What reefs should I put in for 250mph gusts?

[johnalison]

Because there is/was a member of the forum who was an ardent promoter of the marque (@Seajet), so much so that his promotion of the type became an object of friendly mickey taking!

We don’t do friendly here. It’s hammer and tongs all the way.

 

[ProDave]

I wouldn't buy an A22 because I dislike lifting keels.

If only I could find a bilge keel cruiser that offered standing headroom and a really good layout with everything you wanted, and only 1ft longer than an A22 then I would buy it. Oh wait.

 

[Praxinoscope]

It's the lifting keel that makes me talk myself out of it.
But I think it was one of the better ones.

 

[newtothis]

We all think our own boat is great but i think most recognise that we have chosen what is great for us whereas others will argue that their chosen money disposal unit was best in all circumstances. but then realise nothing surpasses an Anderson 22.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

Good to see the Andersen 22 hasn't been forgotten, wasn't there a rumour that Ineos were looking for one to replace their current Americas Cup yacht?

I heard that too ... apparently they bought one and modified it with some foils. First time they raised the spinnaker it took off and the crew fell off the back ... rumour has it it is currently circling the southern ocean doing an average speed of 55 knots .... @Portofino from the dark side has been dispatched in his Itama to try and catch it.

 

[Kelpie]

Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale, the Mirror Offshore is considering putting in a reef when the gusts hit 250mph...

 

[johnalison]

My policy when faced with such a wind would not be reefing or even use of a trisail but lowering the mast. This might present something of a challenge in the middle of the ocean but you never know, undoing the bottlescrews and a lot of adrenalin might do it (who am I kidding?). I recall that R H Dana recorded his ship taking down the topmasts before rounding the Horn, which is part-way there.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

My policy when faced with such a wind would not be reefing or even use of a trisail but lowering the mast. This might present something of a challenge in the middle of the ocean but you never know, undoing the bottlescrews and a lot of adrenalin might do it (who am I kidding?). I recall that R H Dana recorded his ship taking down the topmasts before rounding the Horn, which is part-way there.

Yes, but lowering topmasts was a usual exercise on that kind of rig; it was designed so the topmast could be lowered vertically parallel to the mainmast, using a rope attached to the heel of the mast. No problems with losing mechanical advantage until the heel of the mast was on deck, and then it could be lowered using a line from the head of the lower mast. So no mechanical problems as we do when lowering masts using the forestay.

Of course, doing it with the minimal crew of a commercial vessel was a different kettle of fish to doing it on a vastly over-manned warship, where speed in evolutions like that was regarded as the mark of a "smart ship"

 

[MisterBaxter]

The problem.with lowering a mast at sea is that the boat then has a great deal.less roll inertia, and thrashes about uncontrollably.
That's one of the problems, anyway...

 

[johnalison]

The problem.with lowering a mast at sea is that the boat then has a great deal.less roll inertia, and thrashes about uncontrollably.
That's one of the problems, anyway...

So I have heard but my 19m mast is on the tall side and I am keen to improve my odds when this typhoon hits Essex.

 

[Supertramp]

Your problems might only just have begun when you get out of the lee of the headland in that sort of wind.

At least an A22 can go overland.

 

[westernman]

Yes, but lowering topmasts was a usual exercise on that kind of rig; it was designed so the topmast could be lowered vertically parallel to the mainmast, using a rope attached to the heel of the mast. No problems with losing mechanical advantage until the heel of the mast was on deck, and then it could be lowered using a line from the head of the lower mast. So no mechanical problems as we do when lowering masts using the forestay.

Of course, doing it with the minimal crew of a commercial vessel was a different kettle of fish to doing it on a vastly over-manned warship, where speed in evolutions like that was regarded as the mark of a "smart ship"

When conditions get so bad that it would be a distinct advantage to lower the top mast, no way am I going up on deck. And certainly no way am I going to be messing around up the mast trying to dislodge the top mast from its support to lower it.

I will be battening down all the hatches and hiding in the basement.

 

[Thistle]

no way am I going to be messing around up the mast trying to dislodge the top mast from its support to lower it.

Dear boy, one sends one's crew to do that sort of thing, doesn't one?

 

[Greenheart]

I suppose if, when the 200-knot wind hits, you could arrange to be aboard an Anderson 22 at low tide in the soft mud of a drying harbour (somewhere like Emsworth, perhaps), you might be a lot safer than amid the likely mass destruction of property on shore.

 

[westernman]

Dear boy, one sends one's crew to do that sort of thing, doesn't one?

They are mutinying. And hiding in the basement. I'll be lucky if they open the washboards to let me in!

 

[doris]

Your problems might only just have begun when you get out of the lee of the headland in that sort of wind.

At least an A22 can go overland.

I’m told that there can be a problem travelling overland keeping the trailer behind the Range Rover in a stiff following breeze.

 

[PeteCooper]

It may be of interest to some of you, but with sadness in my heart I report that Seajet's dad died a few days ago. He was nearly 100 so not unexpected, but as you know Seajet was very close to him.

 

[jac]

It may be of interest to some of you, but with sadness in my heart I report that Seajet's dad died a few days ago. He was nearly 100 so not unexpected, but as you know Seajet was very close to him.

Sade News - If you speakto andy do pass on our condolences

 

[Seven Spades]

Seriously 200knots must be terrifying as it woudl simply lift the surface of the sea off the water. You could not stand up in it a baot with a mast woudl be on its side and I can't imagine any anchors holding.

 

[fredrussell]

Sade News - If you speakto andy do pass on our condolences

Quite. And tell him he is missed on here.