Heavy weather thoughts!

[Epic1969]

With 20+ years windsurfing/surfing experience, a dozen hobbie cat days rented in Jamaica and the keys and 16 trips out in my CP16 including 3 on Lake Erie I am far from an experienced sailor! I do know how to read the wind and waves and have been out on Lake Erie on a 27' fishing boat many times once in a survival storm ( scariest 1/2 hour of my life). I have been studying heavy weather tactics and there seems to be many schools of thought about what the heck to do when heavy weather bares down on a small sailboat! I use checklists everyday on my job and like to think in orderly terms about procedures. I have come up with a checklist for heavy weather situations. Please feel free to critique. I have sold my CP16 and now am picking up a new to me CP23 in April, checklist will need to be adapted for different boat designs crewing number etc. This is very general.

***Weather/sail configuration checklist***

1. Winds below or forecast to be below 15 knots ( constant or gust) for duration of sail. (Normal main and jib set up)
2 Winds actually or forecast 15 to 20 knots. 1 reef in main normal jib.
***Above 20 knots forecast or actual, boat closed up tight ( companionway and forward hatch)
3. Winds 20-30 knots actual or forecast. 2 reefs in main and smaller jib or for roller furling rolled 1/2. All crew members in life   jackets and all items on deck/cockpit stowed and double checked for security.
!!! I know all should have life jackets on all times but I have on hot sunny days taken it off , I know that is flirting with disaster!!!

***Unplanned weather greater than 30knots wind with waves building and unable to seek shelter***

4. A) Are you a reasonable distance from a lee shore for expected duration of heavy weather? If no go to B. If yes, set up boat for a Hove-To configuration then reef (if weather came suddenly). Consider deploying sea anchor/drouge if seas are breaking alert coast guard or someone of your position (Relax)!

No Lee-Way  situation

B) Drop anchor (8-10 scope VERY important and have a size bigger anchor than recommended), drop all sails. Start motor and idle ( be ready for anchor to not hold)  alert someone to your position. (Before dropping anchor, consider forereaching if your boat sails well into wind...NOT a CP16)

Comments (not on checklist).
Resist the temptation to get into marina in a big blow. The narrow cuts in Lake Erie harbors are much more dangerous to navigate than staying out on the lake away from shore. Learn how to get your boat in a hove to position. I have practiced this every time I have gone out in up to 25 knot winds and it is amazing how things settle down and present a calm aura about your situation. If single handing a down haul from the cockpit is essential.  Most anchoring I have seen in my limited experience is woefully in adequate. You need to have at least 8x the depth of water played out and a good heavy anchor WITH some length of chain attached to get a good hold! I have never used a sea anchor but I think that since I am primarily sailing on Lake Erie it is essential. I will buy one before taking her out on the lake.
Once again add or subtract as you see fit!

[comfortably numb]

Agree with all you stated. When on Erie, best to rehearse in your mind as well as the physical. I faced a wall of black while heading back to Sandusky once and when we were about to enter the channel in my 27 Ericson, already under just power, when I said to myself " I am getting the ---- out of here " Looked for traffic ( no one else was out! yes! ) did a 180 and headed for open water, put the wife inside, boards in and wham! The clock said 45 mph , was heeling about 25 and was doing 9k on bare poles. My wife peered out and told me she loved me, which was nice.  Lightning bolts were striking Marblehead,( a local phenomenon I was told later) then I could only see my bow... talked to God that day. My water proof watch stopped and so did the storm about 20 minutes later.

We both high-fived when we got back to SSC and gave thanks, no damage, but others weren't so lucky. "Respect the lake" We all have be tested at sometime, this was our biggest.

Numb

[canoecreek]

I just joined this forum ...hope you have had many great sailing experiences since your post.
I agree with your list and have a similar experience profile ... I would add to your list:  consider obtaining harnesses and installing jacklines to tether yourself to the boat.  also on my 23 I am considering adding a line that would be stored maybe on the inside of the hatch boards ... in heavy weather it could be used to insure the boards stay down by running the line from the hasp on the sliding hatch and down to a cleat or eye fitting on the bridge deck. 

[Vipersdad]

Agree with all you stated. When on Erie, best to rehearse in your mind as well as the physical. I faced a wall of black while heading back to Sandusky once and when we were about to enter the channel in my 27 Ericson, already under just power, when I said to myself " I am getting the ---- out of here " Looked for traffic ( no one else was out! yes! ) did a 180 and headed for open water, put the wife inside, boards in and wham! The clock said 45 mph , was heeling about 25 and was doing 9k on bare poles. My wife peered out and told me she loved me, which was nice.  Lightning bolts were striking Marblehead,( a local phenomenon I was told later) then I could only see my bow... talked to God that day. My water proof watch stopped and so did the storm about 20 minutes later.

We both high-fived when we got back to SSC and gave thanks, no damage, but others weren't so lucky. "Respect the lake" We all have be tested at sometime, this was our biggest.

Numb

What year was this.  I was at Put-in-Bay during the Fourth of July Storm of 1969.  We sailed back to Huron on Sunday with a following sea.  Luckily we were moored in a slip for the storm.

V.