Crew of SV 'Elle' Abandon Ship

[sabray]

Apparanley a crew of 3 from sv spring moon has also been picked up 500 miles sw off Bermuda . That's 3 boats since October 29

[zeehag]

geeziz.i have 2 friends sailing different boats out there in that crappy weather-- a lady captain and a fella. pray for em.

Stormpulse / Hurricanes, severe weather, tracking, mapping

[YADO]

The link to the full story is posted below, a link which includes a picture of the rescue and worth reading. Boat looks to be a Beneteau.
Sounds like the conditions were intolerable and difficult for the crew:

Oleander in high-seas rescue | Bermuda News

[YADO]

This is even better, or worse, depending how you look at it. I don't have time to digest the data but it looks like the weather played havoc with the NARC rally.

Sail-World.com : Gale force winds play havoc with sun-seeking rallies

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by hpeer

Recent copy of Wooden Boat has an article on how to heave to. In it they suggest using a drogue off the bow if the boat won't heave to otherwise.

I have run up a small hanked on sail onto my back stay to get her to point up better. But I don't know what I'm doing.

OK, sorta mixed technique between laying (spelling?) to a sea anchor and heaving to. But in such a case and having a sea anchor onboard I would simply use the sea anchor in its proper way and forget about heaving too.

b.

[barnakiel]

That's one of the obvious dangers of any rally - people go because the event starts.

Similar thing happened a couple of years ago to ARC - the rally went even though there was a mean looking system approaching.

b.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Not all boats heave too well. Some will not, even with proper steering.

What was the boat anyway?

b.

? for me? This boat was a passport 47. tried staysl with various reefed main. main alone with helm hard alee. I thnk the Pardey's go into some heaving to tactics involving a block and tackle attached to stem and stern...not sure if I'm remembering that right. But proper heaving to has been elusive for me in my various boats, even in flat water. With big waves like the hatteras situation, even if the bow comes up, the big seas push it down. The boats that hove to well are designs that have gone by the wayside, long keel, full forefoot included. (JMHO)

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by sabray

Apparanley a crew of 3 from sv spring moon has also been picked up 500 miles sw off Bermuda . That's 3 boats since October 29

Yep, it was within a week of this time of year that the above Hatteras experience occurred also!

[DeepFrz]

And the boat "Riot" lost its steering and was towed in to Bermuda.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

? for me? This boat was a passport 47. tried staysl with various reefed main. main alone with helm hard alee. I thnk the Pardey's go into some heaving to tactics involving a block and tackle attached to stem and stern...not sure if I'm remembering that right. But proper heaving to has been elusive for me in my various boats, even in flat water. With big waves like the hatteras situation, even if the bow comes up, the big seas push it down. The boats that hove to well are designs that have gone by the wayside, long keel, full forefoot included. (JMHO)

Correct-o-mundo. The fact is if you want a rest in a nice regular sea you can get most designs to heave to , sorta. Most fin keels lie almost abeam which is far too dangerous.

As a survival tactic with these types of boats in high winds and big confused seas. You find they simply tack or gybe and sail off uncontrollably. Active techniques are needed. Dashew has written quite a bit about this and doesn't support heaving too

[zeehag]

"The boats that hove to well are designs that have gone by the wayside, long keel, full forefoot included. (JMHO)"


the boats that heave to well have not gone away--they are called garden designed ketches,and come in many sizes..they are just not popular with the light boat racey set.

[barnakiel]

From the reports, the weather was bad but not irregular. Too bad they had some sort of steering failure that could not be addressed with the means at hand.

Glad to hear all ended up OK for the crew.

BTW looking across the pond, plenty of drama and abandonments in the VOR and TJV fleets - strong boats, good sailors, and yet.

b.