Offshore to the Caribbean: The Heavy Winds Cometh
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- On Thursday, November 22, the winds are veering northerly and beginning to build. Hopes of avoiding gale conditions fade by Friday evening, and I end up heaving her to for several hours during the overnight as we get buffeted by powerful squalls. The strong winds continue into Sunday, making for a three-day stretch of heavy weather.
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MUSIC: La-di-da Land--Kevin Boothby
Hi, self steering in those conditions is marvelous and its when you need it most, well done 👏thanks
She's a great heavey weather vessel and a good handler onboard, skipper
Kevin, I listen to and watch your videos while I'm out riding my bike. I enjoy your use of proper sail terminology as it is an excellent teaching tool as I am only yet a dinghy sailor. But it feels like I'm out there on the high seas with you anyway as I ride my bike. I don't even have to watch the video, just hearing you discuss your various predicaments and how you're dealing with them is excellent for bike riding and sailing a boat of course as well. So thank you and fair winds.
You are Tuff. i have learned more from you than anyone. The best sailing channel.
Kevin keeping it real! “Everything is ok. The boat’s fine. We’re just not having any fun”. Yup, It’s not all margaritas. Well done, man. That’s as real as it can be.
Lol, no, it's not all margaritas!
Love your videos.. no music covering the sound of the sea👍👍⛵️⚓️
I don't think I would want to do 3 days of heavy seas alone. It has to be tough physically, mentally and sleep wise. Three days of being beat up doesn't sound like fun. Good job Skipper. TY MH
You are the sailingest person on RUclips! I enjoy your videos! Stay safe out there!
Took me over a year to find you. Best sailing videos I have seen
I felt like I was there riding those waves. Impressive.
You are a very brave man but you also have a very sound boat to carry you through. Good sailing.
Nothing better after three days on the water to come home and watch the 'sailor's sailor' Cap'n Boothby! That looked like a very uncomfortable sea state. Look forward to the next episode Kevin.
Thanks mate. I trust your time one the water was a little smoother than mine ...
Sailing, such a life❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉
I can relate...same conditions on the way to Bermuda in May if 2004. Gale conditions , waves into the cockpit and wind just howling!! Eventually got into St. George but it was miserable sail to get there :) Great channel !! Really respect you for sailing with no engine..don't think I've got the strength to do that !!!!
I concur. no motor not me. But this guy, he is another level.
Well Kevin I understand the harness being a pain while working on deck, but like they say you don’t need it until you need it. Offshore alone is no place for shortcuts mate but we all make our choices. Safe travels.
Love the non-narrated, life of sailing vignettes like in the galley - really shows the glamour of cruising :-) and the dip-the-rail ring-the-bell dance was fun
You earned it on this one, Boothby. Happy Sailing⛵
No Bullshit this like the Norwegian, just sailing.. Love the sound of the ships bell ...
Loved it, had to watch it 2 times....
Me too@@PaulusPHM
I love the bell. She seems to chime in on cue during your update. I will be getting a broach bell for my ocean cruiser!
... great seamanship and excellent video, but pushing your luck solo sailing without the safety gear
Good comment. Until the seas are built up in rough weather I always tow a 200 foot floating line as I feel better able to jump about the deck, free of a harness. That floating line is lashed fist to a light line that will break, in a byte, and then to the tiller. If I went over board, me grabbing it would break the light line and then pull the tiller hard over, stalling the boat. Once the seas build to the point the deck is not safe you have to wear a harness, and of course at night when anything could come out of the dark. I was watching Kev in the video, thinking the same thing as you. But I am sure he knows his limits.
With consideration......I challenge anyone to jump overboard with safety gear and/or using a following line in benign conditions and attempt to re-board....now try it in squall conditions..unless with crew nought on impossible...so either way (harness/no harness) your probably dead. Different story with crew. Best safety advice is don't leave the cockpit when solo-ing, set the boat up so as there is no need to go forward.
Edit: interesting story here on yt, about a tri I think. Solo sailing between the States and Japan if I recall, they found the boat with tether attached but cut through. They think he could not re-board so instead of getting dragged around the Pacific, well I think you all know what the next alternative was.
