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From: Bryan Genez (no email)
Date: Wed Jun 23 2004 - 17:48:48 EDT
Robert Gainer wrote:
> Do you see any advantage to the sea anchor instead of laying a hull or
> running? The old fashioned sea anchor with the oil reservoir and much
> smaller size may have made some sense. Oil to windward has a very calming
> effect on the waves.
I think studies have shown that oil reduces spray; the surface tension of
the oil tends to be more resistant to the wind than is water. So the wave
faces and tops are smoothed out. Their height, though, shouldn't be
affected. I doubt that oil would stop a wave from breaking, but maybe....
Sea anchors are just another tool. Probably most effective when the option
of going to windward is not desirable. When they work, they will keep a
boat "anchored" in the same area. In the pre-EPIRB days, a sea anchor often
meant you were found more quickly, as searchers didn't have to calculate
boat drift. Now that we all carry EPIRBs <grin>, that's less important.
I don't have a sea anchor, and probably won't buy one. I do carry a drogue;
I think my boat will behave nicely under drogue if required. And I will
heave to should that be a better option. I'm not confident that lying ahull
is a good idea.
Mostly, though, I hope to be able to avoid serious weather. With today's
forecast and communications systems, that should be possible...most of the
time!
-- Best, Bryan Genez (KB3HMZ) "Capella" Valiant 40 #158 Annapolis, MD ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Yahoo! Domains - Claim yours for only $14.70 http://us.click.yahoo.com/Z1wmxD/DREIAA/yQLSAA/A1TolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/world-cruising/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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