"Frank Boettcher" wrote in message
...
On 5 May 2007 19:36:29 -0700, Joe wrote:

Tell me about the storm you survived at sea.
I'll toss one in..... if others do.

Sorry Rob and BB, maybe next subject.

Joe


My late '60's introduction to sailing was the worst storm I've been
in.

My Bro in law, a good friend, and I, rig up a 17 foot yard built,
full keel wooden sailboat (still don't know what it was but a nice
classic design with a full, two berth cabin) and head out for
Chandeleur Island, 27 miles out in the gulf. I knew almost nothing
about sailing at the time. Marine stores closed so we couldn't get
fittings we need to complete the rig, however good friend says we can
get "adequate" stuff at Sears. He heads up there and buys a bag of
"heavy duty" turnbuckles (screen door type) to finish our standing
rigging.

Head out and have an ideal trip out. Meeting some people in a power
boat, they took the provisions and stuff. spend the night on the
island,do some crabbing, catch some specs, have a great time,then
start back in.

Power boat passes us going back in, they are "envious" at how ideal
we look sailing along.

About fifteen miles out, we are looking to the north and see nothing
but black. Not unusual, afternoon summer Gulf squall, usually quick,
probably be done by the time we get to it. Watching it we fail to
notice the seas building to our stern. Finally look back and see
unusual whitecapping seas behind us. In a matter of minutes seas are
cresting behind us at about twelve feet, can't see over them, standing
on the cabin when in the trough.

Wind starting to pick up, we double reef both sails and figure we are
OK. about that time, the two storms kind of meet, north and south and
all hell breaks loose. As might be suspected those turnbuckles are
the first thing to give up and we loose the top third of the mast
(wooden). We manage to get the main off, but jib is jammed and
wrapped around the mast stub. Ok, though, seems to be all the sail we
need to keep going. we make it through Ship Island pass, stormy,
lightening striking all around us. The power boat had turned into the
lee of ship Island to ride out the storm, but we did not have enough
control to turn more than a few degrees off downwind. Additionally, we
didn't have a rig left to sail in light air, so we just kept heading
north, passed within a couple of hundred yards of the power boat, and
we did not even see each other. The twelve miles from Ship Island
Pass to Gulfport, were, to say the least very exciting.

We were told later that the winds were sustained at 35 with gusts to
60.

Now, I've been in worse but given the inexperience of the entire crew,
the size of the boat, and the fact it was my first offshore venture,
it is the most memorable.

Frank

Sorry, but the Gulf is not classified as a Sea. Can't a single person
read a question and answer it with their experience of a storm AT SEA
like the man asked? Bunch of retards here, apparently.

Wilbur Hubbard