I am not advocating no safety gear just don't rely on it to save your life, better still, stay in the cockpit when solo-ing.
I had a number of older relatives who were fishermen none of whom could swim . I asked one why he didn’t learn to swim and the answer was if I go over the side I’m dead and being able to swim would only prolong the inevitable agony of freezing to death. Better to drown quickly and get it over with. I learned to swim. 😳
@@pearlyshells2430 "so either way (harness/no harness) your probably dead."
Except if you have set up your harness correctly, you will drift aft and remain dragging by the transom. Although I have no single-handing experience, I have done re-boarding exercises in calm sea states, and re-boarded twice at 7 knots with minimal exertion.
I was going to do it 3 times, but my shorts inverted during the 2nd, and I had 8 people watch me scramble on deck with all my tackle out.
I worked on Pacific Albacore/Rockcodding commercial boats in the late 70's and early 80's from Fish Harbor, Ca. Then Longline Swordfish off Africa from San Juan, Puerto Rico in early 90's. The skipper never learned to swim just like his father and grandfather who were Whalers and Swordfisherman off the Grand Banks on my last FV The Miss Millie because the object was to stay on-board he said. I was told by Tom Spittle who owned the "Top Gun" which we were the "Highliners" of the Fleet that year for Albie's " A Boat is like a boxing ring! It has a rail all the way around it! Everything inside her is Hard and Fast and will hurt You. The object is to NOT get Knocked out of the Ring!"
As a "Fisher" in my late 50's who was a Sea Explorer and loved O.C.C. Sailing Courses in Newport Beach I'm now shopping for a Seaworthy 30' with a Tiller.
I love this Channel it stirs up emotions in me. Like Hurricane Gloria ⚓👍⛵
Great video of rough weather sailing!
You inspired me to get a gaff rigged boat of my own.
I'm up near the Sassafras River on the eastern shore..fellow Chesapeake sailor.
Thanks again for the great content.
Gotta love the Bay, though I was just thinking that I have not been to the eastern shore since I first launched the boat back in 2001.
My jib sheets used to hang up frequently on either the lip of the forward hatch or sometimes on the mast halyard winches or cleats when singlehanded tacking or jibing so I have run a taught 3/16” line from the deck level base of the bow pulpit (port and starboard side) to approximately 6 ft height on the mast. The height and forward slope of this line keeps the lazy sheet off the deck and forward of the hatch and the winches and cleats on the mast so only very rarely do I need to go forward to clear a fouled jib sheet.
I really liked the end music with the waves rolling. The jibe seemed pretty straightforward as you explained it but it looks like your experience with her handling has a lot to do with making it look smooth. Great video!
You make it look easy
Glad you commented on the use of a safety harness
Just stunning. That video is hard to put into words, Talk about testing yourself.
Ruth Avery must be very well built, the diameter of the mast looks larger than most boats of that size ?
Okay! I know it was not your intention but after watching this video there will be another bermudan rig in my future though I confess that the beauty of a gaff rigged ketch is a thing of beauty.
"....just not having any fun", indeed !! You are THE (sailor) MAN, for sure. Vid had me on edge o seat. As always; instructive and informative as well as entertaining.
Fair(er) winds to ya
You da man Kevin! Seriously rough passage, great seamanship.
I love your concise and clear explanation of your movements. Thanks for the filming of these maneuvers. I have solo sailed in coast, but have learned enough that I am planning a short off shore solo sail thanks to your tutorials. Merry Christmas!
Fair winds and Merry Christmas to you!
i just noticed that yours is the only sailing channel that i have watched all? episodes of, tks for the entertainment and instruction, Bob
Excellent video, Kevin!
Bell rings when you said "fun" as if to say "I am".....she's sailing to her design...tough little ship.
I think it is the boat saying " Its ok, we got this!"
Excelente trabajo!!!
