2009

A friend of mine e-mailed me last monday, he was in the Azores and leaving for Bermuda on wednesday, on his way to Annapolis. I e-mailed him yesterday to see if he had left and haven't gotten a reply yet so he may be under way. He's sailing a Lagoon 40, hope his luck holds out.
In 2006 he had 3 major storms chasing him around the Atlantic on the same trip so he is used to it, but last place I would want to be in those conditions is on a cat.