Heavy weather sailing question

[srm]

The upper limit of my open water experience is a force 9 with what was getting on for a fully developed sea state well east of Fair Isle. Since then I have tried to avoid repeating the experience, and have considered how each boat I owned would best handle it.

My last boat came with two parachute anchors, the present boat with one that is probably too small to hold her up in to the wind. Neither had the rest of the gear to deploy the para anchors so they were effectively useless.

However, looking back on that force 9 the last thing I would want to do is try to point up into it as the forces of a breaking crest are incredible. (Afterwards we found the contents of every locker jammed against its aft bulkhead due to the repeated accelerations down the faces of waves while towing warps).

Having read every report I can find from people who have used parachute anchors off the bow I came to the conclusion they are fine for a limited range of sea states, but that once the waves start breaking (as opposed to tops tumbling and blowing off) the loads on the bridle and warp tend to cause them to fail. Theory says keep the warp one or two wave length long so boat and drogue are in the same part of their respective waves. Unforunately, the sea is not that considerate and wave lengths in any sea that justifies a sea anchor will be variable resulting in shock loads on the warp.

Likewise, speed limiting drogues may not be in the right place or big enough to hold the stern into a breaking wave as it strikes. One manufacturer actually has a warning on their web site that the drogue may not hold the boats stern up in a breaking wave strike.

My prefered option is to run with the waves and ride the punches. Last winter I made up a Jordan Series Drogue and fitted strong points on the quarters outside the hull for attaching it. Quite simply it seems to offer the best protection and is very easy to deploy. I like the fact that it will let the boat make about 1.5 knots down wind most of the time as that will put less strain on boat and crew, but should it experience a breaking wave strike will automatically apply an increasing force to hold the stern into the wave as the line straightens and more cells become active. Also, with so many small drogue cells a few getting damaged does not significantly effect the overall performance. However, the literature on the Jordan Drogue does warn of an initial acceleration of up to 3G in a breaking wave strike.

I also carry two speed limiting drogues (ex liferaft) for less extreme conditions, and have used them to hold back while waiting for the tide to turn rather than arive early in a tide race with wind still aginst tide.

I would suggest that anyone who carries a drogue or sea anchor would be well advised to try deploying and recovering the gear in a modest force 6 to 7 before its needed for real.

 

[RAI]

Maybe someone should note the importance of setting a tripping line as an alternative to just cutting the beasts free. I gather even a JSD needs one (and a winch) to get back on board.

 

[bbg]

These are some cases I thought of how to face a storm (force 9-10 or more):

1) lee shore that means I am near land: I'd rather sail in the direction of the nearest safe port that allows for a run or a broad.

2) middle of the english channel having to go back to work on Monday: I should not have been there in the first place if I looked at the forecast, however now I am here, sod work, get on a run/broad to the nearest port in that direction

I am fortunate enough not to have faced this, but I agree with Tommyrot, at least in part. I would not run downwind to a port. By the time you get there, the waves will be even bigger (more fetch), and getting steeper as they approach land. Much better, if you are going to head to a port, to head upwind where the waves will be much much smaller. More uncomfortable getting there; safer once you close the land.

 

[ECLIPSE]

Hmm, interesting stuff; from what Ive heard, tripping lines are a good idea, however people who Ive spoken to, and who have used drogues/ sea anchors have all mentioned them spinning in the water, in which case a tripping line could just become a part of the whole mess?

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Further Information On Riding Sails, Series Droque and Lying At An Angle To The Seas

....... The famous Pardys argue for pointing into the conditions with an anchor set forward on an adjustable strop: this seems to have little following in the community because it is so uncomfortable in a modern high freeboard boat. But the logic is that seas are presented to the sharp end which is better able to throw them off. An aft set small sail could well help stabilise the boat when it presents at about 40 degs to the wind......

James Wharram discusses this in survival conditions for his catamarans. He advocated that the Cats would be more stable if the bows were presented obliquely to the waves. By using a bridle off the stern and bow, rigged such that the sea anchor allowed this aspect to be achieved. There is evidence from catamaran sailors that this works well. You get the grip from the hull and a certain amount of slip which counters the leeward drag that can cause the windward hull to flip.

The effect will be much similar on a mono hull and may require some helm adjustment to find the comfortable angle. If you hang from a sea anchor and your bow veers form side to side you are not in control, so any technique that stops the veer should be in your survival tool kit.

The slick effect from the hulls is apparently quite remarkable at breaking seas well upwind from the yacht.

I have used a sea anchor once, from the bow, and it was s h i t. The Jordan drogue method is very convincing and its something that I would carry if voyaging into the high seas.

A link to a discussion on the Jordan is here (ignore the arguments that broke out): -

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=222010&highlight=Jordan+Series+Droque

Also there is an interesting discussion on riding sails that may help in the answer to you questions here: -

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=223592&highlight=riding+sail+anchor

 

[saltwater_gypsy]

I have seen a sail rigged from the backstay but only as a riding sail to keep the boat head to wind at anchor.
I have never had to use a sea anchor but like most folk, I have" read all the books".
My conclusion is, that in a moderate storm , if you are running before the wind, then you can use a drougue to keep control of your speed and avoid surfing.
In a more severe storm where you want to present the bows to the seas, then the drougue should be deployed from the bow.
I am very dubious about large parachute sea anchors which effectively bring the boat to a standstill. The forces on the gear must be enormous.

PS some of these problems are reduced if you have a ketch....like mine!!

 

[nathanlee]

The Pardeys argue that the boat must lie about 50 degs to the wind and that the long keel causes a slick which causes oncoming waves to break and slap harmlessly against the hull. They've done it, so they should know. They adopt this method whether simply hove-to or lying to a parachute anchor.
Personally I would prefer to run off when conditions have passed the point where heaving-to remains comfortable. I do agree, however, that lying hove-to in this attitude is relatively comfortable.
To lie bow directly to wind, held by a sea anchor, must be brutal on the boat and it's fittings. The boat would be throwing the bow from side to side, shaking it's head, and backing down one second and snatching forward the next. Yuk!

Indeed, but their book, Storm Tactics (a good read BTW), is one massive sales pitch for the heaving to method, and they specifically say that running is dangerous. They even quote stories of people who have lost boats or lives because they ran.

In all, they seem pretty convinced that a sea anchor is the only safe tactic when it gets really bad, but people who have written books about running under warps or a drogue seem equally convinced.

I'm still not sure what I would do, although I suppose I'll have to make my mind up before I next go out properly.