How far out to Sea is Safe in a Hurricane?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Jeannius

There's an important bit of information missing from both the Buys Ballot's Law video shown above and the rhyme...

Buys Ballot's Law is only good in the northern hemisphere. Once you are south of the equator it is 180 degrees out since the lows and highs circulate in opposite direction.

" the boy should on the burning deck as naked as a stick ,
he knew the low was to his left , cause the wind was tickling his ......"

Dave

[Jeannius]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

" the boy should on the burning deck as naked as a stick ,
he knew the low was to his left , cause the wind was tickling his ......"

Dave

I knew there must be one for the southern hemisphere

[BZT54]

Originally Posted by DaveC

Let me put it this way:

If you're 1000 miles offshore and get caught in a Hurricane you'll probably die. If you're 3 miles offshore and get caught in a hurricane, you'll definitely die.

Hope that clears it up.

Getting caught 3 miles out won’t happen but if you were caught and couldn’t shoot in your survival largely depends on the type of boat and whether the crew could pull through. Remember, the boat that survived the perfect storm was a Westsail 32.
There is a reason why a stout double ender managed to survive that storm, they were built to handle those conditions. Btw, she survived without the crew that was ordered off against the captain’s wishes.

"Definitely die" is too broad a statement. The fact is, a true bluewater boat will outlast her crew when caught in the ****.

BZT

[Razoo]

Somewhere around 90° N 0° W should be safe enough.

[BostonFlicka]

Yes, the North Pole. Santa and his elves, or was that snow bunnies, shall keep you safe.

[DaveC]

Satori was caught in deep water. After the evacuation, and after the storm passed, she washed up on a beach.

Had she washed up on the beach during the storm I suspect she would have been pounded to death by the breakers.



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[Razoo]

Originally Posted by DaveC

Satori was caught in deep water. After the evacuation, and after the storm passed, she washed up on a beach.

Had she washed up on the beach during the storm I suspect she would have been pounded to death by the breakers.



Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

true.

[barnakiel]

If you elect to get offshore, rather that seek shelter, then I think some considerations are:

- water depth - you want deep water, so that hurricane waves will not build even taller and steeper due to shallow water,

- no lee shore - you want to be in the lee of the land or else well offshore, just remember the wind may veer, back or go 180 degs round within a very short time,

- etc.

How fast a boat will drift, depends on what boat it is and how much drag device she will be towing. Again, remember that drifting bare poles or otherwise may be the worst option. Most books suggest trying to sail out of the hurricane area rather than letting the conditions drive the boat.


b.

[SkiprJohn]

Originally Posted by NoTies

Can I respectfully ask how many posters in this thread have actually been through a hurricane/cyclone/typhoon at sea.(I know at least two that have) All the rest are not capable or qualified of giving any advice at all on a topic that may well cost a life. God save the brave from internet "experts'

I've been through 3 at sea. First one was on a 390 foot WWII Destroyer in '63 in the Formosa Straits. It caught us with only a few hours warning. It was pretty shallow water so the waves were steep and at closer intervals than if we'd been in much deeper water. Of the 3 that was the worst. It tore away lifelines and boat davits and one of the ships in our squadron lost its stack. That was serious.

The other two were storms we knew were coming and we got underway on a 550 foot Cruiser to escape damage to the piers and ship in port. Still very rough but we were in deeper water off the coast of Virginia out of Norfolk. Often we were weightless and walking at nearly a 45 degree angle, hanging on wherever we could get a handhold. Even for seasoned sailors it is a fearful time.

Nowadays if you watch your weather forecasts you can be tied up securely in port when such storms come through. You never ever want to be in a full storm or a hurricane while you are at sea. Even in ships it is not fun.

With sailing vessels I take no chances of bad weather and watch the forecasts religiously prior to getting underway.

[BZT54]

Originally Posted by DaveC

Satori was caught in deep water. After the evacuation, and after the storm passed, she washed up on a beach.

Had she washed up on the beach during the storm I suspect she would have been pounded to death by the breakers.



Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

If the captain was aloud to stay on board it is doubtful that she would have washed up on shore. That would be a death knoll for any boat. The point I was trying to make was that a true blue water boat with able crew should get through if caught as long as they have seaway which Satori did.

There have been plenty of incidents where the crew gave up the ship only to realize they should'nt have gotten off in the first place.

BZT