Jordan Series Drogue

I tried to buy a new one yesterday, only to be told that the product has been updated and is now marketed as the Kaitie Price Series.
 
You will be wanting storm boards up your windows nxt :D
I always carried storm boards, and yes, did once have a window punched in by a breaking wave. It was an opening porthole, with rather pathetic undersized plastic hinges built down to "RCD Cat A" standard. (Prior to RCD, the manufacturer had used decent, but apparently non-compliant metal hinges and catches). In the event I bolted the window back in position rather than fitted a storm board.
 
You will be wanting storm boards up your windows nxt :D

Well not purpose built but I do carry plywood and nails but it’s going to have to extreme before I start messing up my beautiful Brazilian mahogany!

I know what you mean about not getting caught out by the weather and of course I don’t plan to, but I do believe in reading and learning from others, thinking a few steps ahead and putting in place the skills and equipment to deal with problems –just in case.

Thanks for the reminder about the builders bag. I use the one an anchor was shipped in, to hold stuff in a locker. With my medium term plans, perhaps all I need to do for now is buy a decent length of warp and stuff that in it as well.
 
With my medium term plans, perhaps all I need to do for now is buy a decent length of warp and stuff that in it as well.

Since you're still somewhat leery about sailing from the Solent to Poole, all these kinds of extreme storm precautions are, with respect, utterly irrelevant :)

A good long warp is always a handy thing to have, though. We used mine to tow Russell's boat halfway across Yarmouth harbour last year :)

Pete
 
Do you need some kind of frame to keep them open?

Sure you do. Here's one I found earlier...

zimmer.jpg

Please note it folds conveniently for stowage in a cockpit locker. Other colours are available...... ;)
 
Builders Bag as Drogue

They do work really well. Built to carry 2.5 tons plus safety factor and hold 1 ton of water. Easy to recover though. Just put engine in reverse and take in the slack. Tip the water out with a boat hook and pull up into the cockpit as. Can be done singlehanded.

They dont need a frame , they open up just like a parachute.
I put two lines from the handles , one to each stern cleat. Use about 30 m of line.

Lock the rudder to centre position and you should do no more than 1/2 kn.
 
They are a good read, but you're right, don't take them over-seriously. Many of the sailing old timers were real drama-queens when writing about their heavy weather experiences. I guess it's what their publishers thought would sell their books.

P.S. As I said above, I think a drogue can occasionally be useful when short-handed, even in normal brisk trade wind sailing. Plus it's best to practice your heavy weather kit *before* you face extreme conditions. Don't just leave it to rot in the bag.

It's worth remembering that the Pardeys don't have an engine in their boat.

This contrasts with Michel Joubert's comment (concerning a running backstay) that he doesn't think it will get much use because, for him, when things get tough it's time to use the engine. In his own 53' motor sailor, he has 2 x 110 hp diesels. That and a heavy mooring and windlass because you have to be able to trust them absolutely.
 
It's worth remembering that the Pardeys don't have an engine in their boat.

This contrasts with Michel Joubert's comment (concerning a running backstay) that he doesn't think it will get much use because, for him, when things get tough it's time to use the engine. In his own 53' motor sailor, he has 2 x 110 hp diesels. That and a heavy mooring and windlass because you have to be able to trust them absolutely.
For a typical yacht sailing in open ocean, with perhaps a single 50hp engine, I can't see that using the engine is really much help for coping with heavy weather.

Fishing-boats do adopt the strategy of motoring straight into the weather, but that is because they are so vulnerable if caught abeam in big seas. This isn't an appropriate heavy-weather tactic for a yacht.
 
Fishing-boats do adopt the strategy of motoring straight into the weather, but that is because they are so vulnerable if caught abeam in big seas. This isn't an appropriate heavy-weather tactic for a yacht.

I don't see why not. I've seen it suggested by more than one person who ought to know what they're talking about, including a certain Saint Tom. It's even described in my '70s edition of Adlard Coles; he describes the American yacht in question as having "an exceptionally powerful engine", but that's judging by his standards of the 50s and 60s - I wouldn't be surprised if whatever power it had was perfectly normal today.

I guess the idea is that you may not make much progress upwind, but you have flow over the rudder and hence can keep your bow to the sea and also try to steer to avoid breaking waves. I've never needed to try it, but it's another tool to have in the box.

Pete
 
Since you're still somewhat leery about sailing from the Solent to Poole, all these kinds of extreme storm precautions are, with respect, utterly irrelevant :)

Pete

Point taken, shutting up.