Sailing is the destination! However, those running back stays make for a lot of work. Pretty boat and a great sailor. I’d wish you fair winds and following seas, but I can sea it’s too late for that! Hope the weather laid down for you and great vid to show the rigors of a passage.
Nice vid. As you said, you should be wearing a harness.
Beautiful sailing i enjoy watching your skills in action. Cheers
Rough looking indeed. First time I've heard the ships bell ring.
As always. Well done!
Yes life vest and harness.
Nice sailing.......
Like the sound track ....nice job.
Hey, hey - sailing solo in the real world - as Bay Street put it - "just stunning' Cheers, FWAFS BB
That episode could be so much longer. Still, good stuff!
Looks great..
Great video thanks. On my gaff cutter I can't do the main sheet and runner together like that, she's too big. Fair winds Jerry
Well, then you probably have more living space ...
How to Sail Oceans Yes indeed, its full of stuff though as usual..
You should wear safety harness!
Wow! Thanks for sharing Kevin. Would love to hear about how you get rest and fed in that kind of weather on your own.
Thanks for my new diet video Kevin. Mal de Mer in spades just watching your video.
Whew. You have earned a great deal of respect carrying on like that. When you were overtired, did you hear a flight of
Grumman Avengers droning over? (It IS the Bermuda Triangle, ya know).
Flight 19!
No, no ghost squadrons from WWII, I just saw a lot of ocean, the occasional passing ship, some dolphins, a Minke whale, and birds. I trust the mal de mer passed after the video ended?
Uhhh ohhh I would have heaved to a bit... But I am seasick just watching. You ARE tough and so skilled.
Very well done!!!
9:09 now that's sailing!
Definitely an E-Ticket ride, when it heels over for enough to ring the bell I would want to take up hiking for awhile . Lol 😂 !
Brutal......Been there....no fun, but really makes you appreciate the calm anchorage at the end!
The perilous passage maketh the port pleasant ..
Nice music,
Awesome to see how you manage the running backstays! You certainly have your boat rigged for proper single handing.
That was a rough stretch, and you handled it well, but as Charles Paton said, safety gear is always a must, because, as I am sure you are aware, if you fall overboard it's over.
How about a vid on heaving to?
In the cue ...
Awesome thanks Kevin
I am binge watching all your videos first to last. As an inland trailer sailor, this is something new to me. I am thoroughly enjoying watching a real sailor doing it the old way. This is the first video where I have heard your ships bell ring because of conditions. For what reasons would you sound your bell? Keep up the good work...Ken, Macgregor M 19 Powersailer
I rarely sound the bell. By law you are supposed to have a bell and there are bell signals for if you are aground, etc. It's mostly decoration though.
Sounds like your handling the heavy weather and still making a little headway. Stay safe and out of the water.
Cricky..no fun there..
Amazin vid work Kevin, plus I really could get into that cool rif you ended it up playing your guitar man ,BEST !
Hey! You have invented a new way to steer a boat: looking backwards instead of forward! But of course we could not miss your face... (:-)
Lol ...
What a wild ride! Thanks for the video. Dave & Linda M/S Olivebank S/V Banyanda
Great channel. I am even from a land locked state and a land dwelling Army Soldier.
Can you tell us in your vids how you do your sails in heavier winds? When do you reef? When do you run the jib only? When do you run the main only?
Yes, I could do a vid on that. Sail combinations are particular to each boat, but you are always shortening down when the wind pipes up. Thanks for watching.
Hi Kevin, I'd appreciate this one too. Thank so much for all you videos... I'm almost done binge watching!
Another great video Kevin. Stay safe Brother.
Shit weather but the boat doesn't seem to mind. The ride didn't look too bad.
Had to get my Dramamine out....nice ride mate! True sailing.
Enjoyed it! Tough conditions!
Very interesting report on ship handling in all weather. Seems pretty normal for this time of year until you get to lower latitudes. Take care,
Yes, it is, that's why it's important to push south as fast as you can sail.
