Heavy Weather Sailing

[zoidberg]

I have a clutch of the earlier editions. 'Worth their weight in gold'....

However, the new 8th Edition poses a conundrum. Ought I to purchase, for myself, the £36.25 hardback option or the £23.39 Kindle Edition.

Who has read it and can attest to new 'value for money' we didn't have before...?

 

[Concerto]

Never read it, even though I love sailing in strong winds.

Why break up having the complete set in book form. Buy the hardback.

 

[zoidberg]

Thanks, Concerto.

I've just found - by looking further along the page - that it's available for a whisker over £30, and have just given in to temptation - again!

 

[Skylark]

Thanks, Concerto.

I've just found - by looking further along the page - that it's available for a whisker over £30, and have just given in to temptation - again!

We look forward to your critique of the latest edition, particularly your buy or pass recommendation ?

 

[fredrussell]

Are there a lot of developments in techniques for heavy weather sailing then? I mean from one edition to the next.

 

[cpedw]

Are there a lot of developments in techniques for heavy weather sailing then? I mean from one edition to the next.

What is the modern acceptable alternative to pumping oil out through the heads? I never did think I'd be able to do that without adding my stomach contents to the mix.

 

[Stemar]

What is the modern acceptable alternative to pumping oil out through the heads? I never did think I'd be able to do that without adding my stomach contents to the mix.

Get a decent forecast and go to the pub instead

 

[mjcoon]

Get a decent forecast and go to the pub instead

And then pump out your stomach contents through their heads?

 

[Stemar]

So you've eaten at Wetherspoons, then?

 

[Daydream believer]

I have read one copy years ago. From memory it outlined a few examples, plus stories & experiences. Got a bit boring towards the end. Not sure if I finished it.
Quite honestly I would expect the average sailor would gradually gain experience by extending their trips from the short hop up the coast to longer day sails. In doing so they will encounter stronger winds. They will look at the forcasts & decide whether to go or not. Now & then the wind will be a force higher than they expected, but they will cope, inspite of the odd shock. Some will throttle back on their sailing aspirations. Some will feel excited that they managed to handle the situation & feel more confident as they go on.
Over time they will find how their boat should best be set up for bad weather. Very few will stream drogues etc. They will have to learn how to heave too, or whether it is better to sail under a foresail, or some other set up.
Probably the book will be of use to the ocean voyager. But, if sensible, they will have gone through the learning curve before they went offshore, on any long trip.
But the point of my post is that for the average sailor it really bears little relevance. I did not find it worth the expense. I would certainly not bother buying updates.
But if you like reading about such matters, then by all means buy one copy. But there are better books to blow one's money on.

 

[geem]

I have read one copy years ago. From memory it outlined a few examples, plus stories & experiences. Got a bit boring towards the end. Not sure if I finished it.
Quite honestly I would expect the average sailor would gradually gain experience by extending their trips from the short hop up the coast to longer day sails. In doing so they will encounter stronger winds. They will look at the forcasts & decide whether to go or not. Now & then the wind will be a force higher than they expected, but they will cope, inspite of the odd shock. Some will throttle back on their sailing aspirations. Some will feel excited that they managed to handle the situation & feel more confident as they go on.
Over time they will find how their boat should best be set up for bad weather. Very few will stream drogues etc. They will have to learn how to heave too, or whether it is better to sail under a foresail, or some other set up.
Probably the book will be of use to the ocean voyager. But, if sensible, they will have gone through the learning curve before they went offshore, on any long trip.
But the point of my post is that for the average sailor it really bears little relevance. I did not find it worth the expense. I would certainly not bother buying updates.
But if you like reading about such matters, then by all means buy one copy. But there are better books to blow one's money on.

I suspect very few people get true heavy weather sailing experience sailing the coastal waters of the UK. Most people are sensible and head for shelter when the weather is forecast to turn nasty, me included. I experienced proper heavy weather sailing when I wasn't in a position to run for cover. Out in the Atlantic. Never towed a drogue or my JSD but proper F8 a few times with the waves that go with it. Not survival conditions by a long way but not much fun when you are in it for a couple of days. Hard to sleep or do anything but cook a basic meal and watch the waves around you

 

[mattonthesea]

I watched The ForgottentheName's Heavy Weather video and came away with four points:
A drogue is fab but, single handed, probably too much for me to handle.
The theory of heaving to.
Heaving to lets the storm pass quicker.
Have hand grips to get to everywhere on deck, and be familiar with them in a chop.

F9 mid Atlantic running down wind 7kts with almost bare poles was not uncomfortable. But the roaring noise of the water passing the hull did mean that I used my iPod. I was ready to stream bites if needed. That's when I was glad I'd got a Rival 32?

