Got caught unprepared in high winds again

[capn_billl]

I was sailing offshore full sail in light winds, <5kts.

And going nowhere fast. I idly thought of ways to increase sail area, but I knew thunderstorms were predicted, so I decided to stay put.

Then suddenly a 20kts gust came out of nowhere, and began ramping up.

I immediately released the jib sheets, and it began flogging like a madman, and the pressure on the main weathercocked me into irons..

I started an engine to get steerage, and forcibly furled the jib. (it took some cranking to get it in)

The main was now parallel to the wind, so I didn't worry about it except it was very gusty, and not always from the same direction.

I also noticed the sky was getting dark, and spits of rain, and crackle of thunder.

SO I dropped the main to the first reef, and let out half the jib, and went back to sailing. Gusty, but manageable, and put the electrodes in the water.

Then after half an hour the storm moved ahead of me, and toward shore where I could see heavy rain bands, and active lightening hitting the water.

Then after an hour the wind dropped back to 5 kts, the sun came back out, and it was all good again.

I guess just another typical sail.

[TheOffice]

Perhaps you should look to the west to look for approaching storms.

[LittleWing77]

Originally Posted by capn_billl

...full sail in light winds and going nowhere fast. I idly thought of ways to increase sail area, but I knew thunderstorms were predicted, so I decided to stay put.

Then suddenly a 20kts gust came out of nowhere, and began ramping up.

Originally Posted by TheOffice

Perhaps you should look to the west for approaching storms...

Increasingly, I think we'll be encountering situations like this with the trends toward unsettled weather that we're seeing because of global warming.

One thing I learned from the RYA is that a good skipper will always have a number of questions circulating in her head; one of which is "what are the approaching dangers?"

In this case, it was expected weather (you said T-storms were predicted). By their very nature, we never know precisely 'when' a thunderstorm - or the edge of such weather - will creep up on us.

Recently, I had a similar circumstance where I could see the black clouds - which seemed quite a ways off. It was the end of our sailing day and it was still roughly an hour to a safe harbour, so we furled the headsail, started the engine and motored at a higher RPM than usual. My goal was to be on the dock before the T-storms hit.

It was a close call. Just as we got her secured, the big splats of rain began; almost immediately afterwards, big gusts, thunder and lightning. I was SO grateful for my bit of forethought. Especially because the crew could see the black clouds, too. To them, however, the weather looked a long way off and was not something to be concerned about. All my battening-down-the-hatches requests seemed like overkill.

I think ultimately, Bill, you'll get a feel for this. Use a weather prediction service to estimate times when you'll encounter severe weather. (www.windy.com or www.predictwind.com). As that time approaches, heighten your weather-awareness. Did you not feel a drop in the air temperature just before the 20-knots-out-of-nowhere? Reef earlier (remember the sailor's maxim: "reef as soon as you think of it ").

In the case where the weather doesn't turn out as bad as predicted, you can easily shake out the reefs and continue, but when any severe weather is approaching, you always want to get out ahead of it.

Hope this is helpful,
Fair winds!
LittleWing77

[tkeithlu]

It sounds like you did a really good job keeping this in the learning experience realm and out of the 5:00 Eye Witness News. You had ways of dealing with it, and did. Congratulations.

Southwest Florida? The summer? Conditions are just about always ripe for convective thunderstorms. No front, just air boiling up and here it comes. Any time you see cummulus clouds building you can count on it.

[guyrj33]

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

It sounds like you did a really good job keeping this in the learning experience realm and out of the 5:00 Eye Witness News. You had ways of dealing with it, and did. Congratulations.

Southwest Florida? The summer? Conditions are just about always ripe for convective thunderstorms. No front, just air boiling up and here it comes. Any time you see cummulus clouds building you can count on it.

Sounds like a typical Gulf Coast afternoon.

[Wallaby]

If you are not monitoring the weather and water on a continuous basis, you probably should not be on the water.

Also, regularly check your VHF weather stations.

Buy a barometer--digital with a track is good.


