Great Sail, Great Gale, a Little Carnage and Lessons Learned

[CharlieCobra]

So, after checking four different weather sites for the forecast, one of my Son's and I, set off for a brisk sail. We get out about noon in 10-12 knots and are making 6.5 knots under Genoa and main at about 45* from apparent. We stay on a single tack for three hours until we come to the San Juan channel. All of the forecasts had called for the wind to clock around from the SSE to the West and increase to 15-20 knots as the cold front came through. After discussing whether to continue on to Friday Harbor or head back to Skyline, we decided that since we only had two hours of light and it looked like rain on the horizon, we'd head home.

The wind had dropped off a bit and was clocking around so we figured we'd fly the chute for a bit. I was forward and had finished rigging it up and was ready to launch it when the wind picked up to about 12-15, so it felt. We had put the wind at about 150* and I started to deploy when a big puff hit. Instantly the chute started to open fast and yank on the scoop line hard! I let it go as it was gonna yank me off the boat and the chute popped open. Instantly we were knocked flat with the boom and spreader in the drink as she leapt forward under the pressure. I stepped from the deck to the staysail boom and glanced back to see Jay, looking like the black guy in the old Charley Chaplin movies, still on the low side trying to steer. I was amazed that even though we were over flat, no water was coming into the cockpit or the companionway. The boat stood back up as she rounded up and kinda stalled to windward. She started falling back off so I blew the spin halyard to keep us from getting knocked down again and told Jay to keep us pinned to windward.

I went forward and unhooked the downhaul while Jay grabbed the head of the chute and then we blew the sheet so we could fish it out. In the meantime, the wind was now up to 30+ and the waves where building while it was pouring rain. After about 10 minutes, we got the chute aboard and chunked it down below to sort out later. We were still pinned about 50* off the wind and couldn't come up so I let out about 8' of the furler line figuring to get a bit of headsail up so we could drop the main. Well, that didn't work as advertised and the Genny just started flogging itself to pieces instead of catching wind so we could come up. We refurled it, started the motor and turned up to drop the main.

Once the main was down, I had Jay take the helm and turn us downwind while I got the Staysail up. After it was up and drawing hard, we shut the engine off and blasted along on a Broad Reach at 7.5 knots with only the little 150 sq ft. Staysail up. I took the helm as Jay turned on the lights and settled in for the ride back. After a bit the wind was up to what felt and sounded like 40 with gust to 50+ and the seas built to 6-8 or so as we ran away from the Eastern entrance to the San Juan de Fuca towards Fidalgo. I showed Jay how to steer on a run in quartering and following seas and let him at it. What a sight to see another of my boys at the helm in heavy weather having a blast! You couldn't peel the grin off his face. So after covering the 15 miles in 2.5 hours, we came to more sheltered waters before the marina and switched again. I put us in the Lee of an island while Jay doused and tied off the Staysail. After hunting around a bit, we made the entrance, motored nicely to the slip and made a perfect landing.

Sunday, I went out to survey the carnage. The chute was fine and we hoisted, dried, untangled and rescooped it. The Genoa had parts of the sunbrella come loose and shred but no damage to the sail so it off to the loft for that one. The Portside king post stanchion came out of the deck as we docked and on inspection, it appears that the screws pulled out. I'll be through bolting all of them now. Lessons learned? Don't believe the weather guys. I checked NOAA after I got home and found Gale Warnings posted along with wind readings of 43 gusting to 53, right where we were sailing. Lesson two, get a wind speed indicator, even a handheld one because ya damned sure don't wanna launch a kite in that again. Lesson three, don't be such a hardcore sailor that ya don't use a perfectly good engine to head into the wind to either reef or douse the main. A lesson used from the last time? Changing headsails in a blow is much easier and safer downwind. Last but not least, don't fear the knockdown, at least not on this boat. That doesn't mean ya go looking for it but have faith in the design of the boat, it works.

Jay's impression of the day? He couldn't think of anywhere else or anything he'd rather be doing than sailing in those conditions. I've gotta agree.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Charlie,
Good one!! What kind of boat and where did you start your sail from?
Yesterday I started a sail with a couple of club members in very light winds and just as we were ready to launch off the mooring on a club owned 23 foot Wharram Cat we got a squall coming through. We stayed on the mooring, tucked in a reef and got off the mooring and then it calmed to about 8knots. Shook out the reef and had a few hours of great sailing. It was a bit of a mixed sun and cloudy rest of the day with a few little sprinkles with temperature at about 75 out on the water.
Great sail. Great day with good friends.
Kind Regards,
JohnL

[CharlieCobra]

John, I started from Skyline Marina on Fidalgo Is in the San Juan's. She a 1961 Knutson K-35 yawl. A link to some pics follows.

CharlieCobra03 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

One thing I notice is that the Pardey method of heaving to works well for this boat. While we had up too much canvas with the full main, we were able to maintain our position at about 50* off the wind by sheeting out till the leach barely luffed while we straightened out the boat after the knockdown. It was a good, smooth ride.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Again Charlie,
Beautiful Boat. I've gone sailing on an Offshore 41 Yawl (Velera Linda) and loved the way it handled and sailed. I like the size of your boat and she looks to be in great condition. Wood or fiberglass hull? Full keel I suppose.
My yesterday's sail was right here in Hilo Bay, Big Island. Never got out beyond the breakwater but had fun anyway.
JohnL

[CharlieCobra]

Mahalo, I like her a lot. She's wood and was C-Flexed in '94. They did a very good job and she's a solid, dry boat. I've not been to Hilo yet but have been to Oahu and Kauai.

[Weyalan]

Lessons learned with enough severity to scare you a bit, but with no significant damage or injury are the best ones! Well done for thinking your way through it and keeping calm.

[Hud3]

Charlie,

Great story, and a great memory for you as a Dad!

[Rez]

What a Pretty Boat!