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ok now that was scary

5K views 37 replies 17 participants last post by  CharlieCobra 
#1 ·
another sunny day showed up so tracy and i decided to head out. small craft warning in the straight, gale warning this am, but it was supposed to calm down a bit. not. this is my limit, at least without experienced help aboard. the waves were fast and steep; i don't know how big they actually were, but when they were hitting the ogden point breakwater the spray was going about 40 feet in the air.
going to weather wasn't so bad at first but a squall came along, and even with a double reef and half-reefed jib, and mainsheet slackened off, she still went on her ear. decided to put the jib away for good and that helped; still doing four knots with just a handkerchief of sail up. the waves were spaced about a boat length apart, and were over the top of the dodger. They got worse the further out into the strait we sailed, so we came about, and that put us beam on the waves; you would go on one ear, the wave would slip by, and then end up on the other ear. gaaah, 16,000 lbs and we were like a cork bobbing around. :eek:
everything went ok, but i wouldn't want worse, 30 knots is my max, at least with waves like that. the wind was no problem you just pull in canvas, but there were times when it was hard to even stand.
it's good to find what one's comfort limit is, without busting everything.

what amazed me was that tracy didn't flinch; i kept asking if she wanted to go in, but no, she was willing to ride it out. we came in when i started getting scared (the wind and waves were building, not slackening as forecast). she was also a big help. i want to do this stuff on my own, but when you are tacking and the boat is heeling like hell, and the waves are knocking you about, it's nice to have someone else slacken the mainsheet while you helm and drag the genny over.
 
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#2 ·
Doncha love it when the forecast is wrong? As far as the rolling in beam seas, I think that's due to boat design. Oh Joy doesn't roll much in beam seas with canvas aloft. She just kinda bobs up and down with the waves at the same angle. Were these breaking seas? What were the wind speeds? Nice to see ya have willing crew and that you're broadening your horizons, sailing wise.
 
#4 ·
Hoffa,
I checked out your website and I saw that you and your wife are parked at a marina in the PNW. A question occurred to me as I read through it... Why haven't you and your wife really gone anywhere in that beautiful boat of yours? I might have missed the answer to my question in your narrative... but now I'm curious.
 
#5 ·
i don't see any design bobbing up and down, at least not in short, steep waves like these, but what do in know? the wind was gusting to about 30 knots

the reason we haven't gone beyond the gulf islands is that we have only had the boat since july, and 6 weeks of that it was being repaired from the prop wrap, which just about ended the season up here. tracy also just started a new job so she is limited in her holiday time.
 
#12 ·
i don't see any design bobbing up and down, at least not in short, steep waves like these, but what do in know? the wind was gusting to about 30 knots
I know those type waves well, they're typical of this area, especially when the wind is against the tides. Having been weather cocked before in 10' seas and 40 knots of wind while smack in the middle of the Admiralty Inlet, I can say that Oh Joy does bob up and down in beam seas with moderate canvas up. I can also attest that it's scary as hell doing so while looking into the teeth of that gale at the breakers starting to form as they rush your boat.

I'm glad to hear you have the cojones to take your house out in those conditions. You're correct about it being the best way to learn. Just take the proper precautions. Did ya file a float plan with anyone?
 
#6 ·
Looks like you've got a "keeper" in Tracy, hoffa. Big props to her for sure.

The tidal currents outside Victoria Harbour, and esp towards Trial Island or out at Race Rocks can create some very nasty sea conditions, with upwellings, sudden holes in the ocean etc. Juan de Fuca is always a body of water that deserves even more respect than normal.

Good for you both, trying things out in this weather at this time of year.
 
#9 ·
we went today because there's only one way i know of to get experience in difficult conditions, and i would rather get that experience outside of victoria harbour than in some remote location. at any point we were within 20 minutes of ducking back in if it got worse (which it did, and then got better. there was even hail today)

alanporter , the spray was hitting the breakwater and doubling the height in the biggest waves. the breakwater looked like about 20 feet to me. did you see us out there? except for the pilot boat, there was no one else :)

thanks, Sg and the same to you and yours.
 
#10 ·
Most boats can take more than the crew; there is no reason to prove otherwise unless you are getting experience for future sailing (or writing I suppose). I've come to enjoy your post, on topic and off topic - stick around and make some more - that's your home you are throwing around out there!

I hope to heck I never have to sail in winds over 30kts - I'm sure my boat will handle it as many Gemini's have.
 
#11 ·
Two observations:

1) Tracy's a keeper... and a trooper...
2) The weather forecasts are never right... so don't depend on 'em. :)

One wiseass comment:

What, no video??? :)

Thanks for the post Hoffa. :) BTW, don't forget ski goggles or diving masks for the next time you go out... they make it a lot easier to look around when the wind is blowing spray or rain at 40+ knots. :)
 
#13 ·
I've gone out few time locally with 20-30 knot winds forecast. Start with a reef or two from the shore, throw up a blade, and enjoy! I too have been in short chop, ie wind from one direction, tide current coming against you! One way to learn, just do not be to confident at first, that will get you in trouble, start off slow with the amount of sail, add a bit when you see how strong things are etc. And enjoy the ride.

