What could I have done?

wow. You are exposed when goosewinging, spose the onlything would be to release main, and have engine on whilst so close to land? Tho with wind arriving so soon tis not easy at all...

Still, no damage done. Well, not to the rocks anyway, ahem.
 
Sounds as if you didn't do too badly - you didn't sink and no one got hurt and in my books that makes it a good result.

As you discovered there is very little the engine can do in those conditions unless you've de-powered the sails. With the Genoa sheets slack that should be largely out of the equation but the main is harder. Sheeting it in could help to push the bows round.

Aternatively ensure that the kicker is off to reduce the power - release the halyard and/or use the topping lift to "scandalize" the main.

The other point is that the wind very rarely changes totally without warning - you can usually see some signs (e.g. on the water) and even a few seconds notice is enough to start preparing before the wind hits
 
[ QUOTE ]
Finally if you are looking at a chart and see a place called "tomb bay" ask yourself why it has a name like that! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry, had to laugh at this and remember a story my partner told me about working for the council and somebody ringing up and complaining that the council weren't providing sandbags to protect against flooding. Partner asked where she lived...... "Flood Lane". Would you buy a house here?????
 
I hope you have a great time there th whole area is beautiful with warm water and friendly locals.

Others on the flotilla had been talking to some locals and they said that they had never seen the wind pick up so quickly.

On a lighter note apparently a tree was set on fire by someone setting off a flare!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif But then again how many people practise setting of flares in a controled situation let alone an emergency.

Graham
 
As an aside the boat did not have seperate genoa sheet winches but used the ones mounted on the coach roof. So the helmsman can not quickly release the sheets. This did not help speed wise for freeing the sails as the genoa was now backed and pushing the boat sideways.

Graham
 
As an aside, if the boat was heeling a lot then on a wide bodied boat like that the prop may not have been very deep in the water, which would reduce its effectiveness even more. Engines are rarely useful when you have the enromous power of the sails to contend with. Guess the best you could have done was concentrate your efforts on releasing the genoa sheet, so that she could round up as sharp as possible, then douse sails.
 
Glad somebody saw it as a light hearted comment. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
The best ones I have collected so far are Turd Rock (in Oz)
Borrocks Bay (just around the corner from Hong Kong harbour so must be said with a chinese accent)
Fuk Yo beach (thailand)
and Knackers Rock somewhere in Cornwall, forgotten where. Wouldnt like to be caught on that one though!
And then there's the Roches Anglais of course.... reserved especially for Brits on holiday...
There must be something behind all of those.....
 
Had a similar experience in Turkey a few years ago, also on a charter, but whilst tied up to a stage in a bay below some high and steep ground. Gentle breeze one minute, next 35 knots, squally and all round the compass, or so it seemed. I've always thought this was an effect due to the proximity of high groud, it was dusk, and I understand that winds rolling down mountains are not uncommon in that part of the world.
 
You don't mention releasing the vang/kicker, its the quickest way to spill wind out of the main in a broach situation and might have reduced the tendency for the main to re-power the boat repeatedly.
 
Happened to me in a 17' openboat. I was sailing gently into the Tweed, wind had been steady 3-4 all day. Suddenly the boat was over at a high angle and water coming over the side! I was scrambling to release the sheets whilst heading up into wind.

I rolled up the genoa to tiny size and spilled wind from the main.

The wind returned to 3-4 within a couple of minutes - leaving me dazed.

I put it down to the effect of convection, and me being close to shore.

ps I don't go along with those whose instinct is to use the engine when in trouble. A sailboat is designed for sail power, the auxilliary engine is not powerful enough to cope with heavy weather.
 
That is a katabatic wind, usually a bit after dusk, when the air at the top of the mountain cools because the sun is no longer heating the land below it, and rolls down the slope.
 
I second the guy who suggested not goosewinging up channels. I'm genoa only in channels with the wind behind me. Leaves me free to grab a mooring bouy or drop the anchor without a lot of mainsail faff.

Good post, lots of food for thought.

Pops
 
Apt names

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Don't forget Shag Rock just outside Plymouth Sound....

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Or Lerwick (Norse for "[--word removed--] Creek")

Bl**dy h*ll - the censor won't even allow translations of names of British towns over a thousand years old
 
You could have prayed. There again getting the old prayer mat out in the middle of a crisis tends to be frowned upon.


You learnt some lessons and there's some good advice above
But I reckon the most important is power up and go forward its amazing just how quick a boat will turn with full power over the rudder.

The only other thing is where was your knife, or SWIMBOS or the childrens, to cut the jammed Genny sheet? They do no good below.

Intelligent learning post. Thanks for talking about it
 
Sailing in confined waters always looks good but has risks if others (including the wind) don't play by the rules.

As we often sail with only the two of us and had real sailing experience with others when we started we have always been conservative and get rid of the sails before we go into any confined waters.

My concern was always other boats when going up the Medina or Hamble and the ability to be able to manoevre quickly but now realise that sudden winds can be an added complication especially abroad.

I think I will stick with the iron sail in confined waters but thanks for sharing your experience.
 
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