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Big Freakin' Sails

593K views 3K replies 293 participants last post by  smackdaddy 
#1 ·
Okay - this thread is for people that ACTUALLY LIKE Big Freakin' Sails (note for morons: the verb, not the noun). BFS simply means sailing that pushes limits - whatever those limits may be. And herein lies the rub...and the reason I need to explain a couple of things so people don't start foaming at the mouth right off the bat.

There has been a tremendous amount of hubbub over this "philosophy" in another thread - but that thread apparently "came with a lot of baggage" - to the point that the topic itself got lost in the fog of war. So, this is an attempt to start cleanly.

It must be understood that the love for the adventure and excitement of hard sailing is just as valid and robust in the newbie as it is in the big-sailing old salt. The gap between the two is experience and knowledge. And the goal here is not to fill that gap by quashing the spirit of adventure and excitement with a deluge of cynicism and technicality - but to help us all learn, if and when the time comes, how to better handle that moment when mother nature starts rising beyond our sailing abilities. Because if you keep sailing - it will happen, period. And as you'll see, it can get very frightening very quickly.

For an old salt, these limits will obviously be worlds beyond those of the typical newbie. That old salt will probably snicker at the point at which the newbie becomes terrified - understandably so. Yet, there will inevitably be an even more seasoned salt that will, in turn, snicker at the snickerer when he/she soils his/her own breeches in a blow. It's all subjective and un-ownable.

Therefore, the BFS factor of a newbie experiencing a hard heel and wayward helm for the very first time is just as exciting, important, and valuable (in BFS terms) as the old salt battling a 50 knot gale. It's just about the attitude with which the exploit is approached and remembered - and taken into account as they go back out for more. There are great stories and valuable lessons in both experiences - as well as great opportunities for good hearted slams on the brave posters (which is valuable as well). That's BFS.

So, to be clear this thread is JUST AS MUCH FOR THE SAILING NEWBIE (of which I am one) as it is for the old salt. It's a place to tell your story, listen to others', learn some lessons, and discuss the merits or detractions of Big Freakin' Sails.

The following inaugural BFS stories illustrate what this thread is all about. As I said, I'm a newbie - and you see my first BFS story below. You can then compare that with the other great BFS stories thereafter (sometimes edited to protect the innocent) which I think are great tales from great sailors; they cover the spectrum of "pushing the limits". Then, hopefully, you'll throw down some BFS of your own (either your own story, stories you admire, or stories that are just flat-out lies but with great BFS value - whatever).

Now, let's have some fun...shall we?
 
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#2,515 ·
Lou, there's no such thing as "bath tub toy" sailing. Any time you're sailing - on any boat - on any body of water - it's the real deal. Don't let anyone tell you different.

I got a lot of that kind of name-calling back in the day by guys who claimed they were "real sailors". They weren't.

Just go sailing and love it. That's how De Lomotte got to where he is. That lucky bastard.
 
#2,519 ·
Yes, he tied himself to the boat with a rope, as his Vendee Globe post claims.

Hi all,

What a magical end to the night, the sea was so flat I could almost see the reflection of shooting stars. Incredible! Then the sun rose, it was beautiful, even though there was no wind, or very little. It was getting warm so I decided to take a swim...

I used the opportunity to check the rudder. It is actually more damaged on the side than I thought, I had to dive to see it. But it will be ok. I also took a look at the other rudder and the keel and they're fine too.

I swam a little, tied to Initiative-coeur with a rope, but the boat just wasn't moving. A nice red and white boat on the blue sea, it was the first time I could see it from the outside. I also saw fish, they were probabaly wondering what I was doing in the water.

I visited the top of the mast yesterday, and the bortom of the keel today. IMOCA yachts are huge!

Have a good night, you all, the wind is coming back and I'm feeling fresh, at least for a few hours...

Tanguy.
Intentionally raised his sails in zero wind. You never know.

Intentionally, tied a rope around his waste and went swimming solo to check his rudder. That can be necessary.

Intentionally, brought a camera to take a pic of himself in front of his boat on the middle of the ocean with his sails up. Priceless narcissist.
 
#2,521 ·
Well, there are Vendee Globe racers, and then there are Vende Globe wannabes...

This guy was having a Big Freakin' Sail, alright - until he wasn't...

Gotta agree with Charlie Doane, on this one... An Archimbault 35 in the Southern Ocean? Seriously?

I imagine there's more than a couple of passengers on that cruise ship who are more than a tad annoyed with this guy, after not getting their full $20Ks worth on their Antarctic cruise...

This is one VERY lucky dude...

ALAIN DELORD: Vendee Globe Wanna-Be Rescued By Aussie Cruise Ship



 
#2,522 · (Edited)
Yeah, I remember reading about that guy. But everyone knows the rules of BFS...

Rescue=FAIL

You gotta bring her home for it to count.

(PS - Jon, do you agree with Chuck on this part?

"Delord, a very experienced ocean sailor, was apparently stalking the Vendee Globe fleet in a bid to sail non-stop around the world alone through the Southern Ocean when he was forced to abandon his boat.")
 
#2,524 ·
Yeah, I remember reading about that guy. But everyone knows the rules of BFS...

"Delord, a very experienced ocean sailor, was apparently stalking the Vendee Globe fleet in a bid to sail non-stop around the world alone through the Southern Ocean when he was forced to abandon his boat.")
Yes, he was a very experienced sailor but being experienced does not mean necessarily a reasonable one.

Delors had crossed the Atlantic 17 times and his best performance was a 3th place on the Mini class Transat in 2001.

