The best way to go down waves?

[tim]

I find big waves pretty scary. I know that I shouldn't present my beam to them, so I don't. Slamming upwind is uncomfortable, but I always have a high degree of confidence. It's the going with the waves that scares the heck out of me.

On the few occasions I've gone down big waves I've made sure the boat is going fairly slowly and is being driven by the genny. But I'm always worried about broaching, and seem to spend a lot of my time heaving the tiller towards me. I read about boats surfing down waves - this seems highly questionable.

Is there a safe way to go with the waves? Is it better to go straight down the face, or at an angle?

Tim

 

[Twister_Ken]

Time for Tim to buy Heavy Weather Sailing!

 

[Chris_Stannard]

Agreed, there is a lot of good advice in Heavy Weather Sailing.

The main thing is to avoid breaking waves if you can as they will dump tons of water on you in a few seconds. this means going at a reasonable speed so that you have enough to be able to pay off or reach across the ways to aviod a breaking crest. If only really becomes a worry when the waves get to 2 metres or more, and is more of a problem in a wind over tide problem.

Don't worry too much about surfing, in most cases the hull of the boat is being carried forward by the water at the top of the wave and the rudder and keel are in somewhat slower water further down. Broaches are a possiblility. You do not say what you boat is but a wide stern is more prone to get thrown around than a narrow one.

If you are in a survival state put the wind on one quarter, starboard preferred, so that you are steering out from the centre of the storm.

Chris Stannard

 

[webcraft]

Definitely get Heavy Weather Sailing.

Another classic account of how to run downwind in heavy weather can be found in Bernard Moitessier's 'Cape Horn - The Logical Route'.


<font color=blue>Nick</font color=blue> -

BlueMoment.Com
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.bluemoment.com/>http://www.bluemoment.com/</A>

 

[peterk]

hi Tim,

Don't worry - start sailing downwind when its easy and the waves don't look
hairy to your eyes.
No need to freak yourself out senselessly.
Don't go straight downwind , 20 - 45 degress to either side or so is okay.
Soon you'll catch a wave and realize that surfing can be a lot
of FUN.
Do not let your wheel or tiller go.
Keep control of where you are going at all times.
Practice this, but NOT in shallow water.

Pretty soon you'll have a FEEL for it and start enjoying yourself.

The idea of going downwind under Genny alone is good, but sometimes
a reefed or doublereefed mainsail adds some stability without making steering
harder.
Keep doing it until you feel comfortable to move up to bigger waves.

you'll see!

I wish you a good time!

...peter, www.juprowa.com/kittel


ps: what kind of boat do you have?

I sailed 'Tehani' downwind in a 'black southeaster'
around the Cape of Good Hope, that gusted to
over 60 knots, with just a stormjib up.
Snowhite (my selfbuilt windvane) for the first time could not handle the
conditions.
I could by handsteering . It was unbelievable.
Scary at first and then sooo exhilarating..........

 

[tim]

Peter,

Thanks for the advice. The boat is a Steadfast 30 (bilge keeler).

Tim