Caught in a thunderstorm

[dca81]

Wow, what a story. I am surprised that your boat did not round up with that heel angle.

[Crikey]

Whew! Almost joined you but an inner voice said to give things a pass - actually it was a prior comittment by the admiral, and a case of beer! Couldn't help wondering, about 5pm that day, whether any of you were out on the lake. Now I know! Glad nobody got hurt.

Next year's the thing then....

Ross

[beene]

Wow, what a story. I am surprised that your boat did not round up with that heel angle.

Well, this was a frontal thunderstorm
I had my sails set for winds that were southeast
And the winds became northeast

Talked about here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_front

So my mainsail was sheeted for the windward side
And my genny was backwinded on the port side.

So I basically got smacked down.

G

[beene]

Whew! Almost joined you but an inner voice said to give things a pass - actually it was a prior comittment by the admiral, and a case of beer! Couldn't help wondering, about 5pm that day, whether any of you were out on the lake. Now I know! Glad nobody got hurt.

Next year's the thing then....

Ross

LOL

Good call
Look fwd to seeing you next year

G

[tomchitecture]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4Bc2oFPMH4&NR=1

Here you go. I was in the race to Mac this year on a Tartan 10. 50 minutes of 50 knot winds. 20 minutes of 75-100 knot winds. Above is footage from another boat in the fleet. Sheet lightning. Rain. The noise and the desperate feeling of not being in control are things I will never forget.

Glad you're okay. Hope for the best, plan for the worst. I am sure that is why I am still here.

[DaveC426913]

A few hours out, it started to rain, lightly...
No biggie
Under auto pilot, both sails up full, no worries
In about 10kts of wind

I figured, I would keep sailing, just go down below, keep a look out through the windows

Well, it got dark real fast
Started to rain very hard, then hail
Next thing I knew, it was blowing 60+mph and my wee M was on her ear...
Not good
I was in trouble

I opened up that hatch, got out

I am a different kind of sailor I guess.

I am quite confused as to what you would be doing going below and keeping an eye through the windows, let alone once it started to rain.

[beene]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4Bc2oFPMH4&NR=1

Here you go. I was in the race to Mac this year on a Tartan 10. 50 minutes of 50 knot winds. 20 minutes of 75-100 knot winds. Above is footage from another boat in the fleet. Sheet lightning. Rain. The noise and the desperate feeling of not being in control are things I will never forget.

Glad you're okay. Hope for the best, plan for the worst. I am sure that is why I am still here.

Yikes

That is some nasty stuff indeed

G

[beene]

A few hours out, it started to rain, lightly...
No biggie
Under auto pilot, both sails up full, no worries
In about 10kts of wind

I figured, I would keep sailing, just go down below, keep a look out through the windows

I am a different kind of sailor I guess.

I am quite confused as to what you would be doing going below and keeping an eye through the windows, let alone once it started to rain.

You are a different kind of sailor, if you feel that going inside the cabin to avoid getting wet under these conditions is something that confuses you.

G

[bscott]

At the first hint of a TS, I put on my boots and foul weather overalls, go to a hove to and douse the main. The jacket and S'wester is at the ready--always wear my pfd. If it gets really bad I have ski goggles. Since I have converted my OEM hatch board to 3 sections I have the bottom 2 boards in place to keep water out of the cabin in the event the lee rail goes under or we have a following wind and I can peer into the nice dry, warm, cabin to check on the crew.

If I had an auto pilot I would use it in place of going to a hove to but I'm not convinced it is reliable enough to stay down below with the canvas up in severe conditions.

It takes 6 seconds to lower and start the E-tec and another 12 seconds to furl the jib--after about 20 minutes of terror the sun comes out, I sweep the hail from the deck, and all is right with the world. Welcome to high altitude sailing

Bob

[DaveB]

The last thing you want to do in a (for me in 40ft. seas) is have a camara. You are teathered in port and starboard with the cabin fully locked down and waves drowning out and filling your cocpit for 3 days. No food, try to get a bottle of water and take a swig without saltwater filling your lungs. every rise of the 40 fters you have a 5-6 ft. breaking sea that goes over the whole boat and fills the cockpit every 2 min. The boat is beating to Windward heading ot from Beafort NC. for a 1200 mile beat to St. Thomas. The year 1982. 3 days after leaveing Beaufort with 11 other boats and a clear window, thats when the Hurricane force winds hit us for 3 days .
I had a 65 ft. storm jib doing 6 knots and surfing at 10 knots. That Tartan was in 35 knot winds gusting to 50 knots, otherwise sails would be riped to shreads.
This is a Alberg 35 that I total redid to handle anything the sea could toss for around the world 3 year cruise.
No one really knows how it feels beeing out in a Hurricane in 40 ft. seas in a 35 ft. sailboat until they experance it.
Message is to always respect the seas and don't think you can outwit mother nature. When you think you should reef than do so.
Dave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4Bc2oFPMH4&NR=1

Here you go. I was in the race to Mac this year on a Tartan 10. 50 minutes of 50 knot winds. 20 minutes of 75-100 knot winds. Above is footage from another boat in the fleet. Sheet lightning. Rain. The noise and the desperate feeling of not being in control are things I will never forget.

Glad you're okay. Hope for the best, plan for the worst. I am sure that is why I am still here.

[Highlander]

A few hours out, it started to rain, lightly...
No biggie
Under auto pilot, both sails up full, no worries
In about 10kts of wind

I figured, I would keep sailing, just go down below, keep a look out through the windows

Well, it got dark real fast
Started to rain very hard, then hail
Next thing I knew, it was blowing 60+mph and my wee M was on her ear...
Not good
I was in trouble

I opened up that hatch, got out

I am a different kind of sailor I guess.

I am quite confused as to what you would be doing going below and keeping an eye through the windows, let alone once it started to rain.

He's a Weanie !! , mamma always told him don't you get all wet now yer hear !

J

[DaveC426913]

You are a different kind of sailor, if you feel that going inside the cabin to avoid getting wet under these conditions is something that confuses you.
G

Perhaps I don't have my facts straight.

You were single-handing (at least, you were the only crew on-deck).
You were under full sail (though on autopilot).
And you went below (not a for moment to grab something, but for a duration).

So you left the boat unhelmed, under full sail, in active weather.

Were you out in the ocean with no land or ships in sight? How do you avoid hazards?

I am by no means a well-seasoned sailor (and thus defer), but this goes against everything I've been taught. Even the Ancient Mariner himself doesn't have x-ray vision or psychic powers.

[Highlander]

Well you obserb whats around you if alls clear & you do have 360deg visability from inside the cabin and by going down below you increase your ballast & lower your center of gravity

J
PS were sailing not powering along @ 28mp/h , you just got to be very obserbvent & pop yer head up now & then , I have full enclosure so I have no need to go below & my boat is heavily load so has lots of extra ballast

[rfrye94760]

Why do so many posts on this forum turn into an opportunity for someone to try to lecture, warn or mentor the poster? The man was relating an experience he had, not looking to be made an example of what some feel, by implication, he should not have done.
If on the other hand, the poster is asking a question or looking for advice, chime in. Recognize, however, the multitude of ways available to skin a cat.

[NiceAft]

Don't look now, but your pontificating.

Ray