Just wanted to thank everyone for the information. I was aprehensive about
posting at first because I have seen so many threads turn into flaming wars.
So thanks everyone for the candid responses!

Greg Bossert

"Greg Bossert" wrote in message
om...
I have been sailing for the last 5 summers but just had my first foul
weather experience. I sail in a Cape Dory Typhoon out of NorthEast in
the Chesapeake and sometimes Frenchman's Bay in ME. The boat has no
outboard and I had a one member crew with very little sailing
experience. I was about 2 hours upwind when an unexpected (and
unforcasted) storm moved through. My question is, what steps should I
have taken when I knew that it was inevitable that I would be caught
in foul weather? There were very high/gusty winds (probably
30-35mph+), heavy rain and ligntning all around. I made my way as
close to shore as I thought possible without grounding but still felt
very uncomfortable about the lightning. I droped the sails when the
high winds hit and then tried to sail under the jib alone but was
still healed over with the rail burried and the gusts would just push
the bow downwind. I considered dropping anchor but had trouble with
the rhode. When I got to the point when I felt that we were in danger
of taking on heavy water I flagged down a passing pontoon boat and got
a tow back to the harbor. Does anyone have advise on handling very
high/gusty winds (strong enough to knock her down) and lightning?
Would I have been better off pulling down the sails and anchoring
until the weather moved through? Would reefing the main and dropping
the jib be a better choice than flying the jib alone? Your experience
is appreciated by a now slightly weathered guy!

Feel free to post anytime - and don't feel bad if the thread turns bizarre, its not your
fault. Just remember the basic rules: don't claim you know more than the regulars here,
and never ever admit to calling SeaTow.

-jeff www.sv-loki.com
"The sea was angry that day, my friend. Like an old man trying to send back soup at the
deli."

"Greg Bossert" wrote in message
...
Just wanted to thank everyone for the information. I was aprehensive about
posting at first because I have seen so many threads turn into flaming wars.
So thanks everyone for the candid responses!

Greg Bossert

No one mentioned it yet, but I think it would be a good idea to don life
jackets. Hopefully, you won't need them, but it is better to put them on and
not need them then to not put them on an wish you had. If you have the room,
you might also consider coming off the wind on a beam or broad reach to
reduce the apparent wind.

--

Njord

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

From Sea-Fever by John Masefield

You should have them on at all times while underway anyway.....

CM

"Njord" wrote in message
news:B2XOa.11$ob1.3@lakeread07...
| No one mentioned it yet, but I think it would be a good idea to don life
| jackets. Hopefully, you won't need them, but it is better to put them on
and
| not need them then to not put them on an wish you had. If you have the
room,
| you might also consider coming off the wind on a beam or broad reach to
| reduce the apparent wind.
|
| --
|
| Njord
|
| I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
| Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
| And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
| And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
|
| From Sea-Fever by John Masefield
|
|

Tris are superior to cats in every way.

Weight?


RB

Is it necessary, or wise, to provide a pathway for lightning, from the mast
to the water? If so, how would you fabricate and connect it?
Scout

"Simple Simon" wrote
Lightning is no more likely to strike you well offshore

I heard of chains on the shrouds and stays.... really... what's next... a
telescopic mast?

CM

"Scout" wrote in message
...
| Is it necessary, or wise, to provide a pathway for lightning, from the
mast
| to the water? If so, how would you fabricate and connect it?
| Scout
|
| "Simple Simon" wrote
| Lightning is no more likely to strike you well offshore
|
|

I don't. I'm always tethered to a boat with full positive
buoyancy. I did start to wonder whether to stick one on Sunday
last, though. Especially when I mistimed a tack and the horizon
appeared under the bow, followed by shipping it brown over the
deck...

FT

"Capt. Mooron" wrote:

You should have them on at all times while underway anyway.....

CM

"Njord" wrote in message
news:B2XOa.11$ob1.3@lakeread07...
| No one mentioned it yet, but I think it would be a good idea to don life
| jackets. Hopefully, you won't need them, but it is better to put them on
and
| not need them then to not put them on an wish you had. If you have the
room,
| you might also consider coming off the wind on a beam or broad reach to
| reduce the apparent wind.
|
| --
|
| Njord
|
| I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
| Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
| And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
| And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
|
| From Sea-Fever by John Masefield
|
|

Are you saying the boat has bouyancy or do you? You **** yourself over a
missed tack? You should try relaxing more. Chill out. Sailing is fun...

Cheers MC

Flying Tadpole wrote:

I don't. I'm always tethered to a boat with full positive
buoyancy. I did start to wonder whether to stick one on Sunday
last, though. Especially when I mistimed a tack and the horizon
appeared under the bow, followed by shipping it brown over the
deck...

FT

The navigator © wrote:

Are you saying the boat has bouyancy or do you?

The boat. I'm not in LIS, remember.

You **** yourself over a
missed tack? You should try relaxing more. Chill out. Sailing is fun...

Ha. I'm sure I would have seen the change on my yellow foulies.
The wind then was 40kn, middle of a squall, and I was trying out
to windward using just the ultimate 3-reefed main, no mizzen. I
missed one tack, got cross with myself and wrathfully fell off a
bit, then whipped her round without bothering to look at what was
coming. Doing a whale breach or for that matter actually
shipping it brown (remember, I do not have blue or green water)
over the actual deck on the way down was not something I ever
expected to be doing in a 30ft ballasted sailboat in a 12 foot
deep lake with a normal maximum 5 foot wave. Serves me right for
not looking and not letting that set go by before tacking her

Flying Tadpole

Cheers MC

Flying Tadpole wrote:

I don't. I'm always tethered to a boat with full positive
buoyancy. I did start to wonder whether to stick one on Sunday
last, though. Especially when I mistimed a tack and the horizon
appeared under the bow, followed by shipping it brown over the
deck...

FT