What to do when hit by a 25 metre wave from astern.

Nigeldownes

Nigeldownes

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 Jan 2007
Messages
79
Location
london
Visit site
The answer is to tow warps and then climb the rigging simple eh.

Just read the following extract from Sir Robin Knox Johnston


The waves in the Southern Ocean are the largest to be found anywhere in the world. In theory they can reach more than 30 metres in height, but the largest seen during the voyage was, perhaps, 25 metres high, but it had built up into a wall, breaking at the crest. Robin was on deck as it suddenly reared up half a mile astern, and by the time its true proportions were clear it was too late to seek shelter below. He climbed the rigging and hung on as the stern reared up and the wave crashed over the boat. For what seemed an eternity there was nothing in sight but two masts and boiling water and then Suhaili shook herself and re-appeared. Without the warps she would have broached and been viciously rolled and possibly foundered.

Quite a guy me thinks
 
"it was too late to seek shelter below"? But there was plenty of time to climb the rigging? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Methinks that perhaps our Robin's PR people are getting a little carried away and manipulating inexactitudes to sell more books in his undoubted upcoming best seller on the race? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
I really would not recommend climbing the rigging being anybodys regular response to those situations! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
up the rigging - good idea?

Why not up the rigging if down below not an option? I've heard of others doing this - seems a reasonably good course of action with a giant wave - find something to really wrap yourself around instead of "standing" on a soon-awash deck, and up the rigging also has the advantage of being up and clear of other deck stuff likely/possible to be dislodged and in turn hit oneself. Or,ok - I'd be interestd to hear what you would do?

I should say that I would also shout abuse at the wave...
 
Very familiar !

Extract from Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum.

"Well off the patagonian coast, while the sloop was reaching under short sail, a tremendous wave, the culmination, it seemed, of many waves, rolled down upon her in a storm, roaring as it came. I had only a moment to get all sail down and myself up on the peak halyards, out of danger when I saw the mighty crest towering masthead-high above me. The mountain of water submerged my vessel. She shook in every timber and reeled under the weight of the sea, but rose quickly out of it, and rode grandly over the rollers that followed. It may have been a minute of that hold in the rigging I could see no part of Spray's hull."
 
Re: up the rigging - good idea?

You see photos of the crews on the tea clippers and other big square rigged sailing vessels leaping into the rig when big waves wash the decks in the Southern Ocean - they didnt have the luxury of harnesses, and lifejackets as we know them today were not invented yet..... running up the rig was the only option to being swept overboard!

Robin describes incidents like the one above very matter of factly in his excellent book 'A World of my Own'.

And I think that he also hurled abuse at the waves, same as tcm.... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: up the rigging - good idea?

As you say, an excellent book. It's years since I read it. He is a quite outstanding seaman. Suhaili wasn't the most suitable boat for those seas - tender, weak floors, vulnerable cabin top, inadequate self steering, cramped etc. He had a few structural problems that he solved - like going 'overside' (as he liked to call it) to hammer caulking into the joint above the keel that opened up every time the boat heeled. I think this was in the Southern Ocean.

Getting out of the way by going up the mast seems a logical solution in the face of a boarding sea - I can't remember if he had mast steps? I've got a feeling he did.
 
Re: up the rigging - good idea?

again - why not? There's isn't a great place to be if a boat gets rolled, but lashed to mast away from other stuff faling - or falling about on it- would seem less dreadful than some other options.
 
Re: Dismasting?

Hang on a minute. The boat didn't roll and the mast didn't break. Therefore...the right decision. Why this "what if" debate?
 
Re: Dismasting?

I thought 'real' sailors smoked pipes...in which case he probably just swivelled it through 180 degrees.
 
Re: Dismasting?

Yes. Just checked with an old Etonian chum and he confirms that in a following sea it's absolutely essential to keep your fags dry.

Otherwise the poor little chaps will be in no fit state to prepare your next meal.
 
Yes but

How many people have rigging that they can climb

I have

But i still favour into the heads, and kiss arse goodbye policy

So I think - on reflection - that I will give the Southern Ocean a miss
 
[ QUOTE ]
Very familiar !

Extract from Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum.

"Well off the patagonian coast, while the sloop was reaching under short sail, a tremendous wave, the culmination, it seemed, of many waves, rolled down upon her in a storm, roaring as it came. I had only a moment to get all sail down and myself up on the peak halyards, out of danger when I saw the mighty crest towering masthead-high above me. The mountain of water submerged my vessel. She shook in every timber and reeled under the weight of the sea, but rose quickly out of it, and rode grandly over the rollers that followed. It may have been a minute of that hold in the rigging I could see no part of Spray's hull."

[/ QUOTE ]

I read that (for the third time) only two days ago!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top