Phoenix of Hamble
Well-Known Member
Following the debate about the Open60 rescues, I realised we haven't had a good "what would you do" scenario for ages.... so here's one....
Late last year, you bought a new boat, a modern design with a wide stern. You've been thoroughly delighted with it, and somewhat suprised at how well it handles a stiff breeze compared to your expectations. It however, hasn't been throughly tested yet, with the strongest wind you've sailed her in being 30kts.
Following a great passage over to Bray overnight from Portsmouth, your two crew are tired, but after arriving at Bray late morning, you've been out, done a bit of sight seeing, and then visited the pub..... everyone is too tired to stay in the pub long, so only a single pint is consumed each.
Imagine your suprise on leaving the pub to find that the wind has picked up dramatically, and is blowing quite freshly from the East, and swing further north on occasions.... an unpleasant tender ride back to the boat reveals 25kts East North East..... it appears that the low over the North of the UK is tracking further south than expected. Looking at the Barometer, it has fallen 7mb since your arrival at 11h00 that morning. You had to motor a great deal of the way from Portsmouth, and so don't have much fuel left.
Bray is no place to be in a gale, so its obvious that we need to move on.....
However, with a tired crew, and a less than ideal forecast a run back to the English coastline looks unappealing, and Guernsey seems a bad choice given the need to negotiate the Swinge and Little Russell in the dark, wind and probable poor sea state. A night riding the storm out at sea with a tired crew is equally unattractive, so the obvious choice is to head for Cherbourg.... only a few hours....
So you set off.
The passage starts well, with great SOG, but as you pass Cap de la Hague, the sea state seems to be worsening, and then over the course of 20mins, the wind builds to 45kts. despite now being on the 3rd reef (and you thank your lucky stars you paid extra for that 3rd reefing point) and having the hanked on storm jib set, you are very heavily pressed, the boat is well on her ear, and making more leeway than forward motion. You are all exhausted, and the next major action on board will probably be your last before you are all too tired to do anything....
What do you do next?
Late last year, you bought a new boat, a modern design with a wide stern. You've been thoroughly delighted with it, and somewhat suprised at how well it handles a stiff breeze compared to your expectations. It however, hasn't been throughly tested yet, with the strongest wind you've sailed her in being 30kts.
Following a great passage over to Bray overnight from Portsmouth, your two crew are tired, but after arriving at Bray late morning, you've been out, done a bit of sight seeing, and then visited the pub..... everyone is too tired to stay in the pub long, so only a single pint is consumed each.
Imagine your suprise on leaving the pub to find that the wind has picked up dramatically, and is blowing quite freshly from the East, and swing further north on occasions.... an unpleasant tender ride back to the boat reveals 25kts East North East..... it appears that the low over the North of the UK is tracking further south than expected. Looking at the Barometer, it has fallen 7mb since your arrival at 11h00 that morning. You had to motor a great deal of the way from Portsmouth, and so don't have much fuel left.
Bray is no place to be in a gale, so its obvious that we need to move on.....
However, with a tired crew, and a less than ideal forecast a run back to the English coastline looks unappealing, and Guernsey seems a bad choice given the need to negotiate the Swinge and Little Russell in the dark, wind and probable poor sea state. A night riding the storm out at sea with a tired crew is equally unattractive, so the obvious choice is to head for Cherbourg.... only a few hours....
So you set off.
The passage starts well, with great SOG, but as you pass Cap de la Hague, the sea state seems to be worsening, and then over the course of 20mins, the wind builds to 45kts. despite now being on the 3rd reef (and you thank your lucky stars you paid extra for that 3rd reefing point) and having the hanked on storm jib set, you are very heavily pressed, the boat is well on her ear, and making more leeway than forward motion. You are all exhausted, and the next major action on board will probably be your last before you are all too tired to do anything....
What do you do next?
