Who carries 150m warps for trailing in heavy weather

[jerryat]

Hi Rob,

We did have a hell of a job pulling in enough warp initially to get it round the sheet winch, which on a Fulmar, are on the aft end of the coachroof. Thereafter of course it was fine.

As the scope was reduced though, so was the load, which is why we 'played about' with it until it felt right. With this settled, we felt perfectly happy with a single cleat taking the load, though I did initially consider putting a rolling hitch on the warp and sharing the strain with the starboard cleat.

However, I once towed a 30 foot sailing cruiser in lumpy seas for over 6 hours into port when her engine failed, and the loads were far greater then (including shock loads) and the (same) cleat never moved a fraction. No, we were perfectly relaxed about that aspect, particularly as the Anchorplait has sufficient stretch characteristics to absorb surges and shock loads.

Cheers Jerry

 

[jerryat]

Hi Chris,

Yes, we normally tow an Aqua4gen on the longer passages, but didn't on this particular night 'cos I didn't fancy hauling it in if anything went wrong!!

You are quite right though, the steadying effect this gives a boat is amazing for it's size, as well as wacking all those fat, juicy amps into your batteries!!

Cheers Jerry

 

[jerryat]

Hi David,

I'm afraid I can't help as to whether a CQR would behave the same way though I don't belive it would 'spin' either. The shape of the Bruce - a bit like a cupped hand - seems to me to be the reason for the 'drag' and the stability we experienced.

In your place, I think I'd nip out for a sail (probably next season now?) in modest conditons, and give it a go. The length of chain/warp you deploy does make quite a difference, so it's worth playing with on your own boat until, for those conditions, you find what's 'right'.

Cheers Jerry

 

[jerryat]

Hi again Rob,

For your relatively heavy boat I would have thought it well worth trying the 20kg anchor, though with the asociated chain (a must) it is a heavy lump to deploy I imagine. The little Brittany wis definitely worth a play with, though that might not prove as stable as the Bruce.

I've thought about alternatives since the event, and wonder whether an ordinary car tyre, shackled to the end of the chain, might not work too. I'm not sure of the buoyancy of car tyres, but they seem to sink well on the French canals!!!

Cheers Jerry

 

[ChrisE]

Jerry,
Yes, our generator was the same as yours amd you're right once the damn thing is in the water they are a [--word removed--] to get out again esp in any kind of a sea.

BTW, following a recommendation from the peeps that devised the series drogue we've bolted a plate either side of the stern to take the SD. The dsigner reckons that for a 38' boat whatever you have must be able to take shock loadings of around 15000lbs. That mind you is if all of the weight is applied to one side of the bridle and you're in a f12+ sea. Personally, I think that I will be trying to avoid those kind of conditions!
Chris

 

[jerryat]

Hi Chris,

""....That mind you is if all of the weight is applied to one side of the bridle and you're in a f12+ sea. Personally, I think that I will be trying to avoid those kind of conditions!""

Christ! Me too! I generally start gibbering and hand-wringing from around the top end of F6, especially if I've got to flog to windward! I reckon that's one of the fab things about ocean sailing - you can always run away! Still, as you suggest, avoiding getting in that situation if possible is definitely at the top of my list!!

I didn't realise the shock loads would be that great and I'm not sure it would be that high, unless perhaps, the boat was lifted bodily and dumped sideways . Still, they are quoting for extremes I damn well hope!! One would be streaming a longer length in total, so the 'absorption' characteristics would probably allow more progessive loading to the fixed points.

I do like the idea of purpose fitted strong points and will have a look at that for my boat.

I decided not to use both aft cleats, not only for the reasons I noted earlier, but also because the front had gone through and I expected the wind/seas to decline through the night, which is what happened.

Don't you just LOVE the morning after, Chris? Clear skies, very warm sun, seas settling, boat on track and comfy - and a monstrous cooked breakfast!! All overlaid with that lovely feeling of relief!!!

Cheers Jerry

 

[ChrisE]

[ QUOTE ]
Christ! Me too! I generally start gibbering and hand-wringing from around the top end of F6, especially if I've got to flog to windward! I reckon that's one of the fab things about ocean sailing - you can always run away!

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm glad I'm not the only one. Must say that crossing the North Sea this time, when it was top end F6 on the nose for over 2 days, did think about running off but then would have ended up inside the Baltic 400 miles away from our original destination which was only 450 miles away whwn we started out. Thus had to persevere much to the delight of MrsE who has now said that her passage making days are over!