One thing I can say for sure, in over 50 years of offshore voyaging, while I have taken some good dustings offshore, I have ridden out many more gales, storms, and even a few hurricanes in snug harbours and anchorages.
Of course part of the reason for those experiences was spending a bunch of time in the high latitudes, but still, most any cruiser who is out there for any length of time will be faced with regular gales, the occasional storm, and maybe even a hurricane or two.
But judging from the general scatter action among cruisers I saw over the years when even a gale was forecast, never mind a full-on storm, most are winging it as they decide what to do.
To help with that, here’s a two-part series on some things I learned over the years.
Let’s start with broad brush planning to make as sure as we can that we don’t get in a shitty situation with a storm forecast and no good options, and then we will move on to decisions about where and how we will hide out.
As usual the key takeaways are in the blue tip boxes.
heh heh…as I close in on the sw tip of Greenland in the fog; and after 5 days out of St Anthony of chunky soup of mixed lows, confused seas, gale force (just) winds, dense fog and other non-relaxing experiences with a novice (but very strong and committed) crew; this is rather timely!
my mind is now turning to exactly this challenge, of being one step ahead of actual events with a plan b, c and d for each scenario, along an unfamiliar and very forbidding coast.
Thanks John – you wouldn’t be tinkin o’ me now were ya when you chose to post this right now? fair play – thanks! bring on part 2!
ps – any tips for rescuing an errant reefing pennant who’s stopper knot got removed by well meaning tidy-up crew but then promptly got sucked into the boom during a 3am reefing call? lol. in 30 years I’ve never lost a pennant into a boom that way. There’s always more to learn, eh?
Hi Ben,
Good to hear you are getting close and all is relativity well. And yes, your voyage did get me cracking on this article I have been thinking about for some time.
As the reefing pennant that’s a real PITA, and as you say, just another learning…which is another word for PITA. Anyway, some years ago Phyllis and I had to sort out a mess of twisted halyards in a new mast including pulling and re-running a couple, and an electrician’s snake was invaluable. Obviously not something you will have to hand but if you are making port in Greenland you might be able to borrow one. People are very helpful there. It also might help to, once in port, swing the boom ashore, or set it up on the boat, in such a way that you can rotate it? That’s all I got. Guessing you will figure it out and better than me from afar.
Yes, landfall tomorrow with luck. hopefully this ever present fog will lift and give us a look at something – anything – before arrival. it’s been relentless this trip.
I think I’ve figured out how to cobble together a pole long enough (using a batten from the boom bag mainly) to be able to push the reefing pennant (or some other line) thru the boom. we’ll figure it out. just one of those funny things.
thanks for all the guidance and help as always –
bg
… could you tie two mousing lines to an existing reefing rope, pull said rope out one the neck side, ratain one mousing line and use that to pull the lost line back throught the boom. Second mousing line will be used to get the existing reefing line back in place? Just a thought from shore.
Enjoy Greenland. Wonderful place.
Hi Ben and all,
Another east coast Greenland anchorage is:
Grundevig Cove anchorage, Kangerdluaraq Fjord: Prince Christian Sound was locked in with ice at the entrance (early Aug), and, not wishing at all to go around the tip, we opted for the fjords ~~30+nm N of the entrance to PCS.
We spent 5 days there waiting for PCS to open. Write if interested in details.
D
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy
I feel your pain, Ben although not as acutely as you. While deciding whether we were going to the Shetlands (from Denmark) or giving up and just heading to Norway, I took a screenshot of the surface pressure chart that showed 6 different Lows and two Highs between Greenland and the West Coast of Europe. Everyone cruising South of Bergen this year agrees confusion and unpredictability is the rule (I asked a Swede when summer was coming and his reply was “not this year”). We opted to bang it out to Norway (bang it out because the forecast said the wind would turn South from its current NW direction a couple of hours after we left and it didn’t until 24 hours later). Now here is the irony (well probably not), everyone from Bergen on up say they have been having a lovely summer.
John, great article as always. I do tend seek advice in this part of the world because as you say, there is a lot of experience moving around these parts. Having said that, I am astounded by how little “stay on-board” equipment boats have. I rarely see tethers and the like. As per your advice, we wear them most of the time (the water is cold here despite the Norwegians seeming immunity to it).
Sitting this summer out in Switzerland, NW Italy and occasionally W Friesland.
Has been a good choice.
even good lake sailing is rare this season. Usually only a couple of hours before the storm warning lights come on, or sometimes late pm.
A solid plan on every trip. Stay active and engaged even on the most mundane activity require threat analyis and mitigation procedures. Whether you are driving to the store, extended voyaging offshore or as an airline Capt. crossing the North Atlantic. In all cases the more options available the better. From a simple thought process of the most ordinary, to a well coordinated written plan with primary, secondary and terceriary options.
Yup
Plan A, B, C
a life habit, also in business.
and people look at you with that strange stare when you take them through the scenarios
All sound advice, thanks John….
It’s interesting to note how different things are when you are looking at wind plus waves, versus wind alone. We trailer-boaters are used to securing everything for 70 knots of wind as a routine matter, that being something we intentionally subject our boats to on a daily or weekly basis. But 35 knots (i.e. one-quarter of the wind strength), with waves, is a much more serious situation.
Get to a location where the wave action is damped, blocked, or otherwise under control, and the wind alone really isn’t that much to worry about.
Hi Matt,
Absolutely, in part two, which I’m currently working on, I get into just that, and particularly the dangers of ocean swell.
Aye to The Turnback Option. We did this in June when faced with large, quick beam seas (6-7m, 9sec) in the forecast between Azores and Ireland. Easiest decision ever. And, got to enjoy SaoMiguel, which we otherwise would not ave visited. Remember, this is supposed to be Fun!
OMG – this is so spot on! I was laughing so hard on point 2, but how true it is! The whole list is excellent.
Placing “don’t be scared” as Number 1: A++! You can’t think straight scared…
dj
Hi David,
Thanks for the kind words, and glad it worked for you. Part two all written and coming in a week or so.
No 9 resonates with me. If you’re confronted with what appears to be a dead certainty storm, move to your selected spot as early as possible. Not only for the right reasons John identifies, but because everyone else is thinking the same thing, too. Most of them, however, will wait until the last minute and arrive at a jam packed anchorage (most hurricane holes are small, of necessity) and then find themselves in the worst of all situations, no room to safely anchor and no time to find another hole.
It’s better to spend a couple of days tidying up and prepping the boat, stripping sails etc. in a fine sheltered spot with plenty of chain out, getting some rest (you’ll need it).
Move early!
Really nice summary, thanks
Concise and spot on
Thanks John, excellent article. One typo in a photo caption:
“Morgan’s Cloud and Steve and Linda Dashew’s Morgan’s Cloud and Steve and Linda Dashew’s Cochise”
Hi Alissa,
Thanks, fixed now.