ParaHandy
Active member
Sometime ago I got caught in a F8-9 off Portland and the horrors of that day are indelibly seered into the eyeballs - as they say. Now the owner of a long keel heavy displacement 35 footer (swmbo likes something solid under her) I expect some time or other to get into the nasty stuff and the question is what to do.
There has been some discussion previously on this matter here and I liked the advice to “buy a storm jib” before spending serious money hanging miles of rope out the back/bow. This isn’t entirely satisfactory though for a number of reasons.
The crew might be the most important factor in this and that’s likely to be the two of us. Whilst fit we’re getting close to the point when the kids start measuring us up for the old folks home. With that in mind, I read the Dashew book, skimmed the Pardey effort, and read many other anecdotal accounts. These experts disagree at the most fundamental level which leaves me none the wiser. Both agree that is the sea state that is the killer, not wind strength but that is sucking eggs (is that where the yanks got “it sucks” from?)
The most telling technical criticism of a sea anchor is Dashew’s. In his opinion, keeping the bows to the wind will sooner or later expose the yacht to a beam sea likely to roll her. The 30% expansion and contraction of a nylon rope over 100mtrs would seem to guarantee this happening and the friction heat generated may well cause the rope to split. The damage to a rudder when “sprung” backwards is an obvious factor. All assumes that the rope length has the anchor at an integer number of wave periods. The recommendation of a rope manufacturer was 24mm against the manufacturers 18mm which presents unwanted storage problems. Launching a sea anchor shouldn’t be a problem but it can easily be seen that getting it back in, particularly if the anchor sinks, will be extremely difficult. These anti- arguments are compelling. Most of Dashew’s correspondents describe the use of such a device as suicidal. The Pardeys suggest otherwise. They have a bridle strung from stern and bow (of their long keeled yacht although I doubt the keel type to be relevant in this instance) which allows her to be angled into the sea and off the wind. It is the use of this bridle which makes the device so advantageous for catamarans. There is a likely need to constantly adjust the angle and a continuous need to ensure that the rope does not chaff.
On the other hand, not a bad word has been said about the series drogue. The USCG eulogised about it. It is somewhat easier to recover. However, running before a storm requires someone to steer the damn thing continuously and I doubt we would have the stamina. Furthermore, long keelers aren’t renown for turning on a 6p and would be a handful.
In conclusion: given the crew and boat, a sea anchor might be the better bet? We can tuck up down below with our ovaltine while the elements rage etc etc. Would anybody agree, disagree?
Jus' sublime
There has been some discussion previously on this matter here and I liked the advice to “buy a storm jib” before spending serious money hanging miles of rope out the back/bow. This isn’t entirely satisfactory though for a number of reasons.
The crew might be the most important factor in this and that’s likely to be the two of us. Whilst fit we’re getting close to the point when the kids start measuring us up for the old folks home. With that in mind, I read the Dashew book, skimmed the Pardey effort, and read many other anecdotal accounts. These experts disagree at the most fundamental level which leaves me none the wiser. Both agree that is the sea state that is the killer, not wind strength but that is sucking eggs (is that where the yanks got “it sucks” from?)
The most telling technical criticism of a sea anchor is Dashew’s. In his opinion, keeping the bows to the wind will sooner or later expose the yacht to a beam sea likely to roll her. The 30% expansion and contraction of a nylon rope over 100mtrs would seem to guarantee this happening and the friction heat generated may well cause the rope to split. The damage to a rudder when “sprung” backwards is an obvious factor. All assumes that the rope length has the anchor at an integer number of wave periods. The recommendation of a rope manufacturer was 24mm against the manufacturers 18mm which presents unwanted storage problems. Launching a sea anchor shouldn’t be a problem but it can easily be seen that getting it back in, particularly if the anchor sinks, will be extremely difficult. These anti- arguments are compelling. Most of Dashew’s correspondents describe the use of such a device as suicidal. The Pardeys suggest otherwise. They have a bridle strung from stern and bow (of their long keeled yacht although I doubt the keel type to be relevant in this instance) which allows her to be angled into the sea and off the wind. It is the use of this bridle which makes the device so advantageous for catamarans. There is a likely need to constantly adjust the angle and a continuous need to ensure that the rope does not chaff.
On the other hand, not a bad word has been said about the series drogue. The USCG eulogised about it. It is somewhat easier to recover. However, running before a storm requires someone to steer the damn thing continuously and I doubt we would have the stamina. Furthermore, long keelers aren’t renown for turning on a 6p and would be a handful.
In conclusion: given the crew and boat, a sea anchor might be the better bet? We can tuck up down below with our ovaltine while the elements rage etc etc. Would anybody agree, disagree?
Jus' sublime