It died after 24 hours but then returned as F7 for the next week all the way to Scilly.

 

[Daydream believer]

I suspect very few people get true heavy weather sailing experience sailing the coastal waters of the UK. Most people are sensible and head for shelter when the weather is forecast to turn nasty, me included. I experienced proper heavy weather sailing when I wasn't in a position to run for cover. Out in the Atlantic. Never towed a drogue or my JSD but proper F8 a few times with the waves that go with it. Not survival conditions by a long way but not much fun when you are in it for a couple of days. Hard to sleep or do anything but cook a basic meal and watch the waves around you

I understand your point but did you just get on a boat & go? Some do, but whilst one might envy the gung ho attitude, it is not the wisest of approaches.
Even the organisers of the ARC; when asked about the capability of crews to do the crossing; are reputed to reply that the trip to the Canaries was a principle part of the training run . The You tube channel Ryan & Sophie talks about 6M waves on the way there. So my point is that the prudent ( operative word prudent) sailor builds up to it.
I too have been in heavy weather. But only on 100-120 mile trips.( I still do circa 6 PAnnum) I have been caught out by changes in weather so have encountered some F8s & 2 F9s.in y 55 years
I feel that I now know what to do to make life more comfortable. But I did not need "Heavy Weather Sailing" to do it. I do not have plans for any over 150M

 

[dunedin]

Unless you go blue water ocean sailing, you would be better investing in better books on weather forecasting.

 

[Skylark]

I suspect very few people get true heavy weather sailing experience sailing the coastal waters of the UK. Most people are sensible and head for shelter when the weather is forecast to turn nasty, me included. I experienced proper heavy weather sailing when I wasn't in a position to run for cover. Out in the Atlantic. Never towed a drogue or my JSD but proper F8 a few times with the waves that go with it. Not survival conditions by a long way but not much fun when you are in it for a couple of days. Hard to sleep or do anything but cook a basic meal and watch the waves around you

I don’t think many of us have experienced conditions as you describe nor envious of that situation. Nevertheless, the book is written with Ocean sailors like you in mind. I have 5th edition, published 1999 (didn’t realise I’d had it that long, time flies). The Foreward is written by Sir Peter Blake and he concludes “there is no substitute for forward planning and knowledge of what to do in heavy weather”

For those venturing into open waters, it’s a good read to stimulate the “what if” thought.

 

[capnsensible]

I wonder if those books are aimed at the tens of thousands of people who cross oceans on small boats every year to plan ahead?

 

[dunedin]

I wonder if those books are aimed at the tens of thousands of people who cross oceans on small boats every year to plan ahead?

Paper books ? So last century. If it ain't on YouTube it doesn’t exist for “planning“ your voyage !

 

[geem]

I understand your point but did you just get on a boat & go? Some do, but whilst one might envy the gung ho attitude, it is not the wisest of approaches.
Even the organisers of the ARC; when asked about the capability of crews to do the crossing; are reputed to reply that the trip to the Canaries was a principle part of the training run . The You tube channel Ryan & Sophie talks about 6M waves on the way there. So my point is that the prudent ( operative word prudent) sailor builds up to it.
I too have been in heavy weather. But only on 100-120 mile trips.( I still do circa 6 PAnnum) I have been caught out by changes in weather so have encountered some F8s & 2 F9s.in y 55 years
I feel that I now know what to do to make life more comfortable. But I did not need "Heavy Weather Sailing" to do it. I do not have plans for any over 150M

We did our first Biscay crossing in 2004 during a 15 month Atlantic circuit. Only overnight passages before that. Its hard to know how you would uild up to heavy weather slowly. It just happens.
We have had F8 sailing down to Padstow from Milford Haven when the forecast was F6 dropping to F4 at the start. Half way there the forecast said F8 imminent. We had at the point been in it for several hours! F8 in the Bristol Channel ain't much fun.
We also brought the current boat up from Falmouth to Milford. That was a conscious decision to leave in F7 that turned into an 8 but wind behind us so very bumpy but not life threatening. The seas at dawn were unreal as there had been F9 from a different direction the day before. Very confused but a heavy boat handles it well. We were still glad to arrive safely.

 

[Skylark]

I wonder if those books are aimed at the tens of thousands of people who cross oceans on small boats every year to plan ahead?

Pete Goss also thinks it’s a good read, but neither you nor the tens of thousands of people who cross oceans on small boats every year should feel an obligation to read it. It’s entirely voluntary.

 

[capnsensible]

I did before I did!