Vancouver International Boat Show - 2016

Heavy Weather Sailing - Vancouver Boat Show 2016

W W W. S I M P LY S A I L I N G . C A

Christof [email protected]

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Heavy Weather SailingHow to be prepared

Vancouver International Boat Show - 2016

1Monday, January 25, 16Introduction:Who has been in heavy weather? What did you experience?




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INTRODUCTION

• strong & gale force winds• not “survival techniques”• proven tactics• encourage preparation &

training

2Monday, January 25, 16The ideas I will present today will be equally applicable to sailing in local waters or offshore sailing.




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WHAT IS HEAVY WEATHER?

3Monday, January 25, 16What is heavy weather? When we talk about heavy weather we primarily think of wind. However, what is really dangerous to the boat is not the wind but big waves, especially breaking waves. This presentation is about how to manage heavy wind before and during storm.It is subjective: For some 20 kts can be intimidating for others the fun starts at 30 kts.In the same vein: It’s crew & boat dependent: A light boat will handle heavy weather differently than a heavy offshore cruiser. Experience of crew. Short handed vs fully crewed.This presentation is not about survival tactics in hurricane force winds, but about what can we do to be prepared for gale & storm force winds and what to do should you get into a heavy gale or a storm.




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• Wind & sea state• Subjective• Boat & crew dependent• Are you prepared?

3Monday, January 25, 16What is heavy weather? When we talk about heavy weather we primarily think of wind. However, what is really dangerous to the boat is not the wind but big waves, especially breaking waves. This presentation is about how to manage heavy wind before and during storm.It is subjective: For some 20 kts can be intimidating for others the fun starts at 30 kts.In the same vein: It’s crew & boat dependent: A light boat will handle heavy weather differently than a heavy offshore cruiser. Experience of crew. Short handed vs fully crewed.This presentation is not about survival tactics in hurricane force winds, but about what can we do to be prepared for gale & storm force winds and what to do should you get into a heavy gale or a storm.




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• strong wind• big waves

> both manageable

• breaking waves> dangerous

4Monday, January 25, 16Breaking seas:Light boat ~ a wave approx 30% of the boat length can capsize a boat: 40’ boat: 12’ waveHeavy cruiser ~ a wave approx 60% of the boat length can capsize a boat: 40’ boat: 24’ waveIn other words, a wave about 2 x the beam.




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• Strong wind• waves small

5Monday, January 25, 16




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• Strong wind• waves small





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• Strong wind• waves big• not breaking





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• Strong wind• waves big• not breaking





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• Breaking waves





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WEATHER FORECAST

• Weather forecast• Avoid• Understand forecast:

• Waves: up to 2x higher• Wind: up to 40% stronger

• Wind over current• Prepare





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WEATHER FORECAST

• Wind speed: forecast vs. gusts

9Monday, January 25, 16Gust can last up to 30 s, 40% more wind speed, almost doubles force on sails




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WEATHER FORECAST

• forecast (significant wave height) vs. maxim

10Monday, January 25, 16Forecast: Significant height - average of largest 1/3 of waves




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BOAT PREPARATION

Inspection & maintenance• Rig• Sails• Other:• engine• electronics• tools• hull: keel bolts?

Before you go

11Monday, January 25, 1680% of a successful passage can be directly attributed to proper preparation.




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BOAT PREPARATION

• Crew - gear:

Easy to use:• jack lines• tether• harness

• Crew - training

Before you go





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HEAVY WEATHER SAILS

• Mainsail: reef points• Heavy weather sails• storm sails• sail plan?

“Voice of reason”

13Monday, January 25, 16Here it is perhaps time to talk about heavy weather sails & a sail plan.Voice of reason




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HEAVY WEATHER SAILS

• Mainsail: reef points• Heavy weather sails• storm sails• sail plan?

“Voice of reason”

13Monday, January 25, 16Here it is perhaps time to talk about heavy weather sails & a sail plan.Voice of reason




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HEAVY WEATHER SAILS - MAIN

• reef points• high clew when reefed• lazy jacks• battens: secure• leach line: at tack• preventer• practice





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HEAVY WEATHER SAILS - JIB

• size• shape: flat• high clew• sheet lead• leach line• sail change?• inner forestay

15Monday, January 25, 16Considerations with roller furling: As wind increase - furl sail- shape- load where it’s not supposed to be- If sail is too big: furl in fully or if need to change: unfurl when least desirable- chafe at furler!




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HEAVY WEATHER SAILS

• Trysail• storm jib

16Monday, January 25, 16Special sails:Color, heavy clothJib - easy to sheet (hight clew)Benefit if high clew: water goes underneath & visibilityLeachline: adjust at tackTrysail: sheeted to deck, not boom, separate trackLeach line adjust at tackImportant: Try this sails out before you actually need them




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HEAVY WEATHER APPROACHING

17Monday, January 25, 16Write it down - so you don’t forgetWhat would you do? Then show “the obvious”Dinghy: Have you recovered a swamped dinghy in 30 kts of wind?What happens to the bimini in 40+ kts of wind?




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• Checklist





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• Checklist• The obvious

• Batten down

• prepare food

• harness/jack lines/PFD

• sail plan?





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• Batten down

• prepare food


• sail plan?

• Dinghy stowage





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• Batten down

• prepare food


• sail plan?

• Dinghy stowage• Bimini down





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• Batten down

• prepare food


• sail plan?

• Dinghy stowage• Bimini down• Maintenance





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IN HEAVY WEATHER: GENERAL

• crew• adjust watch schedule• navigation• big eyes• chafe• address issues early

18Monday, January 25, 16- Look after your crew: Save, clipped in, they might be worried- Don’t forget to navigate: In shore to avoid danger (lee shore, reefs), perhaps save harbour although at times it will be better to stay away from landfall. Offshore those hazards are less important. Sail away from more heavy weather, ocean currents?- keep an eye on potential issues. Something you forgot to store away, trip hazard on boat (lines), again your crew. Don’t forget the outside world. Wind increasing? Waves? - Especially: Sheets, guys, preventer etc can chafe through in a matter of hours if not properly lead.




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HEAVY WEATHER TACTICS

• passive vs. active• Bow into the wind• Stern into the wind





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• Bow into the wind / passive:

Heave to:- 45° to 60° to the wind

- jib backwinded

- perhaps main only

- helm lashed down





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• Bow into the wind / active:• Forereaching:

- close to the wind- balanced sail plan

- perhaps main only

- little input from helm





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• Stern into the wind / active:• Running off:

- wind about 120°- balanced sail plan

- perhaps jib only

- tough on the helm

NEVER with main only





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• Stern into the wind / semi active:• Running off:

- wind about 120°- balanced sail plan

- perhaps jib only

- streaming drogue

- easier on the helm





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DANGEROUS TACTICS

• downwind: Main only -> unstable/round up

• lying ahull (sails down) - > beam on to waves

• being passive -> manage boat & crew





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AFTER HEAVY WEATHER

• assess & address damage• rest crew• resume navigation• debrief: what can we do better next time?

> write this down





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HEAVY WEATHER - DON’T FORGET

• Don’t fall off the boat!• Skipper:

Keep crew spirits & energy sustained





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HEAVY WEATHER TECHNIQUES

• No single "silver bullet" storm technique:• Depending on:

> your boat;

> crew training / condition;

> sea state &

> sea room

The combination of all these factors will define what technique might be adequate.





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HEAVY WEATHER - ATLANTIC





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Send an email to:

[email protected]

Discussion / Questions?


Documents

Vancouver International Boat Show - 2016