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Subject: Re: [worldcruising] Lying ahull
From: Bob Taylor (bobt@XXX.XXX)
Date: Tue Aug 21 2001 - 17:04:39 EDT
<snip>
Different boats react differently to
conditions. For instance, on my (somewhat) recent trip down the coast, I
ran before some semi-nasty weather (only 12' average seas according to the
buoy data). The boat never felt out of control but did start to feel a bit
squirrelly when surfing into the mid-teens (this only happened a couple
times; most speeds were 10-12 knots surfing). If I had been pushing that
speed consistently, I would have done a couple things: Taken over from the
autopilot (yes, it handled it fine, thank you) and trailed some warps or a
drogue. Of course, I was only 30 miles offshore and a half a day from my
destination, so that affected the decision process, too. If conditions had
deteriorated _and_ I wasn't close to my destination I would have deployed
the sea anchor.
<snip>
-Rob
<snip>
For example, I have a 27-ton, 51 foot William Garden Ketch, and I've tried
heaving-to under every possible combination of sail possible on a ketch -
the net result every time is lying ahull (abeam to the waves), which is
simply appalling in terms of roll, waves crashing against the windward side
etc. in anything with over about 8 foot waves. Without a sea anchor, I don't
see how this vessel, with it's combination of underwater profile, rig etc.
will stay hove-to, which implies a scollopping motion about 45% to the wind.
Regards,
Ray
Hi
I think sometimes we simplify things too much. Certainly the Pardees have a lot
of experience but it is on smaller boats. When the Coast Guard did there
studies on the Jordan series drogue they concluded that boats above about 65'
have a much smaller chance of being rolled when lying ahull or running. I am
not advocating lying ahull just making that observation. Also there conclusion
was based partly on tank test which I don't completely trust.
When Miles Smitten wrote about his "ultimate storm" which was an extremely
fierce one in the southern Pacific, he stated that he felt lying to a sea anchor
or dragging warps had no place in truly severe storms. He instead ran before it
with no warps. He would steer downwind in the troughs where he was sheltered
from the wind and about 45 degrees to the wind on the crest. He slowed it down
that way and kept control but kept steerage so he could avoid the bad breaking
crest. He did say he thought sea anchors and dragging warps had their place.
In my own experience I have tried a sea anchor, a drogue off the rear and
motoring. All worked but then the storms were not so bad. I have hove to many
times for many different reasons and that works well also.
Steve Dashew, who I am not fond of in general, I believe advocates motoring
slowly into the seas at about 45 degrees. That worked surprisingly well for me.
In the type storms I have been in, which are mostly frontal passages with up to
50 or 60 knts of wind and not of a duration that will produce truely large
waves, I like hove to best. But then I have a heavy 42' boat with a long keel
that likes to hove to.
I should also note that I have made passages in 40 knts on the beem when I had
to. You can, with the right boat keep going and that is in some cases the right
thing to do. In my case I was trying to make it to a party on time which is not
the right thing to do.
I am very interested in hearing more on others experience.
Bob sv Adagio
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