georgeo
Well-Known Member
Re: Worst conditions you\'ve sailed in?
Caught in a "Southerly Buster" off east coast of Australia, during my YM fast track course (!) a described in a lengthy post on YBW last year. I was on watch at the time and on the helm as I watched the wind speed rise steadily to over 40 knots, plus gusts, as we progressively reefed down. I have never seen cumulonimbus like it, all lit up from the inside with lightning. Eventually 3 reefs in the main and the no 4, then just no 4. But in an apparent lull made the mistake of putting up the main again, only to have to take it down in a hurry. One of the young gap year kids did marvels at the mast during all this, but with typical bravado, did not tie on (absolute madness, and we told him so). Aussie professional skipper (who had a bit of an onshore drink problem!) had taken the helm as things got progressively worse (his own boat had been one of the few to finish the disastrous Sydney/Hobart some years before) and timed the gybe just right to run for the shelter of the coast which was some miles away, but I remember hanging on to a winch at right angles looking down on to the sea. And all at night with lightning rain etc.
On my own boat, just 3 weeks ago, 35 knots on the nose going into Dielette, 2 reefs in the main and the staysail. Did not even get wet in the cockpit!
Caught in a "Southerly Buster" off east coast of Australia, during my YM fast track course (!) a described in a lengthy post on YBW last year. I was on watch at the time and on the helm as I watched the wind speed rise steadily to over 40 knots, plus gusts, as we progressively reefed down. I have never seen cumulonimbus like it, all lit up from the inside with lightning. Eventually 3 reefs in the main and the no 4, then just no 4. But in an apparent lull made the mistake of putting up the main again, only to have to take it down in a hurry. One of the young gap year kids did marvels at the mast during all this, but with typical bravado, did not tie on (absolute madness, and we told him so). Aussie professional skipper (who had a bit of an onshore drink problem!) had taken the helm as things got progressively worse (his own boat had been one of the few to finish the disastrous Sydney/Hobart some years before) and timed the gybe just right to run for the shelter of the coast which was some miles away, but I remember hanging on to a winch at right angles looking down on to the sea. And all at night with lightning rain etc.
On my own boat, just 3 weeks ago, 35 knots on the nose going into Dielette, 2 reefs in the main and the staysail. Did not even get wet in the cockpit!