Kevin I understand completely. You have to balance hurricane season with winter winds. But I feel your doing the best! Good job! Tom
Kevin, How about having a light polypropolene yellow, floating, line a hundred feet or so long tied to the stern. Rig the line so if you give it a sharp tug it would trip the steering vane out of gear. When you must go forward to work in interesting condtions with no safety harness, heave the line over the stern. Should you go over you would at least stand a chance of grabbing the line disengaging the vane and allowing the vessel to round up so you could possibly get back on board.
I recall Pardey mentioning that in his chapter on self-steering windvanes, and then concluding that it is best just to stay on the boat. Yes, that might give you a fighting chance if you should fall over, so would a harness.
Kevin great camera work in heavy sea s you keep recording while others don’t I love the way your boat handles the heavy weather can I ask your opinon on a sailboat I’ve been looking at what’s your take on a 1984 32 union cutter there’s not a lot of info about them but I thought a seasoned sailor such as yourself may have heard of them thanks mate stay safe
No, had not heard of them, but a quick internet search and I see that they are quite similar to the Hans Christian yachts. From what I know about Hans Christians, they are solidly built and seaworthy though on the slow side when it comes to sailing.
I don't know Kevin. I agree a harness can get in the way or rather, can be cumbersome and inconvenient but all it takes is a couple of seconds and you're overboard.
For some reason I always seem to enjoy videos of other people getting their asses kicked by weather in sailboats. Not sure what that says about me. Thanks for the explanation of how you manage the running backstays. So basically it IS more to manage, but by doing things a particular way and in sequence, it becomes more or less a non event.
What camera do you use? I notice your lav mic cuts does a good job of not picking up wind noise.
We use a GoPro but can’t seem to connect our lav mic to it while also keeping it waterproof.
Hello ---- i'm about ready to start a circumnav on my westsail that i've been prepping over the past 2 years - my question to you is what method do you use to hove to . do you use a bridal off the bow attached to the rear of the boat and a para anchor somewhere in the correct position to achieve your hove to angle to the waves ? -- thnx - good lucks
Kevin, how do you lift the tender on and off the foredeck?
Hi Richard, I use the jib halyard for that. One line is the painter, and two lines forming a bridle attached on either side of the transom. But I still have to turn it upside down by hand ..
Harness. Harness. Harness. Once overboard is one too many. Do you trail a knotted floating line?
No I do not. I doubt at anything over four knots I would be able to pull myself back aboard.
Why is a jive verses a tack seem more difficult when it's the same thing but in reverse?
Controlling that boom swinging across when gybing is much more difficult than with tacking. In strong winds, if not controlled, it can break things, like the boom.
Soldiering on
This great to watch, all your videos are fantastic, it's just amazing how you handle whatever comes.
While heaving too presumably you close up the companionway and stay below?
Generally I will close the companionway only with a slat or two, since when hove-to she usually has the wind slightly forward of the beam, so the spray does not come down the hatch. I always like to have the companionway at least partly open so I can keep an eye on things topside from below.
So you deal with the near gale winds, what about the 12ft seas that go with that.
You deal with that, too.
How about food planning? Do you improvise your meals day by day or do you have some kind of a schedule/list of what to eat each day, made in advance, to keep you going?
Once the fresh stuff runs out (after 4 or 5 days), it's cans and boxes. Generally at sea I will have breakfast (eggs, mostly), then one meal during the daytime, typically after doing my noontime log entry. Obviously in rough weather meals are reduced to one step, typically something out of a can.
Tough passage Kevin. Expertly handled as usual. That's a lot of work to gybe. Makes me appreciate the absence of running backstays on my boat and being able to do all from the cockpit. There are some advantages to having a plastic boat. :-) Fair winds my friend.
Yes, newer boats are generally much easier to manage, faster too. Enjoy the holidays and have fun planning your passage to Iceland!
Ride’m cowboy!!! Nice job Kevin. I’m looking at doing some solo sailing soon and wonder how one manages their sleep schedule, and what you do to prevent fatigue from lack of sleep, especially when conditions present them themselves like what you were going through for a few days. Maybe you could discuss that in one of your upcoming videos. Thx and fair winds.
