Severe weather safety gear

[dralex]

Following on from the previous thread about drogues, what do people think is appropriate/ necessary equipment to carry for cruising ( not including atlantic crossings etc) ? I have my own opinions but would be interested to hear others.

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now./forums/images/icons/wink.gif

 

[Sans Bateau]

A passage plan for the nearest safe harbour!!!!!!!!!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[A_7]

Alcohol?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Peppermint]

Re: A sound vessel

springs to mind.

The two bits of safety equipment that matter. The sound craft and the skippers brain.



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Talbot]

I would certainly consider either a parachute or a series drogue. The parachute has the advantage of holding you in position (indeed if the current is in the right direction, you might even make some distance against the wind!) however if the wind is blowing in the direction you want to travel, the series drogue has a lot of advantages. It is much easier to throw into the water, and it is much easier to recover than a parachute!

I have no connection with parachutes or series drogues, but recognise that one of the most dangerous things for a multihull is a pitchpole, and this can happen when running under bare poles.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Peppermint]

Re:I just don\'t get

this drogue thing.

Towing warps, yeah I've done that. Short term. It feels bloody nasty and if you get the length wrong you end up with a load of rope firing itself back onboard.

The drogue is a monster to deploy and then, when you've deployed it all your options bar one are gone.

Trust yourself, trust your designer, trust your boat but don't tie one hand behind your back.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[MainlySteam]

Re:I just don\'t get

I could not agree more.

One look at the Pardey's "Storm Tactics" DVD on deploying them had me convinced that on any well fitted and designed boat you had much more chance of going over the side deploying the thing in rough conditions (and we have a big flush area of deck) than you ever would of having the boat come to grief in the conditions without it.

Even around here (Tasman and SW Pacific) where conditions can be quite rugged and distances to refuge are long, I actually know of very few who have ever towed anything in a monohull. The only case I do know of in recent years was when a drogue was used for steering a boat that lost its rudder, but that not for heavy weather reasons. Cats are a special case, but it seems the usual tactical approach in heavy conditions is to abandon them in this part of the world /forums/images/icons/frown.gif.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>