This happened a bit in mid nov. A race was scheduled, only two boats showed up, so the two of use took a slow easy sail across puget sound and back. If figured we were out, did not worry about pushing the boat, but decided to see how well she went. Saw gust to over 30, a month before, saw gust to 25 in a major race. Both were fun. Alth the Nov ride, we were in a wave trough, and the waves were higher than i was sitting in the cockpit! Waves were at the time going with the wind, so long and tall! Tenuki missed a fun day!

marty
 
#14 ·
what's interesting is the various approaches people have to intense situations. some folks talk about how they never hope to experience it, and others talk about how much fun it was. maybe that's experience talking, i don't know. i do believe it has nothing to do with courage(that would be the easy answer). different strokes? maybe. what i do know is that while tracy and i certainly had things under control, it wouldn't take much for that to change very quickly.

i was aware that the boat really was like a cork, a more-or-less sealed bubble of air that aside from holing, would continue to stay above the water. but that didn't mean that it would be habitable.
it's an old truism that boats can take more than people, and i had always approached that as if it was somehow a failing of people - a good sailor should be able to last as long as the boat. i had a glimpse yesterday of how that isn't the case at all, that people ultimately are sensitive souls and are finite, while physical forces are impersonal and can persist without end.

that guy recently rescued off the east coast may have made several mistakes that got him into that situation, but i totally empathise with him and his call for help. nobody does that lightly and i can only imagine what sent him to the brink that he had to broadcast a mayday. people's limits may vary, but everyone has a limit. it's what binds all of us. there but for the grace of god go i.
 
#15 ·
I remember reading an editors comments in Sail? he was in Scotland, at a pub thinking how horrible it would be to sail, as a fleet of boats headed our for a race, A couple hrs later they came back, a few had ripped sails stuck to the top of the mast, ie upper jib and main seperated. broken booms, etc. They all sowed up in the pub laughing, bloodied faces, fingers etc on some, all laughing. The editor had to ask why they all went out in a 30-40 knot wind? If we waited for less than 20 knots to sail, we would NEVER get out and sail!

Any way, not sure what that is worth, but as they say, different strokes, for different folks! In the end, one does not need to go out when the OP went out, nor when I was out last month, but if your properly prepared, can get out of trouble if you will with in reason, have a game plan for any contingencies you think will arrive or could happen. Why not!

The worst that will happen, is you will flip your 8' pram in lke washington, swamp it in 2-3' waves and 20 knot winds............ok, so a story from age 15 or there abouts one halloween day back in 76! Any way, hopefully things will not break, like booms! i am sure that incident should NOT have happened, but fun to harass the victim none the less! have a game plan on how you will do what for ea circumstance of potential issue, follow to the best you can. Then laugh or cry about the end later. Sail has an article ea month in which folks tell about things that went right and wrong with in ea type of incident. The people tell about what they did right, and wrong, what they will do next time to prepare better for these issues.

Next time will go better. Just like my trip last month, I learned some things on how to handle this boat better when I get into similar situations! IE the shortening of sails will be done differently etc. Otherwise, it was a fun time for all! Same for the race in early oct. learned a few things there too! All good in the end. Just as the OP learned a few things, about himself, and spouse! along with how the boat handled things too. A good day out, nothing broke, even it if did, you lived to tell about it!

marty
 
#17 ·
Hey Hoffa, get on a plane will ya??

...come here..me and Fred...we'll grow hair in your chest for sure....you'll go home feeling like a man...we'll discuss philosophy all right....from a halyard up high...in real weather in a real boat....

dude, i hate to tell ya, it looked worse than that when we were out. more white, bigger crests.
and look at all that teak. teak is for girls.:p
 
#25 ·
You wish....
 
#26 ·
I'm not trying to say one person has more balls than another, but knowing that waves never look as big on film as in person I think Giu is in a little nasty weather in that pic. I also know what it's like to be in chop (Chesapeake Chop) and understand how trying to sail between really close and steep waves affects everything you do. Whatever...

Hey Hoffa, did you clip in????
 
#29 ·
I'm not laughing about that picture. Captain Blutarski is in the process of rounding up, gaining substantial headway, before crying out, "Ramming Speeeeed!". He only get's that look in his eye when he spies a Catalina ripe for the plucking. (g)
 
#31 ·
That's where we differ Rick. I like to sharpen my skill sets so I do venture out in SCA's and Gales to do just that. Each time I do, I learn something. The first time, which turned out to be much more than forecast by 30 knots, I noticed that turning into the wind and waves to handle sails put my crew in harm's way because of the slamming into the waves. The second time, I ran off on a Broad Reach and the motion, amount of water and difficulty in dousing the headsails was much less. Just to be sure, I did the foredeck work in both directions myself and the difference was huge. The Mainsail and Mizzen still require beating to work with but the risk is reduced for those when beating. Again, boat design has a lot to do with the ride in inclement weather. Oh Joy is terrific in rough seas so it's not an issue.
 
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