Mind you when a big tough RORC boat dropped somthing overboard, I was the only one on our pontoon with a mask, snorkel and fins on board that i cpuld lebd them. Put there in case I get a rope round the prop. Not happend yet and hope it never does but I think it's worth thinking it through and being prepared. I don't ever plan to get caught in really heavy weather but I'd like an idea of what to do if it happens. What I was trying to discover was if a drogue should be on board by default. Apparently not.
 
I accept the point that preparations for 'big storms' would differentiate between being out on deep-blue and unlikely to be able to run for shelter, and being within an hour or so of a UK/French haven.

Nevertheless, seriously bad storms do turn up AND affect those of us sailing in the Channel and UK coastal waters - often insufficently forecast OR insufficiently heard/heeded - sufficient for those of us offshore to find ourselves in peril on the seas.

One only has to read a couple of the editions of 'Heavy Weather Sailing' to understand that weather-related survival situations are not the exclusive province of watery areas well off the Continental Shelf.

"The land claims more ships than the sea" is as true as ever it was.

Consequently, it makes complete sense for those intending coastal and offshore passages to have their heavy weather game-plan well sorted, and any kit deemed necessary well stowed away on board.
 
I was the only one on our pontoon with a mask, snorkel and fins on board that i cpuld lebd them. Put there in case I get a rope round the prop. Not happend yet and hope it never does but I think it's worth thinking it through and being prepared.

Having the kit is one thing, using it in bumpy conditions is another!
Have you tried using it in safe water to see if you can get to your prop ok and get back on-board?
If you can get to your prop ok, how long can you hold your breath for when there?

PS as to your original Q having crossed to France for about 30 years, some years 2 or 3 times and 16 years with a 22 footer, I have never needed a drogue or a storm sail. Why? Because I pick my weather for when I cross ;)
 
. . . it makes complete sense for those intending coastal and offshore passages to have their heavy weather game-plan well sorted, and any kit deemed necessary well stowed away on board.

We are currently having a debate about whether or not the drogue should remain on board if there are no long passages on the horizon. It does take up a tangible amount of space on a 27 footer.

I can't help thinking that in extremis in the Minch with a really inaccurate forecast combined with an excess of bravado it might come in handy . . . and if we are crossing the North Sea again next year it will definitely be on board.

- W
 
We are currently having a debate about whether or not the drogue should remain on board if there are no long passages on the horizon. It does take up a tangible amount of space on a 27 footer.

A heavy duty bucket attached to a kedge anchor, chain and warp might do a job in slowing you down a bit in coastal lively conditions if you are not contemplating long passages.
I have replaced the wire on my heavy duty bucket with rope that goes tight round the rim and up through the 'holes' for a handle.
 
Channel or Coastal sailing only, single handed or 2 up ....

Do you carry one or something similar?

Have you ever needed one (or similar) in Channel / Coastal

Is it worth £400 to have one aboard?

If you could only buy one and had to choose, would you buy a Liferaft or JS Drogue?

We have carried and used drogues (both series and single element) quite a bit.

How valuable it is depends a lot of the boat does she heave-to well, does she run well (in big waves) with a human steering (and then with an autopilot steering), does she surf easily?

But, generally, it's not something you are likely to have much use for Channel/coastal if you pay attention to the weather, and if you and your boat can sail in stiff wind. It's primarily about fatigue reduction (and/or helping the autopilot/wind vane cope) when in large breaking or poorly shaped waves for +24hrs. Channel/coastal you can hand steer thru most any conditions you will encounter.

That said . . . If you look after your boat and do proper maintenance, you are probably not going to have much use for a life raft either.

I would say spend the money on some excellent sails. And some new Victoria Secret for the wife.
 
Having the kit is one thing, using it in bumpy conditions is another!
Have you tried using it in safe water to see if you can get to your prop ok and get back on-board?
If you can get to your prop ok, how long can you hold your breath for when there?

No, I have not yet had the chance to go over the side and test the boarding ladder or if I can snorkel down to the prop. I had been carrying a couple of anchors round for 18 months before I got the chance to test one overnight.
The point is that while this year I didn’t get the chance to test these and sitting at home this winter I cannot, come next year, I am sure an occasion will arise and then at least I will have the kit on board to test with.

PS as to your original Q having crossed to France for about 30 years, some years 2 or 3 times and 16 years with a 22 footer, I have never needed a drogue or a storm sail. Why? Because I pick my weather for when I cross ;)


Thanks for the straight answer re the drogue. As others have said, I am a way away from needing one, so I can take that off my list for this year and concentrate on other things.
 
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