On reflection, I must have been mad

Dave_Snelson

Dave_Snelson

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Just taken my boat from Porthmadog to Pwllheli. Not far, just 15 nm. I am now sat in my armchair at home reflecting on the 90 minute journey.

On reflection I shouldn't have done it with my Dad (nearly 77) and Ed who was OK with it, principally coz I didn't let my "scaredness" show. Indeed, I shouldn't have done it at all. Not today anyway!

Things got worse. It was howling with rain and my drivers side windscreen wiper fell off, just leaving the arm going back and forth. So I got Ed on the helm and turned the boat around to have a following sea. I undid the canopy, climbed out on the foredeck and managed to re-assemble it as amazingly the litle cross-point screw and the little plastic guide, and indeed the wiper itself were all still on the foredeck. And I didn't drop a single piece whilst I assembled it. Sheesh - should have turned back at that stage.

Out in open sea, it was a mealstrom of huge swells, braking waves and blown spume and we were beam onto this all the way. Actually, I had to quarter my route to keep from being beam on, and we were actually broad-sided by 4 biggies that caught me out (not bad for the hundreds that I successfully negotiated though). The ones that caught us out went straight over the foredeck (yes, sideways on straight over the foredeck!!) and also crashed into the side of the canopy coz they were breaking when they hit. The boat keeled over at an impossible angle and then righted, only to be clobbered again. Time did indeed seem to pass slowly and I kept willing the journey on and looking at my GPS which wasn't moving along fast enough.

I should not have made this journey and I will admit to being a tad scared. Will anyone else own up to doing something boaty and stupid that they should not have done?
 
Ouch, I didn't like reading that!! There's always pressure to carry on, it seemingly much easier to make that decsision than to turn back. I'm not sure why, perhaps we all have a deep seated pride thing - it will NOT get the better of me. To be honest, I've not been caught out in such conditions, though I tend to be a bit over cautious. Problem is, I've only got to REALLY scare the Mrs once, and she'll never go out again!!

Seriously, I think you should have turned back, and for sure you should not have gone out onto the foredeck - did you have a safety line attaching you to the boat? It's easy for me to pass comment in the warmth of my study and who knows, I may well have done the same thing in the same circumstances. Most importantly, I'm pleased you came through it unscathed. I guess next time you may play it differently!!
 
Agreed, I shouldn't have gone out. Do I regret it? Well in some ways yes, but the thing it has delivered for me is a sharpening of my skills, and an increased faith in my boat's abilities. Sometimes pushing the boundaries is good - and if I ever have the pleasure to meet with Ellen McArthur, I will be sure to pass on your remarks.

Talking of fools, any fool (and many fools) can apparently handle a boat when the sun is shining and the sea is flat. Trouble only really starts when these fools get caught out. On balance I think I would rather have the savvy that I believe I have built up by testing myself, along with my 30 years experience.
 
I htink I've already posted before about the time I nearly broached the boat and thought I was going to roll.

It was just 100 metres West of Fort Belan at the entrance to the Menai Straights and there was a big wind over tide effect. I went down a wave too fast and came to a dead stop, boat turned broadside to sea and lurched violently to starbaord. I looked out of window and could see only green sea and looking out the back the water, for a fraction of a second, was level with cockpit side.

Everything in the boat, except me, did a 360. I quickly recovered control and used power a little better after that. Later I realised that the patio doors were open and if water had come into cockpit it would have got into cabin before it could self drain.

I learned a lot that day, but mainly that when things go wrong, they can happen frightingly quickly.
 
Yes, I did have a line (I ain't that mad). I know it may sound bizzare but I find a strange attraction to a gun-metal sky and rough sea (OK - not that rough) and Ed & I often set out out for a run in some rough stuff. It wasn't a pressure thing nor a pride thing, and I can assure you that I believe I have reached my limit with my Windy.

Tested in the Skaggerak aren't they? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
pretty blowy down there is it Dave?

Did you by chance have a nosey at TC on your way in, did everything look ok?

Wish I had known you were going to Pwllheli, I would have asked you to put a couple of extra strops on for me, for recompense of course!
 
Julian - only those that know Tremadoc Bay, know what its like. Actually, I didn't go over to see TC as the crew wat HMES were waiting for me to lift out. Although it was blowy, the marina wasn't chopping up as it is more or less in the lee when a Sou' Westerly blows.

