Lying Ahull - Bare Pole?

[puddock]

Among other considerations, there is the question - raised in one or more editions of 'Heavy Weather Sailing - of ensuring your drogue is secured to bits on the back end of the boat that are well robust enough for the job, hour after hour. And chafe. How are you going to manage chafe....?

Several accounts mention lying to a sea-anchor/drogue of sorts in relative comfort - until the rode chafed through and the gear was lost. Next.....?

I think most would asume that going below does not negate the need to keep a watch on your equipment at regular intervals. If you read again, I think you wil find that most reports of chaffing refer to Sea Anchors, rather than drogues from the stern. However, I have taken the opportunity (while stripping the headlining :-/ ) to add backing to the already beefy stern cleats on my boat. With a bit of foresight (and a handful of luck) I shouldn't have to worry about those situations much but it can get a bit bouncy in Peterhead Marina between August and June... and reports are that July could be a bit iffy too.

 

[michael_w]

Last year in my long fin and skeg moderate 37' SWMBO and I spent several days hove-to under storm jib and trysail. As is so often the case, the storm jib was too large; at the height of the storm we dropped the storm jib. Helm lashed to leeward and took the seas at 45 degrees off the bow.

Spent the time below listening to Stephen Fry reading Harry Potter, as we waited for the storm system to pass over us. It was important not to go any further east as the wind was hurricane strength a degree away.

 

[Gargleblaster]

What I would do next time is try harder to emulate SWMBO, who removed her wet clothing, got into her sleeping bag and began snoring. I on the other hand started reading up what was likely to happen if we were struck by lightning and generally worrying abut things I could do nothing about.
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I find in storm conditions I start getting out the weather books to see if there is some magic way out I think I could quote the whole of the chapter in Chris Tibbs RYA Weather Book verbatim without reference to the book I have read it so many times. I have never found the magic way out of the depression that I seek, but it keeps me occupied.

 

[Neil_Y]

The problem is getting the boat to settle into a position that remains vaguely stable so you get used to the motion and can get some rest, don't assume there will be one set up that will always work. It depends so much on the sea state and how the swell is travelling and breaking. Steady swell direction we've comfortably hove to under small storm jib and just stack pack, we also tried no jib and for some of the time it worked better in terms of angle to waves but rolling was greater. In a confused sea with two swell directions I think we could easily have been rolled as waves broke from two angles and the two swells sometimes combined to make huge peaks. We ran off under storm jib, but trailed stuff and tried to keep speed down to below 6-7knots. The ST6000 auto helm to quadrant actually coped really well and was better than a tired crew. It never looked behind and got scared either. As a guide to the actual conditions one Gale was Biscay November 150nm nnw of coruna, solid 55knts for at least 12 hours and roughly 48 hrs of over 45. Swell 10-15m long and steady direction. Another time it was 3/4 days before arrival Azores June, two swells one from the North due to a deep low mid Atlantic about UK latitude and a depression that had run over Bermuda heading for the states. The two swells were almost at 90 degrees to each other, and then we had a front develop that gave 40knt for nearly 12-18hrs swell height went from 6-7m steady to massive peaks of at least twice swell height with a very steep face. The solid cloud cover at night made it very difficult to see what the sea was doing which is another factor in deciding what to do.

I think the most important thing is to have good hatches and storm boards, I know of a companion way hatch destroyed by a wave and a fore hatch blown out, all from a wave landing in the cockpit. That's probably why I don't really like the idea of lying stern to a sea with drogues unless the waves are quite benign.

 

[ChrisE]

The gold standard of course is a pair of substantial stainless steel straps on the topsides, just below the gunwale, right aft. Several large bolts through the straps, plus bedding/bonding. The aftermost four inches or so extend beyond the transom, with a hole that you can put the pin of a large bow shackle through. Basically, an aft-facing chainplate. Strong enough to lift the boat, no chafe because there's nothing for the bridle to make contact with.

It would take serious ocean plans (or paranoia) to fit those just in case, though. Someone asked for advice on making them a couple of years back, but I've never seen a set in person.

Pete

We have them on Rival Spirit, they were custom made to Jordan's (of Jordan series drogue fame) plans. We had them fitted for a trip to the Arctic Circle. Yet another bit of kit on the boat that I hope never to use.

 

[oldbilbo]

".....I think you wil find that most reports of chaffing refer to Sea Anchors, rather than drogues from the stern....."

Giving prior attention to prevention of chafe is just one of the mnay lessons I've picked up from reading - and re-reading - the several editions of 'HWS' and the other tomes I have. Oh, and 'sitting at the feet' of a few of the hugely-experienced.....

I can recommend Vaseline for the chafe that lengths of fire hose cannot assist.