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Heavy Weather

Heavy Weather. What is Heavy Weather?. A 1977 album by jazz group Weather Report? A 1933 novel by P.G. Wodehouse? Stormy Conditions, rough seas, high winds? Song on Jarvis Cocker’s debut solo album? All of the above?. Heavy Air vs Heavy Weather. Heavy Air Boat may need adjustment

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Heavy Weather

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  1. Heavy Weather

  2. What is Heavy Weather? • A 1977 album by jazz group Weather Report? • A 1933 novel by P.G. Wodehouse? • Stormy Conditions, rough seas, high winds? • Song on Jarvis Cocker’s debut solo album? • All of the above?

  3. Heavy Air vs Heavy Weather • Heavy Air • Boat may need adjustment • Course can be maintained • Heavy Weather • Crew must take evasive action for safety • Conditions dictate the action

  4. Frequency / Likelihood • Circumnavigators experience Gale Force conditions < 1% of the time • Rogue Waves • can occur where even a single wave can be much higher than average wave height (even 2x) • Cruising vs Racing • When cruising, the purpose is to make a smart seamanlike passage with the minimum of wear and tear on the ship and the crew K Adlard Coles

  5. Heavy Weather Conditions • Combination of Conditions • Wind Conditions • Rough, Confused Sea • Large Waves • Breaking Waves • Sudden Wind Shifts • Rain / Spray / Snow / Reduced Visibility • Other Nasty Weather Conditions

  6. Windscales • Near Gale (Force 7) • Avg Wind Velocity 28- 33 knots • Avg Wave Heights 13.5– 19feet • Gale (Force 8) • Avg Wind Velocity 34 - 40 knots • Avg Wave Heights 18 – 25 feet • Strong Gale (Force 9) • Avg Wind Velocity 41- 47 knots • Avg Wave Heights 23– 32 feet • Max wave heights may be 2x Avg • Gusts may be much higher • Lower force might be considered Heavy Weather

  7. Be Prepared For local Conditions • Pay Attention to the Weather • Wait for weather window for passage • Know what’s headed your way • Know What to Expect Locally • Atlas of Pilot Charts / Local Publications • Average windspeed, directions and wave heights for time of year • Tides & Currents in Area

  8. Be Prepared Below Deck • Make galley shipshape • Utensils & provisions • Stow all articles in Nav Station • Check the bilge pump is clear • Check floorboards, lockers, fridge • Ensure batteries are locked down • Have quick, high energy food and drink readily available. • Put up leecloths on bunks

  9. Be Prepared Crew • Chart current position • Make current log entry • Note barometer reading • Note sea room • Take seasickness meds 1 hour before • Remind crew of location of flares, fire extinguishers, flares etc. • Prepare flashlights • Check ditch bag • Don foul weather gear • Don PFD and safety harness • Keep eating and drinking

  10. Be Prepared Above • Hoist / Check Radar Reflector • Stow or lash everything loose properly • Any thing that can move will move • Tools, Winch Handles, Bimini, jerry cans • Poles etc • Check Dinghy Lashing • Check Jacklines • Shut all hatches • Ventilators to leeward • Close Engine Vents • Plug Hawse pipe • Lash Anchor • Make sure fog horn is accessible

  11. Be Prepared Above • Close fuel cocks • Check cockpit lockers • Check cockpit drains are open • Close all seacocks • Prepare stormsails for use • Consider closing companionway hatch • Prepare warps for streaming • Prepare drogues / sea anchor • Check manual bilge pump / bailer

  12. Heavy Weather Tactics • Reduce Sail • Employ Tactics Early On • Golden Rules (Beth Leonard) • Avoid Breaking Waves • Avoid taking seas beam-on • Either bow-to or stern-to is better • Balance boat for wind angle • Prepare a variety of Tactics • Avoid Fatigue

  13. Sail Plan - Inventory • Mainsails • Reefs in Main • Roller Reefing in Mast • Roller Reefing in Boom • Separate track in mast for storm trysail • Headsails • Storm Jib • Roller Reefing Jib (as opposed to furling) • Foresails • Storm staysail on (demountable?) forestay • High cut to avoid deck wash • Mizzen Sails ?

  14. Heavy Weather Tactics • Heaving – To – slick of calm to windward • Reef main for conditions • Backwind jib sized 80-100% of fore-triangle • Helm lashed to head to 40-60 deg off apparent wind • Balance to make only leeway (~ 1-3knots) • Forereaching • Heave-to equivalent for multi-hull or modern fin keel monohull • main with 1 extra reef, or trysail in high wind • Helm lashed close-hauled • Find balance on helm to make slow jogs back and forth to wind • Slow headway towards destination • With large waves heave-to / forereaching may need to be reconsidered as bow gets pushed off wind leaving yacht beam-to the wave train.

  15. Heavy Weather Tactics • Lying Ahull – slick to windward • Beam-to waves helm lashed to tend bow up to wind • Bare Poles • Cats only! • Not for single hulls as they could roll

  16. Heavy Weather Tactics • Scudding / Running • Bare Poles or • stabilizing flat staysail helps keep stern into the wind • Need to reduce speed if yacht starts surfing • Trailing Warps • Sea Anchors • Drogues

  17. Heavy Weather Tactics • Practice Makes Perfect • Need to select appropriate tactics and practice deploying them

  18. Closing Thought • “Whatever decision you may make, if you get into trouble, you may be sure that someone who was not there will come up with something you should have done.” John F. Wison, ‘Heavy Weather Guide’

  19. References • The Voyageur’s Handbook – Beth Leonard • The International Marine Book of Sailing – Robby Robinson • Heavy Weather Sailing – K. Adlard Coles • Videos - You Tube

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