Broaching and Rolling with Dismasting

[maxingout]

I found this series of pictures on the web today that show a classic step by step broaching and rollover in a breaking sea. It's relatively rare to find a series of photos that give a stop action view of the seas rolling a yacht.

Check out this series of photos: http://photos.sfsurvey.com/sail1/imagepages/image1.asp

You will not be disappointed. These photos should forever convince you that breaking seas are your enemy. I am wondering if he had been dragging a Jordan Series Drogue if the outcome would have been different?

Cheers,

[slomotion]

Frightening. And, it doesn't take waves that big if they are breaking. The only time I have ever been really scared on a sailboat was off the eastern tip of Long Island on a broad reach in 25 knots of wind, reefed main and 1/2 genoa. I was sailing a Hunter 34 and the seas were only about 4 feet, but they were short wave length, steep faced, confused, and breaking. The conditions developed suddenly (or maybe we weren't paying attention) - At one point we had waves breaking over the starboard bow and the port quarter at the same time. Couldn't think what to do except fight to maintain course and close the companion way. The boat pitched and rolled its way through just fine, but the crew was shaken. We decided to sail to Rhode island instead of returning to Connecticut through the sound.

[TaoJones]

. . . that explains how it happened.SURFERS TO THE LEFT, SURFERS TO THE RIGHT

Originally Posted by maxingout

I am wondering if he had been dragging a Jordan Series Drogue if the outcome would have been different?

Perhaps if he had been out to sea, and the conditions built up over time, maxingout, the Jordan drogue would have been able to save him, but in this instance, I doubt it. He was just returning into SF Bay and was thinking about other things when it happened.

Thanks for posting the neat slide show.

TaoJones

[roverhi]

Normally you can take the south, shore side channel of the Golden Gate Bridge. This was one of those days when you couldn't unless you did everything perfectly.

The seas weren't all that large but were large enough to roll the boat. I've been in a similar condition and they are very decieving. From behind, you don't see that the waves are breaking. You think it's just a little swell and not a problem. Suddenly you are playing surfer and going 'holy ****', where did that come from. I was lucky, can't say it was my superior helmsmanship, and surfed out the bottom and out of danger.

It is a dramatic series of photos.

Aloha
Peter O.

[Tropic Cat]

I grew up in Connecticut and can't tell you how many times I transited 'the race' at exactly the wrong time.

Those memories last a lifetime

Rick in Florida

[mudnut]

That guy was off course anyway,unless he was trying to surf her up.The breaking sea's were practicly waves breaking on shore.Not at sea.Great pics,and probably be similar at sea.Mudnut.

[mike d.]

first you say it!!!!! then you do it !!!!! they are lucky to be alive!

[Alan Wheeler]

If you guy's do a search, you will find this very article in the depths here when it actually happend. There is detailed explanation as to why, how and what happend in the posts back then. Apparently if my memory is correct, the guy had his wee daughter inside.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by Alan Wheeler

Apparently if my memory is correct, the guy had his wee daughter inside.

The incident with the sailor and his 2-yr-old daughter was a separate, unrelated incident. I don't have the link handy, but there is a video of the rollover that includes a rescue attempt by a powerboat that is also capsized. A helicopter rescues the powerboat crew while the dismasted sailboat drifts into calmer waters.

[TaoJones]

. . . because my memory of the San Francisco Bay incident from April of 2005 was that the two male crew were the only ones aboard the Santana 22. Any account I've ever read never mentioned a child down below, and all said that the crew were saved.

I followed Wheels advice to search this Forum, but got nothing, so your post has preserved my sanity.

TaoJones

[Alan Wheeler]

OK, looks like I should be trusting my memory with a sideway's glance from now on.
I am not sure why some things seem to have disapeared from the achives. I may have been during the original shift that soem of the older stuff got packed in boxes but never made it to the moving truck.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by Alan Wheeler

OK, looks like I should be trusting my memory with a sideway's glance from now on.

Not to worry. My memory is completely shot, too. I can't for the life of me remember where I found that video of the man with his daughter inside as the boat was rolled. It would have been a great addition to this thread. Watching how easy that boat went over was pretty scary. Hopefully one of the readers in this forum will have saved the link somewhere.

[delmarrey]

I was searching the archives yesterday for over an hour and couldn't find it either. It think it got lost when the servers were changed over. There's other stuff missing as well.
But yeah! There were just two guys in the boat. It was posted back in early April of 05 and was first seen on onpassage.com............................._/)

[delmarrey]

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ures-1710.html

And actual comments from the crew........
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/9392-post22.html

[rebel heart]

I broached once in San Diego harbor in my old Ericson 32. Totally freaked me out. Didn't lose the mast or roll over, but someone saw the keel come out of the water and my boom was wet. She recovered nicely. Rounded up into the wind, and slammed back upright again.

Man, that freaked me out big time.