Helia 44: Recommended reading for storm strategies for cats?

[rabbi]

Originally Posted by Lepke

Read this: get a weather fax or something similar and avoid storms in advance. They are nothing to play with. Look up the El Faro sinking.
The adventure books cannot prepare you for the violence and discomfort of a serious storm. I don't believe any yacht or yacht rigging is built for storms. Nobody would pay the price.
It's common in the Pacific area to read of cats and trihulls flipped. Some found months later with no sign of the crew.

But even so one needs to prepare for serious weather. It can get you anywhere. Maybe not a full three day storm but what if a F11-12 thunderstorm hits you by surprise?

Doesn't happen? I had one of those last October in northern Sicily. Lasted only 1/2 hour but I would have been very happy if I had a JSD on board just for the last 20 minutes of this 1/2 hour. I have never seen waves so steep and short.

But I don't have a JSD, I'm just doing coastal cruising in fine weather...

[AD28]

In the interest of the OP's original request: reading material,

Drogues on Catamarans | Victor Shane's Drag Device Data Base

Sea Anchors on Catamarans | Victor Shane's Drag Device Data Base

[SailMonAmi]

Originally Posted by AD28

In the interest of the OP's original request: reading material,

Drogues on Catamarans | Victor Shane's Drag Device Data Base

Sea Anchors on Catamarans | Victor Shane's Drag Device Data Base

Excellent and relevant reading, thanks!

[boom23]

Great info from all!

I have a Sea Drogue on our L450 and several 200ft portions of thick nylon lines. I also reinforced all the cleats with more substantial backing plates. Hopefully, I will never need to use the drogue.

The stern cleats have a thick stainless top plate with a hole for a shackle. This is much stronger than the cleat. There was a post long time ago by "roetter" with drawings. It is for a Lagoon 450 but you might be able to apply some of the ideas on your boat.

[sailorgirl1954]

Yesterday in Provo, TCI we experienced a 60 knot squall, thankfully while at the dock, lasting 15 minutes, if the main would have been up at sea could have been potentially devastating. We always sail reefed while at sea as there are 2 of us (62yrs old ) so can't respond fast enough for sail reductions or changes. Understand why they are putting short sticks on the new cruising cats. Also while boat was in transit from Jamaica to DR banging into high short seas n high winds the professional crew abandoned attempt and flew home, it was that bad in a cat, popped the windshield. Ciao for now, P&B
ORANA 44 ALUNA