Hey Vic;

The milk crates were in place before I did the St. Lawrence. All the
creates were attached/screwed in accept for the anchor rode in the stern.
You would have to have wiggled and poked around to find the milk crates.

I now wished that I had taken my camcorder and recorded the seas and
conditions. I just purchased the recorder for that trip and did not want to
get the thing wet. NOW I wish I did take film.... sailing in the Perfect
Storm is something you do not do every day, and hopeful never again. The
only description I can add, when I was on the helm, I would look back at the
waves - but you would not look back, rather UP at the waves and wave faces,
after awhile you don't look back.

Skipping work on the boat today until things warm up later this week. In
the garage today rebuilding the cabinets in the head.

Stu


"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 3 Jan 2008 14:32:38 -0600, "Stu" wrote:

Hey Vic;

I saw this post with your name. I had used drogues when I got caught in
an
extra tropical hurricane "Grace" back in 1991. Wild ride, seas 35-40
feet,
a few rolled over the deck. You may not remember, but on Gamgee I had
organized a lot of things using plastic milk crates.

Can't say I remember those. I recall everything ship shape and, and
never worried about anything hitting me in the head when we got tossed
around crossing Lake Michigan. You probably got those crates later,
when you started cruising the Atlantic and needed to store more
"stuff."

When we started
surfing, I unscrewed the milk crates and attached to a stern anchor line.
It slowed us down and things were controllable again. The plastic would
break apart after 5 or 8 hrs. I ended up using all the milk crates. The
storm was still bad, so I ended using my stern Danford 22 S anchor. It
worked but not as well as the crates, the danford would pull down at
about
30 degree angle. Where as the milk crates pulled at the surface.
Awesome
sight seeing the milk crates explode and tumble down a wave face.

I *sorta* wish I had seen that, but your description will suffice.
Good thinking, and that might be useful for somebody caught in a
similar situation. Whether you're carrying a drogue, or sea anchor or
milk crates, I've got a feeling that when caught in those conditions
as you were, much depends on improvisation in the end.

Yea I need to buy a real drogue for the new boat. I hope if I purchase
well made drogue, maybe I will never again see such waves again.
I am not keen on sea anchors, especially off the bow. A sea anchor slows
the boat's speed. When off the bow, you end up going backwards,
different
type of stress put on a boat, think of that rudder getting hammered.

It all sounds tricky, and merits a lot of thought and consideration to
the particular boat.

--Vic