Turning Around (due to storms)

[MarkJ]

The best place, in fact the only reasonable place to watch a storm is through the windows of a good bar!


A few months ago friends wanted to go to the next island in the Caribbean for the weekend. They were taking their boat, I was loading my spare cabin with extra friends. Well didn't everyone get grumpy when I said 2 days before the weekend the weather looks like **** and I'm not going! Some big round the world sailor won't go out in 30 knots! YOU BET YA LIFE I DON'T GO OUT IN 30 KNOTS!

Any time you bail out of a cruise because of weather you are doing the right thing... even if it just turns out to be a teeny squall.

Sent from a stupid phone that replaces words with weird stuff.

[RaymondR]

And, besides all that, spending a day on the boat in the marina with a yarn with other yachties and a few beers in the cockpit or the bar late in the afternoon (weather permitting) is not a bad way to spend a day or two anyway.

[svinvictus2]

I like to consider myself "Chicken of the Seas"....The objective is to return home in one piece with all aboard intact and well.

We've been sailing for twenty seven years and have learned to know when enough is enough!
Good decision making on your paRT.

[Bill-R]

Sailing is similar to flying, and more than a few adages cited in this thread apply to both. One is the danger of "gotta-get-there-itis" (letting schedule drive decisions) which causes many accidents.

Another I like is "The mark of a superior pilot is the use of superior judgement to avoid situations that require superior flying skills."

[SVNeko]

Originally Posted by austinrick

I think I'd rather be in my slip than anchored against winds (and waves) upwards of 50 kts.

Good call, OP.

The point is that it was likely a typical summer squall, at least that's what the NDBC buoy data shows for buoys in that area. Sailors who sail where squalls arise need to be able to deal with them. The OP did what was right for him and there is certainly no shame in living to sail another day. But I wouldn't want to be around other boats and pilings and docks with a squall bearing down on me. And I wasn't suggesting throwing the hook out in the middle of the bay, either. Find a nearby sheltered spot and ride it out. We have faith in our ground tackle and have ridden out much worse than that on it. You should too.

[Midnight Son]

Your prudent choice shows that barring someone else s mistakes, you will be coming home intact, and a little wiser.

Another old pilots saying:

It's better to be on the ground wishing you were up there, than up there wishing you where on the ground.

[scuba0_1]

How frustrating it must be for Sailors up north who already have a limited sailing window to have to make a decision to turn around. Down South we have a much much bigger sailing window and look how many people make bad decisions.


Sent from my SM-N910V using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[cabo_sailor]

First, I concur with all who congratulated you on a wise decision.

I also thoroughly agree not to go out when either the current or forecast conditions are dicey. The joy of being retired is being able to say "I'll check conditions later "

Continuing the flying analogy, when I was still flying I used to claim I was a bush pilot. I would then point out some bush near the runway and declare "if that bush is being wind blown, I ain't going"


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[TraderJoe]

Good choice!
Head for the dark and Stormy at a dry bar on shore!!!
There will be times when you won't turn back!!!
Welcome ashore
Cheers

[valhalla360]

Sounds like you made the right choice.

Also from the sounds of it, you are a weekend sailor. Absolutely nothing wrong with that but it creates a time pressure. You have a destination to reach and you have to be back for work by the end of the weekend so it feels like you are losing out if you don't push on in marginal conditions. I'm sure that is where a lot of weekend sailors get into trouble...particularly if they made their destination and Sunday weather is iffy.

[tkeithlu]

I wonder how many lives have been saved, in how many contexts, by the simple willingness of a person to assess a situation and then say "LET'S GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!"

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by SailFastTri

Good on ya. One aspect of good seamanship having is good judgment and the foresight to avoid problems.

+1.

Both in sailing and in life, there is something in human nature that I think draws people forward into bad situations. Its easy...just turn around.

[S Y Tuppenny]

Well done, good decision. A little rule I have is. If you think you need a reef put it in, if you think you can shake it out, wait 20 minutes. I am going to add, if you think you need to go back.......go!

[mobjackjohn]

Yep...welcome to the Chesapeake Bay...summertime...the nice weather is coming our way my man...good move on your part...the waves are very steep (due to a fairly shallow depth)...the breeze will eventually (day or so) clock around to the south or southwest...and give you all some nice sailing northward!! Fair Winds friend..

[barnakiel]

When I see iffy wx, we do not depart. And we do turn round if we think shelter is better inshore.

I think coastal and lake sailors are somewhat less cautious because there may be more shelter available and closer at hand ... the problem starts when the bad wx moves faster than we envisioned, which at times it does!

You did right. Otherwise you would not be posting now! ;-)

THX for sharing. Once bitten twice shy.
b.