Video of Lite Australian Chop :-)

[windsaloft]

12m would be about a 40' boat, which seems about right.
Ugly!

[shadow]

I would think that 12m stands for meters. Which means about 39 to 40 feet. I could be wrong but it looks like about that size.

[Knowazark]

Ooooooooo don't you just love that corkscrew motion!!! That would have everyone running for the canned peaches*

I was thinking that some additional forward speed from a little bit more sail might be an advantage, particularly at the top of the wave where it looks like she's getting close to dropping below steerage speed. Then again, trailing a drogue or even a couple of lengths of rope would help to keep the aft end under control. Maybe a bit of both.



* Canned peaches are the best food for seasickness - they don't stop seasickness, but they taste just as good coming back as they did on the way down.

[Hampus]

The History of the 12M Yacht

This is the history of the boat in the film. The 12mR is not the length, but a design rule and the yachts are between 19-22 metres long. 22 metres is 72 feet. Anita, the yacht on the film is 21.57 metres long.

The R-yachts were originally built for racing and were (are) quite popular here in northern europe and Scandinavia. Take a look at the data here Daten der 12 mR Yacht and you'll see that the hull really isn't designed for the conditions on the film. They were built for racing in quite sheltered waters, where they are exceptional sailors, especially when you consider the fact that they were designed and built in the very early 1900's.

The formula for calculating the class rule can be found here. 12mR Yacht Trivia

/Hampus

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

No Idea where that is…but it looks like shallow water and opposing wind/tide.

That was also my guess. Looks sh#tty enough to be the North sea (or here).

[Islandmike]

It appears that his mizzen spreaders are ripped off?....that could be a problem!

[Northeaster]

It is worth a read of all the comments on youtube.

I have only been sailing for about 4 years, and have only been off-shore once, in about 15 + ft seas, for a day and a half. ( in a modern Beneteau 36.7)

There are many comments critizing the skipper, and adding what could have been done better, which is all fine and good.

From where I sit though, I think that the man steering that beautiful hundred year old, 72ft boat likely had alot more skill and experience than most of us (certainly myself), and I think he did a hell of a job. The seas must be somewhere between 30-50ft, as the boat is 72' long.

Many comments on youtube recommend a drogue, while others point out that you can see a drouge in the video, if you look closely.

Either way, I would say that skipper knows what he is doing. As someone else pointed out though, it wasn't designed for that type of weather.

It is funny to read all of the comments by people who failed to take the time to read previous comments (on Youtube)!! After it was clearly stated to be a 72' boat, many people judge it to be around 40', and therefore judge the seas accordingly, around 15' or so. Laughable!

[motion30]

Originally Posted by Pblais

I've seen stuff like this but a bit less crossing the mouth Potomac. It was 6 to 8 ft chop in 35 knots gusting to 40. The long fetch with a counter tide sets up this kind of pattern but a few feet less in height. Once we crossed the waves dropped 2 more feet and the 4 to 6 ft waves in the same wind were far easier. Even that isn't easy.

I have seen this at the mouth of the potomac as well, hey did you find a new dingy floating upside down around there??

[speciald@ocens.]

Needs more sail.

[Arch Stanton]

"Orkan" is German for hurricane, by the way.

[windsaloft]

Hampus - thanks for the explanation of the 12mR -- and WOW, if that yacht is 70-something feet, then WOW, the perspective really changes. As it always it, photos and videos never capture the true power of the ocean at any given level, esp as it worsens. THeir is this to be said -- the skipper of that boat obviously handled those conditions for awhile, and enough for someone to film him/her. ANd, as a success story, hats off. All boats handle differently, and we all learn, one way or another, what works. Or not.

[meanda46]

Just like Port Phillip Heads in Melbourne Australia in a southerly with a run out tide