214 mph winds in your Compac???

[newt]

I just got the following from my harbor master.
"The southerly pre-frontal winds bring blustery wind conditions that can be gusty and violent at the Great Salt Lake Marina.  Typically these winds will max out in the 40 to 50 knot range but often climb into the 70 knot range.  100 knot winds are not uncommon and usually happen once or twice a year.  The unofficial record for a wind gust at the Great Salt Lake Marina is 214 mph. "
Once you are out in the Great Salt Lake it is like you are in a shallow sea- there is often nothing to hide behind for 10 nm or more.
I have already been through 60kt winds- it was incredible. Any ideas on how to get through the uncommon 100 knts winds or the 200 knt records???
I'm serious about this- I love soloing out there. But going to bare poles, sealing off the inside, and dropping an anchor (to drag and slow you down) will I survive 100 plus knots? Now these are gusts mind you- they usually last less than 5 minutes or so.  But still.....
(it has also been my observation that the wind is less closer to land- like at the marina!)

[Bob23]

Interesting question, Newt.
   I suppose you could do some calculations on wind speed and area exposed to that wind but I haven't a clue how. Maybe the Hutchins boys could give you some insight as to whether the ship would hold together. I'd imagine a sea anchor would be my first choice assuming you had the sea room. Here in NJ, my father in law, a 75+ years experience sailor was once anchored and eating lunch, was knocked down, mast almost in the water by a sudden summer micro burst. His boat doesn't have the ballast that our 23's do, but still, man, that was a trip.
   Surviving high winds has always been interesting to me. I've read some books on it and Larry Pardey has a book out about heaving to for survival in high winds.
   Let me know what you find out. As for the 200 knts, well, I'm not really itching to find out about that.
   Bob23, on the hard and on the mend in NJ

[don l]

Knowing I am speaking to very experienced sailors, however I been on waterways along the coast from Louisiana to Florida when a Northwestern would come in.  Remembering  hearing Mayday come in on the boat's ship to shore radio, but all we could do was try to stay afloat ourselves.  Now we were pushing barges closes to the water, and wind was breaking cables and lighting the sky with just 50 to 70m miles hours wind.  What could I do in my 16 foot Com-pac, get religious,  I guess.

[mrb]

I think Dorthy is the only one who can answere the question.

[newt]

This summer I think I will have hurricane drill- for lack of a better word. It goes like this. I spot a rapidly approaching microburst- all sails down. Anchor out and snubber attached. All thru hulls closed, hatches tight and me down below. I hope to be able to do it in less than 2-3 minutes. What do you guys think? I may want to put a fender somewhere on my  anchor rode, just in case the line breaks I can recover it later.
I mean, the think it to survive the burst, then I can pick up the pieces and go home.

[mrb]

Seriously, 214 mph winds are tornado velocity winds, nothing to play with. 

If you are in an area prone to that sort of thing it may be a good idea to do a few drills in preparation.

Could be why ships, both air and surface, go missing with no trace to be found.

Melvin

[Potcake boy]

I'd move

[Craig Weis]

After Katrina we still have 700 river barges full of Cargil rice on the bottom of Lake Pontchartrain with no plans to raise them. Here is Sturgeon Bay, BayShip Building has a contract with the Corp of Army Engineers for 14 barges and a 680 foot long floating dry-dock.
Here in town Palmer Johnson Yachts  is closing and moving to the country of Norway in July/August. skip.

One time I sailing the 19 in the cut 'ween Green Bay and Lake Michigan. Wing to wing. Suddenly a blow came down the cut and even some pretty big sized rock were blown off of a work barge. I watched the wind come and just concentrated on sailing a propper line and when the wind hit she sped up to the fastest speed I'd ever been on . IT WAS SO LUCKY that my boat fits under the 42/57 bridge I know in the wind I could not stop or come about, and the bridge would not have had time to raise up, and I'm pretty sure that Steve the bridge tender would put it up in a blow anyway.
What would I do? let go the sheets and release the halyards both main and head. Clean the mess up after the blow goes by. It never entered my mind to try to come about.  I was really never in a panic. It was over with in less then four minutes and shot under the bridge, out of the channel but I been under all of the spans and we have lots of water so no grounding worries. skip.

[newt]

Interesting response Skip. You really did all you could. In some of the lakes here you can see the micro burst coming toward you. The biggest leeway I have had is 5minutes, but most of the time I see the waves kicking up about 60 seconds before I get hit. I am worried about blowing my aft stay or shrouds. if I just let my main go, then I get bent shrouds.  Its got to be a roller furl/mainsail down combo. And as for moving- naw, this is my home (where else is sailing so exciting?) I will probably never see 100 plus winds in my Compac. It is allot like rogue waves. You hear about em, but how many of you have actually been through one on your Compac?
On the other hand- I have been in 60+ wind twice here, so I think I am going to see that again. Just got to make sure it doesn't sink me in the 5 minutes that it comes and goes.

[Rebmilc]

Hello All

I climb and guide in NH and have been in 100+ winds in Mount Washington.  I am pretty adventurous but no chance I'm going out on my Compac in that.  Standing is hard, moving harder I figure your mast with no sails would cause a blow down on a 16 or 19.  On the other hand what better boat to handle such a blow.

Rebmilc 

[Rick Klages]

I've seen 100+ in the Bearing Sea and it was in dense fog!  The highest official wind speeds recorded were on Mt. Washington (I have climbed it about 30 times from all trails except the auto road an all but the dead of winter) 231 mph!  http://www.mountwashington.org/about/visitor/recordwind.php

[Joseph]

214 mph winds... !?

"Sometimes...
it's... better to be in here
wishing to be out there
than to be out there
wishing to be in here..."

Me thinks it applies to such conditions...

J.