I discussed that in my very first series of videos, the passage from Puerto Rico to the Chesapeake, but it could use an update. Basically, once safely offshore, I will sleep several hours at a time, mostly during the night. I manage to get enough sleep so that I am otherwise alert and can function.
Thx for the reply, I’ll check it out
Woof! ...right, so,.. a good illustration of how a boat gets chucked about, and the forces involved. Good to know, considering my potentially "spindly" boat. I'm definitely feelin' the need to beef up all my scantlings. Oh yeah....
Aloha! :) 🤙
Your boat has all these interesting details. just noticed the ship's bell hanging on the port side of the boomkin, is that the correct term?
It's hanging from the boom gallows ...
Would you mind moving my boat with me across the Atlantic
We do the same, but why disengage the self steering?
Makes it much easier to manage 😉
I have to disengage the vane for a gybe--not like with the Aries where you could adjust the paddle with those ratchet pawls and bring her around.
How to Sail Oceans thanks for your reply, we use a monitor. It took a whole week to figure out how to use it, but once we got it, she took us all the way to Australia from British Columbia 😉
You are one with the boat. Your videos are the best. Thanks.
Have you considered a dodger? Would it be beneficial?
Yes, a dodger would help, but I haven't figured out how to rig one with the boom gallows being right over the companionway.
You argued against harness. Hm...toppling over can happen to the best.
That is true.
Looking a bit sporty there Kevin.
You give a good detail description of wind speeds you had to deal with etc, but wondering what speed through the water do you get in such rough conditions, I believe the speed of any boat is limited by its overall length but does that still apply in extra strong winds?
Hi Richard, once I get more than about 10 knots of wind apparent, and if the wind is aft of 70 degrees or so, she's around 80% of hull speed (about 6.5 knots). So generally, with a good breeze, I'm doing 5.5 - 6 knots. Close hauled that drops to about 4 - 4.5. Yes, cruising boats are limited by the distance between the wave crests of the waves they make--they travel at the speed of such a wave. Nowadays, however, racing monohulls can plane--check out Alex Thomson racing--can even get up on lee foils and do better than 30 knots.
Awesome video. Really nerve racking watching this. When you said you had to “heave to” I thought you were referring to losing your lunch. But being a beginner sailor myself, I decided to look it up and, lo and behold, it meant something completely different. When you’re tilted so far over in weather like this, do you ever worry about getting knocked over and capsizing? What are the odds of that happening and how do you prevent it (aside from being an incredible sailor)?
A properly ballasted boat will not capsize. However, if the waves get big they can roll her quite far. While she will right herself again, you can take on quite a bit of water in the process, lose things overboard, etc.
Great video...quick question on the running backstays; can they be fastened further aft, near the transom? Looks like the boom rubbing against them is pushing out on the lifelines... I see a loose lifeline stanchion on your starboard side, maybe as a result of the main pressing on the life line? Not being picky, I'd just hate to see a lifeline/ stanchion fail as you don't wear a harness...thanks for you answer in advance!
One of the stanchions is slightly bent, but they are not loose. You could rig them a little further aft, but you don't want them so far aft that the slackened runner might hook itself on the end of the boom, and need a lot of running to move it forward on the lee side when you let the main out. Hope that makes sense.
@@howtosailoceans1423 Ok got it, thanks!
Thanks for sharing. Great video. I understand a harness is a hassle and in the way. So, basically if you do go overboard, no life jacket, no epirb.... you are gone?
Yep.
@@howtosailoceans1423 Ok. Thanks for replying. Be safe.
The clip @ 8:03 ... How many ~knows~ knots were you doing? It looks like you were pouring the coals to her!
Probably around 6 or so
No belt / So you think that you can swim fast enough to catch the boat ?
Nope, not a chance.
🙂👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Hey Kevin, great video! Thanks. Can I ask? How many square ft is your main sail?
I have forgotten! I think it's around 330 sq. ft ...
@@howtosailoceans1423 Thanks!
Why not have two preventers, port & starboard?
More ropes to tangle, I guess, I just re-rig it each time.