Beam Sea Techniques

[Wind Chime]

What techniques do you use to help keep your boat on her feet while motoring in a beam sea? (p.s. add high wind and strong current)

I know, I know ... good seamanship means to "never get into this situation to begin with", but we got caught in a wind change where we had no choice but to take on a beam sea for a while. This was compounded with a nasty building rip, and "wind over tide" (a 20 km wind against a 3 knot current) which made the sea even more confused and squared the 3 to 3.5 foot waves.

Motoring in a normal beam sea, I might raise a reefed main or unfurl some headsil to help balance the rocking heel, but in this high wind I felt that may compound the problem. And in the dancing waves it was taking three hands on the wheel just to keep the dishes in the galley, so leaving the helm was not a option. (even with all lines led aft)

We had a full ballast tank and tried every combination of rudders & keel up/down, down/up. Finally ending up with about a foot of keel down with no rudders. I tried short direction changes to offset the heeling, but it was taking too long to make any headway.

As the wind continued to veer and we got clear enough of Passage Island, we headed out to open water where the waves were bigger, but we could get a better angle on them. So heading about 90 degrees away from our correct bearing, we took the sea a few points off the bow until we were far enough out that we could swing round and surf home.

Any thoughts or experiences to share ... for next time

[jjan]

Hi,
I was always taught (Navy) to zig zag across the wave in that situation if that course was absolutely unavoidable. Keep the sea either on the port/stbd bow then port/stbd stern quarter at around 45 ish degrees depending on wave size. Slow down to a reasonable speed but not so much as to lose good momentum carefully drive up the wave then down the other side especially when it gets really lumpy, don't just crash through the wave. Very carefully pick your times when you zig or zag watching the sea and waves at all times. As much as possible, minimize your beam's exposure to the heavy sea during the zig zag by turning smartly but not too fast. Keep your crew as low as possible and evenly spread the crews weight across the boat and tell your passengers what you are doing.
J

[Chinook]

I agree with Jjan, and have had to contend with this situations on a few uncomfortable occasions, once in a canoe. We were on Shoshone Lake in Yellowstone in our 17 foot Grumman, fully loaded with camping gear, wife in bow, 4 year old son stuffed in amongst the gear. A stiff wind kicked up astern and was raising 2 to 3 foot following swells. We were paddling a short distance from shore, approaching a narrows, and our shoreline jutted out sharply. I could sense the waves building as we approached the narrows. The shoreline didn't afford a safe place to get off the lake. In order to clear the narrows and reach more sheltered water beyond the point, I needed to swing more abeam to the swell, but knew we'd immediately swamp if I tried. Holding course would put us on the rocks at the narrows. We opted to do a rapid 180 atop a big swell, changing our heading into the wind and swell. This allowed us to set a controlled angle to wind and swell, and sort of ferry us out further into the lake. Another 180 let us travel with wind and seas directly astern, and we were able to successfully clear the narrows.

I've used this experience in steering the Mac in strong winds and closely spaced, steep swells. I'll totally avoid taking seas on the beam, and will alter course until the boat is properly controlled. If need be, I'll zig zag or tack until I can run in the direction I want to go without exposure to beam seas. Or, I'll pick an alternate destination until things settle down.