Oyster Yacht in Storm Video

[neilpride]

This is more than F9 in my eyes, I mean a F7 or F8 is not big deal in the open, those conditions are more likely f10 or f11...

[SaltyMonkey]

Yeah its hard to get perspective when there is nothing in the field that gives you a measurement aid. The wave could be 1 ft high or 100. Unless there something floating which we can reference, it could be anything.

[Palarran]

I still think the camera exaggerates less than the sailor. Me included because I way overstated wave heights once and then upon reflection and review of the videos determined the waves to be around half what I thought.

Though this boat isn't sailing the video is probably the most impressive I've seen of wicked conditions on a small boat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-svmgOxqw

[Hoosiersailor]

Great video!! Thanks for posting.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

Nice boat though indeed. Always wanted to be on Kenomac's boat going around and around and around backwards and forwards with him on it or knot. WHEEEEEEEEE! Now I know what it's like.

Monkey Man,

It was definitely an "E" ticket ride! Did you have fun?

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Here's the North Sea in an F9:

and to make it even more fun there's large area's all over that are as little as knee deep LW on a calm day..

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by boatman61

and to make it even more fun there's large area's all over that are as little as knee deep LW on a calm day..

I bet you've got some stories to tell. Any videos to share?

[Panope]

Ken: Nice video. Thanks for sharing.

All: Seems to me that the best method for estimating wave height at sea is to position ones eye (or camera lens) at the height at which the wave tops JUST meet the distant horizon when the boat is in the troughs. Wave height will then be roughly equal to the camera height above water line. Boat pitching or plunging may make the above inaccurate so the best position for the eye (or camera) is probably amidships.

A video camera is probably the best tool for the above analysis as one can review the data later, and in a relaxed state of mind.

In the video below, the camera is consistently at about 6 feet above waterline. A few of the waves just block the horizon, with the one at 0:34 being the most prominent. I estimate this wave train at 4 to 6 feet.

Steve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLrz24IMw1U

[svmariane]

Wow. What a ride. Really great vid. Those visuals plus that particular music together... Well, "joie de vivre" comes to mind.

And especially at approx 2:30 - 2:50 ......... I could almost FEEL the boat dancing over those waves!

Thank you for posting this.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by svmariane

Wow. What a ride. Really great vid. Those visuals plus that particular music together... Well, "joie de vivre" comes to mind.

And especially at approx 2:30 - 2:50 ......... I could almost FEEL the boat dancing over those waves!

Thank you for posting this.

Thanks so much for the nice compliment.

Ken

[Exile]

Really interesting Ken -- the Oyster in big seas and the velodrome. I take it the velo bikes are similar to time trial bikes?

Pammymac looks so calm -- made me wonder what conditions it would take to get her riled up??

[sailnow2011]

companionway open in bad seas? hmmmm....

[Exile]

Just watched Ken's video again on my big screen -- outstanding! Gave it a thumbs up and put it into my youTube fav file.

Seemed like the wind & boat speed instruments over the companionway weren't working properly, but it certainly looked like the boat was carrying good speed through the water, especially with so little sail up. In hindsight, do you think it would have been preferable to fly the staysail only on that point of sail, assuming the furling gear had been OK? How'd the helm feel with that much wind and just some mainsail up? Didn't look you were struggling.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Exile

Just watched Ken's video again on my big screen -- outstanding! Gave it a thumbs up and put it into my youTube fav file.

Seemed like the wind & boat speed instruments over the companionway weren't working properly, but it certainly looked like the boat was carrying good speed through the water, especially with so little sail up. In hindsight, do you think it would have been preferable to fly the staysail only on that point of sail, assuming the furling gear had been OK? How'd the helm feel with that much wind and just some mainsail up? Didn't look you were struggling.

Our hull speed is 9 knots and we were making a steady 7.5-8 knots as I recall, so no need for any more or less sail. The ride was comfortable, not unpleasant, probably just about the right amount of heel. If the staysail furling line was 100% operational and not missing a very key 1 foot of cover where it passes through a block, we probably would have just flown the staysail, but... using only the less than 25% main worked out just fine, the helm was well balanced. Heading into the wind our boat definitely requires the jib, but on that point of sail, we were fine. The cockpit instruments are working well except for the knot meter which I never clean. We use GPS for speed. Our wind speed indicator is very accurate, I've compared it to my hand held many times.

If I was able to do this over again, the one thing I would have changed is the clothing I was wearing.... I was freezing after 8 hours in the wet hoody.

Next time... I'll wear my light weight wetsuit.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by sailnow2011

companionway open in bad seas? hmmmm....

We never felt in danger of taking on any water, plus the companionway is much higher off the waterline on our center cockpit than on an aft cockpit boat. Surely, if the conditions had worsened and we began taking more water over the bow or at risk of taking a breaking wave onto the stern, the companionway door would have been in place. We were mostly surfing down the swells at a 45 degree angle, and easily coming up over the waves.