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heavy weather
- Thread starter balthazor
- Start date
Here in Northern Calif. winds and seas can get pretty intense. Our 382, with proper sails up and not overpowered, has handled winds in excess of 58 kts and has done well both
hove to and pushing into heavy seas. I do suggest that anyone going offshore should seal the deck to bulkhead upper anchor locker. If you don't you will surely have sea water in your vee berth.
hove to and pushing into heavy seas. I do suggest that anyone going offshore should seal the deck to bulkhead upper anchor locker. If you don't you will surely have sea water in your vee berth.
dhoneycutt
Dennis Honeycutt
Over 20 years of ownership we have had a number of wild rides. Proper sail area is key. In the 1991 Marion/Bermuda my wind speed was pegged at its max 60 knots for 6 plus hours, The sail up was approximately 65 square feet of furrled headsail only. Not the best choice, but once you start to commit to furling under those conditions thats it. The harken furler has a hole thru the unit that can be thru bolted to lock the sail in any position. We simply quartered the seas at 45 degrees and prayed for the best. I estimated seas at 25 Ft. The 1993 brochure for that race said the conditions in 1991 were hurricane force winds and 40 Ft seas.
Happy sailing
Happy sailing
Terry,
You use the sails you have up or can hoist in the conditions that exists without jepordizing crew or yourself. I usually run a 90% and a main with 3 reef points. I have thought about installing a removable inner forestay but sofar I have not needed it. If you really want some expert reading you might try Heavy Weather Sailing by K.Adlard Coles or reports on the Fastnet Race in the 70's. With a furled 90% down to perhaps 50% backed and double or triple reefed main, the boat performs quite well, in fact probably better than the crew that maybe quite sick. I have scaled drawings that indicate that the inner forestay would bring the center of effort closer to the centerline of the boat and add more stability but I haven't made a decision quite yet. Sometime you just have to go do it and not get overwelmed with people who tell you what you need.
You use the sails you have up or can hoist in the conditions that exists without jepordizing crew or yourself. I usually run a 90% and a main with 3 reef points. I have thought about installing a removable inner forestay but sofar I have not needed it. If you really want some expert reading you might try Heavy Weather Sailing by K.Adlard Coles or reports on the Fastnet Race in the 70's. With a furled 90% down to perhaps 50% backed and double or triple reefed main, the boat performs quite well, in fact probably better than the crew that maybe quite sick. I have scaled drawings that indicate that the inner forestay would bring the center of effort closer to the centerline of the boat and add more stability but I haven't made a decision quite yet. Sometime you just have to go do it and not get overwelmed with people who tell you what you need.
Thanks. I have read the Coles book, but years ago. I have an attachment for the inner forestay on the anchor lokcer aft bulkhead, but do not have a stay of the right length yet. I did, however, install another attachment just aft of the head stay and just forward of the anchor locker. There I attach a "solent stay", which goes nearly to the masthead, to run up my smaller jibs (100 and storm). I have never used the storm jib yet. I am still running a 150 on the roller. I want to get a 130 or 135, but budget is limiting me from that move right now.
Terry,
Perhaps the best all around sail for the 38 is a 135. The 150 is usually to large except in light air. If your going offshore in possible windy conditions, I would recommend a 90% which I run here in the bay area where winds generally average 20 to 30kts in the summer months. If needed the 90%
can be easily reefed with the furler. I have also installed a track close to the cabin. Any innerstay tack point needs to be tied to the hull and not just to the deck or the chain locker bulkhead. The forces acting against this stay can be
extreme! I also must say again that the deck to chain locker bulkhead seal to watertight because seawater will not
drain fast enough from the upper anchor locker and will spill into the veeberth unless the gap is sealed.
Perhaps the best all around sail for the 38 is a 135. The 150 is usually to large except in light air. If your going offshore in possible windy conditions, I would recommend a 90% which I run here in the bay area where winds generally average 20 to 30kts in the summer months. If needed the 90%
can be easily reefed with the furler. I have also installed a track close to the cabin. Any innerstay tack point needs to be tied to the hull and not just to the deck or the chain locker bulkhead. The forces acting against this stay can be
extreme! I also must say again that the deck to chain locker bulkhead seal to watertight because seawater will not
drain fast enough from the upper anchor locker and will spill into the veeberth unless the gap is sealed.
Thanks for the advice. The new solent stay is attached through the deck and then to a stem piece. So it isn't going anywhere. My chain locker bulkhead has been sealed, but not glassed. It is just well caulked. When I get the time nexxt winter, I guess I should glass it. The inner forestay (pre-existing) is just attached to the anchor bulkhead, which sounds inadequate. I will not be using it in the next year or so, since I have the solent stay, but how do you attach it to the hull at that point? Seems it can only be bolted to the bulkhead, wlhich is then attached to the hull. No?
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