Regards

Paulo
 
#2,523 · (Edited)
For some days that I had the intention to post about that on the Interesting boat thread but since you have posted here, well, it's done:D

The Archambault 35 is a great boat with an outstanding stability and is one of the favorite boats to race the Transquadra, a solo or duo Transat for amateurs. Many A35 (and smaller boats like the A31 or the SF 3200) made the race along the several editions without problems.

But one thing is an offshore boat another a boat to sail or race in high latitudes.

I remember some years ago professionals discussing if a Class 40 racer, a bigger boat with a considerable bigger stability has safe to race on high latitudes. After that several circumnavigations races took place and the boat show that it was up to the job but the boats were duo crewed and it is not a non stop race. If the weather is particularly nasty they can post pone the start of each leg. Anyway I guess that in what concerns safety in what regards a light boat, a 40class racer is about the limit in what regards good sense.

Going for a non stop navigation with an intention to establish a reference mark (and that implies to sail on high latitudes) with a A35, alone with 64 years of age is madness. When someone does mad things, sometimes one can get lucky, others the very real possibility of disaster happens and that is the case.

The sad thing is that guys that try to pull stunts like these are looked by many, including responsible sail magazines, as a hero and not as a mad man.

Mon Voile Mag , Archive » Un sacré défi !

Alain Delord, marin morbihanais, a fait naufrage en mer de Tasmanie : Un navire vient à sa rencontre - France 3 Bretagne
 
#2,525 ·
Paulo,

I noticed that this boat uses a "vacuum infused sandwich pvc" hull construction. I assume it's a pretty light boat? If so, maybe more easily holed by the rig?

Also, how do these compare to the Open 40s in terms of toughness? The two look very similar to me.



It seems the A35 is a lighter-built knock-off of the Open 40?
 
#2,527 · (Edited)
Yes it is a pretty light boat but that does not mean that is no a though boat. In fact in the English blog it is said that the boat was rolled and break the mast. That is possible, but the French say that they only know that the mast broke and that in consequence the boat was holed. In 7m waves and 30/40k winds when a mast broke it is necessary luck for not finish with an holed hull. He was alone and with 64 years in a small and relatively narrow boat in big waves and high winds, probably he just waited conditions to become more clement to cut the mast lose...too late it seems.

Regarding the differences between the two boats they are really big in what regards stability and safety features. The 40class racer is a race boat, the A35 is a performance cruiser, a stiff boat but a moderately narrow boat. The 40 class racer is a kind of a smaller Open 60, a beamier and much stiffer boat with a bulb at the end of a 3m draft that has also water-prove bulkheads and it is unthinkable (it has large parts of the boat full of foam).

Regards

Paulo
 
#2,529 ·
More information:

Delors was sailing at 50º South at South Southwest from Tasmania. the boat lost the mast, the Australian navy was informed but he did not ask for help. Only several hours later, after the mast damaged the hull, he went for a mayday.

The ship that responded to the mayday is a cruiser specialized in Tourism in the Antarctic and was returning from Antarctica, going to the Macqarie Island. Big luck for Delors. Normally there is no boats on that area that is the biggest earth desert in what regard men. The ship had to make 440Nm in very difficult sea conditions to reach him.

During the time the boat take to reach him AMSA organized airplane rotations to fly over Delors. 5 airplanes were used, day and night. They dropped survival material, life-raft, water, food, communication means, survival suit.

Dénouement du naufrage d
 
#2,535 ·
Ahh, I think I spotted the reason they abandonded. In photo 28, you can see very clearly that the roll of toilet paper appears to have gotten wet at some point. It's all wrinkly.

Who in their right mind would have stayed with that boat knowing that?
 
#2,543 ·
Now this is one lucky dude:

And this ins't just any dude. It's Bernard Stamm. He stays pretty calm, eh?
This ain't his first rodeo! It has nothing to do with luck. He is calm because he knows his boat, and he knows what needs to be done. I'm sure he has dealt with plenty of broaches.

Anybody who races hard has dealt with broaches like that. (actually that one was pretty "slow-motion" compared to some!)

Of course I have always had the benefit of an experienced crew, but it is usually dealt with pretty calmly. Doing it by myself in the middle of nowhere?
Can't say I would want to try that!

That guy definitely deserves your "BFSer" award.

The guy in the video before that? He was just a hack and an idiot!
 
#2,545 ·
Perhaps not a BFS but at least an IFS (Interesting Freakin' Sail). This guy "single-hands" his Albin 27 with only one hand including docking x2 under sail, readying the boat, and putting it all away.

Showoff?

Good practice?

You decide!

I think, that if you tried this exercise, you would learn a lot about your boat and it would be a great way to teach yourself exactly what process are easy to do and what needs to be re-thought. If you do what he did, on a light air day, you (and your boat) be much better set up for the real BFS when you really need "one hand for the ship and one for yourself. "



MedSailor
 
#2,549 · (Edited)
Well - we lost our boat on Monday. I really had no idea how heartbreaking it could be. She's now sitting on the bottom of Lake Travis in about 100' of water. Story here:

The Saddest Day of a Sailor's Life

The rule has always been that to count as BFS - you have to bring her home in one piece - on your own. That didn't happen this time. But, that wonderful old Catalina 27 gave us so many BFS's - she deserves to be here.



RIP you great old boat. I'll miss you.

 
#2,552 ·
Smack, that is horrible. Very sorry to hear that.

Almost afraid to ask. Insurance??

Marina may bear some liability for that missing bumper. Even if you have insurance, yours will probably attempt to subrogate against theirs.

The fetch had to be the real killer. We've had 55 kt winds in the marina as hurricanes brushed by each of the past two years, with zero damage. No fetch. Everyone did, of course, double up on lines and fenders.

Sad day in Smackville.
 
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