By the way, one of my strops in Portmadog harbour had parted clean in two, leaving only 3 strops (only one on the bow). Hope to catch up with you soon. Regards to Tanya.
 
I actually put brand new strops on last month, I am more paranoid about my splices, irrationally certainly. It was as bouncy as I have ever known on the mooring last Sunday, in fact we put off the dinghy ride to the slip until Monday morning as I was unwilling to go ashore in the swell in the dark. Usually the harbour is fine. The splices should have tightened down nicely with last weeks bouncing I think.

I would not think about it usually, but seeing the forecast for next week I would have preferred my usual 'winter' 3 strops fore and aft, with a cat, that seems to stop her swinging so much in the wind.

How did your strop part? was it in the fairlead?
 
I think you protesteth? to much. It's only seven miles to Pwethelli, not counting the tranquill cruise down the river. The sea was on your beam, so must have been off one land ort tuther. The window wiper was not emmediatly washed overboard and neither were the little screws. You went out on the foredeck, were not washed away. All in all, I recon it was fairly smooth really!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Well, your dad wasn't scared wuzzee?

It couldn't have been that bad if you managed to get onto the foredeck! But big breaking waves are something I personally never really want to see again.

That sort of situation puts you on "ultra high alert" and hones your skills. Glad you made it safely. On reflection, after a time, you'll probably find that you'll always try to avoid such a position in the future.

You'll always remember the adrenalin high though!
 
>
>On balance I think I would rather have the savvy that I believe I have built up by >testing myself, along with my 30 years experience.
>

Mostly true, in that in identical conditions you will be better equipped to deal with the waves compared to someone with less experience.

On the other hand, many skippers with less experience would simply have stayed in the pub (me included, mine's a red wine please).

Rather like climbing mountains, the more difficult the climb, the more experience you get, and the better climber you become. Just don't kid yourself that this is in any way "safe".

dv.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I undid the canopy, climbed out on the foredeck

[/ QUOTE ]

Why oh why do people drive sports boats with the canopies on? Particularly in the conditions you were in! You subject the boat to the wind and end up with slab sides and reduced visibility. The boat will be pushed all over the place, particularly when you've got a beam sea. So, with the canopy down you get wet,buy some ski goggles and a good set of wets! But DON'T go out in "rough" seas with the canopy up! You need all the visibility you can to see the wave formations in front of you - not on the bow (it's too late!), not in the distance, but in the mid distance. Staring through distorting plastic and not "feeling" the wind lulls you into a false sense of security.

Dave,next time you decide to go out in "stormy" weather take the canopy down and see how differently the boat handles the conditions (and how much easier it is for you). On the positive side, as you have said, you have learnt how good the boat is and you learnt from the experience. There is a old saying, fair weather never made good sailor and you have moved up the scale in terms of your experience and knowledge, so well done in that respect!!
 
I feel a bit sorry for you. You admitted, you went out when perhaps should not have. Asked who else had done the same. Then get slagged off.

Makes me wonder why anyone stickes there neck out. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Once was a time when I wrote about all sorts of calamities I'd had, no one ever said I was stupid. Only laughed at the situations.

Boat sinkings.

Bilge pump on back to front.

Asking fishermen for directions.

Mistaking chanel marks for a sunk ship. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I could go on. So have a go at me if you want. Clever Barstuards... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Yes you gotta do this sort of trip now and again! clearly you and the boat are capable! the only thing I would question is you choice of crew! age that is! if things had gone pear shaped he clearly would not have survived!

Well done anyway!

Barry
 
Not so much getting slagged off, but having been there (in much less dramatic circumstances: the waves must have been at least, errm, 5 ft), I now know not to go there again, and I don't need to try it out for real to know that. So someone else goes out in dodgy conditions, and wot are we supposed to say ? Congrats on ignoring the forecast: next time try an F8 ?

Once the adrenaline rush has worn off, the odd nightmares creep in round the curtains. That one where the engine stalls, or that steering cable drops off, or you pick up a pot line. Suddenly all that stability created by going forwards at 15knots disappears, and its rock/roll/oooerr. So long as the lesson learnt is not to push that hard again, then fine.

dv.
 
Only a few weeks ago, we got sick of strong wind warnings, Stuck in Fowey, it was then saying maybe F8, so we went and had a look, it was not all that bad, so Gunned it to Falmouth. No problems. But it was only twenty miles. The boat wont sink. (hopefully). Bit of planning to keep off shore and batten down the hatches. You can always go some where different if you dont like it. Wuses!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
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