A bit of following seas...

[HoffaLives]

amazing video. maybe the "bin there done that" folks can make this a teaching moment. from where i'm sitting i would have to think that he/she could use some more headway to react with more control as the swells pass. or is that about what it's gonna look like in those conditions no matter what you do? also, wouldn't the motion be improved if he came about and headed up into the waves? isn't there a greater possibility of broaching when running in surf like that?

[Rockter]

Short, unforgiving, steep sea.
Oh give me deep water, oh yes.
I think he could use a wee bit more pace.

[badsneakers]

Having no experience in that kind of situation I'm guessing he needed more speed to keep ahead the waves breaking over the stern. I'm also guessing that taking the waves at a slight angle would lessen the chances of going 'ass over tea kettle'. But I can't imagine that heading back into the waves would be a better alternative. Unless of course his heading dictated that he did so.

Aside from the immediate danger, I can't imagine how exhausting that must be to wrestle with the helm like that for hours on end!

[starboardyacht]

Originally Posted by nolatom

"Beauty is as beauty does". He made it in safely. I think those of us who are at comfortable computer stations get to comment, but not to judge.

i would'nt consider any of the posts on this thread "judgemental" , except yours

[Freesail99]

I sent my 19 year old son a link to that video, here is his reply: "well.......that doesn't look like fun at all father"

Dump kid doesn't yet know what "fun" is, lol

[nolatom]

Originally Posted by starboardyacht

i would'nt consider any of the posts on this thread "judgemental" , except yours

Uh...thanks.

I was referring more to myself than anyone else. Who knows whether more headsail or a different heading would've improved the motion, or whether they'd already tried it? I know I don't, but the crew on board might.

[gershel]

Would a "Galerider" type drogue have helped in a situation like this?
Marc

[nolatom]

Originally Posted by CharlieCobra

I reckon so. I did notice a broken spreader on the mizzen after looking at the vid a couple of times. Could be why he wasn't running jib and jigger.

Charlie, you're right, took me a few times to see it. The port mizzen spreader is dangling loose, and one of the shrouds, with the baggywrinkle on it, is swaying around and looks slack.

This is a damaged rig, maybe from a prior knockdown. They're likely trying to keep any side strain off the mizzen mast. Assuming they not only made it in, but did so with the rig intact, then good on 'em. It's nerve-racking enough to try to stay on course, and much more so to wonder on each heave of the sea if the rig's going to stay up.

[sailingdog]

It doesn't look like the situation calls for a drogue... since the boat isn't really surfing... Generally, a drogue is deployed if the boat is moving too fast and something needs to be done to slow the boat down to a controllable speed. The Jordan Series Drogue is for even more extreme conditions IMHO than the Galerider, since it is designed to help small boats weather and survive large breaking waves.

Originally Posted by gershel

Would a "Galerider" type drogue have helped in a situation like this?
Marc

[chris_gee]

It is unlikely that more sail would bring the boat up to greater than wave speed, which may well be of the order of 10 knots, indeed it would be unwise to try to achieve that, given the chance of hitting the next wave at an angle and turning side on. As for the idea of taking the waves at an angle that in my view would be a bad idea as it would immediately swing the stern making a broach more likely.
It is difficult to avoid motion like this in such following seas and once a yaw starts it is virtually impossible to control. The key seems to be deft steering at the crest to have the boat square. The forard sail, possibly a staysail or storm jib trimmed on the centreline and a simple drogue can all help in this.