Sh&t still happens. My personal story is here: https://www.raymarine.com/view/blog/...r-a-storm.html

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by LittleWing77

Increasingly, I think we'll be encountering situations like this with the trends toward unsettled weather that we're seeing because of global warming...................

Certainly, global warming is a serious threat to weather conditions and our survival on this precious earth; however, it's summer in Florida.

Sudden and short "pop-up" thunderstorms led with strong winds are the most common afternoon event in Florida during the summer throughout written history. They might come on fast, but if you are observant, you will always have a least fifteen or twenty minutes to prepare. 'just expect them!

[tilostahl]

Admittedly my experience in Florida is limited, but I remember distinctly that at 3:55 pm we would pack up our tools and go indoors, because at 4:00 pm the thunderstorm would hit. EVERY BLOODY DAY. So furl your sails at 3:55 and you'll be right, mate.

[landsend]

Remember back in the day roofing we had to have our jobs buttoned by 3 pm in anticipation of the 3:30 pm thunderstorms rolling in from the everglades.

Now they come rolling in whenever they want! Haven't the faintest idea why.....

[zstine]

first, a flogging sail is harder to furl then a controlled luff and it is bad for the sail. There is no situation where you ever want to flog the sail, unless you have equipment failure. the easiest way to furl is to turn downwind until the main begins to shadow the jib and then it is easy... even in 40+ knots. you should never use a winch to crank in a jib. the furling system is designed to operate with a few hundred pounds max. cranking in with a winch is a good way to break something and be in a lot bigger trouble! furling upwind in 20knts is usually possible by pinching up a little and easing the jib a little to get a gentle luff, furl a little, ease the sheet, repeat... pay attention to the weather and wind on the water so you have more warning, or perhaps invest in radar.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by TheOffice

Perhaps you should look to the west to look for approaching storms.

Keep an eye on the sky. I guess west is determined by location..

[capn_billl]

All good points, definitely a learning experience.

After this one passed by I saw the shoreline getting hammered, so this one just happened to pop up right above me. I was far enough out that the skies to the west were clear, but I could see a dark lie forming to the East.

I was far enough out that running for shore was not an option, and certainly I didn't want to risks ramming through a storm front.

[dadster3]

You need to learn how to read the sky. I've taken a couple of weather courses. All of them have been about fronts, lows, depressions, wind sheer yadda yadda yadda, all interesting if you could stay awake, but not much help in the moments leading up to a weather surprise. That said, I have not really had any luck finding a good course on reading the sky. Watched a webinar that came close but suffered from the same flaw of every webinar I have ever watched which is that the material is covered way too fast.

I did recently find a copy of Eric Sloan's Weather Book. If you are not familiar with Sloan's work you are missing a treat. He wrote a number of books on Americana, one of which was the WB. They are lavishly illustrated with Sloans own drawings. You might find some useful nuggets and have a delightful read in the process.

The on-line store for Wooden Boat magazine is where I got my copy.

[Tetepare]

Wind will first get sucked into a storm, then go dead, the blow from the storm. Wind alone is a good indicator of what’s coming.

Pop up storms can grow fast out of nowhere. That said, unless blocked from sight by land, they’re pretty obvious.

Local radar is a big help to see into the next 30 minutes, albeit with a 5 minute delay.

I’ve been surprised by the intensity of storms, but not the squall themselves. From the view inside my dry dodger, it’s clear from the common pandemonium that many don’t watch weather or know how to.

[roverhi]

Gulf sailing in the summer time is a constant dodging of thunder clouds. You have to keep an eye out for them and either dodge or drastically reduce sail for those with your number on them. First experience Gulf sailing had a crew with local knowledge. He saw a thunder cloud we couldn't dodge and had us lash the main to the boom and take the genoa off the headstay and stow below before the cloud hit us. Even with bare pole the wind put the spreader in the water. Luckily with no sail up it was only a short period of time before the cloud passed and we could continue on our way. If we'd had sail up, probably would have shredded them.