[Rhodes22-list] Heaving To

[Hank]

OK, maybe you guys can finally answer for me what exactly is heaving
to?  I've heard of it and I would like to try and figure out how to do
it, but I have never been able to get someone to explain exactly what
it is?

Thanks,

Hank

On Apr 6, 2005 10:04 AM, Bill Effros <bill at effros.com> wrote:
> Slim,
> 
> In 30 kts. I use only enough sail to maintain control.  It's all done by
> feel, but the process is exactly the same as balancing the sails when
> sailing normally.  This is not difficult to do with the IMF, because you
> have so much less sail out.  You point into the wind, and work with the
> boom over the cockpit.  Same with the Genny.  Don't try to fight the wind.
> 
> How far you drift is a function of lots and lots of variables.  I would
> estimate between 1 1/2 and 3 kts/hr.  The variable you can't control is
> your freeboard, so you must decide on an angle you want to present your
> freeboad to the wind, and set sails and rudder appropriately.
> 
> Pointing high is not an option under high wind conditions, but you will
> have more than 180 degrees of sailing possibilities when hove to in high
> wind situations.
> 
> I do not drop the centerboard when heaving to, because I am often not
> watching where I am going from minute to minute, and don't want to
> increase the risk of hitting something.  In Long Island Sound the
> greatest risk is Lobster Pots, which can be anywhere, can be anchored to
> the seabed, and can bring a large sailing vessel to a dead halt in a
> second.  The last thing you want is to be fighting undersea cables
> suddenly attached to your boat in a wind storm.  With the board up,
> stuff may kiss the bottom, but the boat will float over it with the next
> wave.
> 
> I have never used a sea anchor and would be disinclined to do so.
> Practice heaving to instead.  Once you understand it, you see that you
> can maintain control of your boat in almost any situation.  (No wind, no
> control.)
> 
> Heaving to with an IMF is as interesting as sailing with an IMF.  I do
> different things almost every time I try it, to better understand what
> to do in an "emergency".
> 
> Yes, you can sail in many different directions when hove to.  You can go
> faster or slower.  You can be more comfortable and relaxed, or less.
> But once you make these decisions, you lash your tiller, and lock into
> the decisions you made until you decide to change to a different
> strategy or course.
> 
> Bill Effros
> 
> Steve Alm wrote:
> 
> >Bill,
> >
> >When heaving to in the 30 kt. range, how deep are your sails reefed?
> >Also, do you have any estimate of how far you drift in an hour?  Can you
> >slow the drift by dropping the board?  Do you ever use a sea anchor?  Do you
> >do anything different when conditions vary from wind and current in the same
> >direction to wind and current in different directions?
> >
> >
> >
> >>I have heaved-to (hoven-to?) under similar conditions, and it was a
> >>delightful piece of cake.  I ate a casual meal, listened to my stereo,
> >>and could sail my boat exactly where I wanted it to be for hours on
> >>end.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >I'm a little confused here.  Are you heaving to or are you sailing?  Can you
> >steer the boat in different directions while you're heaving to?
> >
> >Slim
> >
> >On 3/14/05 9:47 PM, "Bill Effros" <bill at effros.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >>Peter,
> >>
> >>As mentioned previously, my boat is on a mooring when it's in the
> >>water--a 300 lb. mushroom anchor with properly sized ground tackle
> >>pulled and inspected once every 3 years--which is a harbor master
> >>condition for all boats in our harbor, so I know the anchor and tackle
> >>will hold, and everyone else's is going to hold, too.
> >>
> >>One night, out of curiosity, I decided to stay on board when I knew a
> >>good blow was coming through, just to see what it would be like.  It is
> >>not an experience I ever intend to repeat.
> >>
> >>The wind was in the 30 kt. range.  The harbor is sheltered, so the waves
> >>never get much beyond 1-2 feet, but the tidal range is 9 feet, so a lot
> >>of water funnels in and out at a pretty good clip.  Once the decision is
> >>made to stay on board, its a very very bad idea to change your mind.
> >>
> >>Intellectually I knew the boat had been through these conditions many
> >>times in the past without incident--the only difference was that I was
> >>on board.  No pop-top enclosure.  Everything battened down as if I were
> >>not on board.
> >>
> >>The boat creaked and strained all night long.  If anything gave way, it
> >>was going to give way with a "snap"--and I was quite sure I didn't want
> >>to be on board if that happened.  I didn't think I was going to die, and
> >>I thought nothing would give way that night...probably.  But I was not a
> >>happy sailor; I got very little sleep; and I couldn't formulate any
> >>reasonable plan for what I might do if something happened.  I just hoped
> >>nothing would happen, and nothing did.
> >>
> >>If I had set anchors, I couldn't have checked them. (I surely would have
> >>set multiple anchors.)  That would have added to my anxiety.  The boat
> >>has fouled the mushroom anchor in the past and lifted it right out of
> >>the bottom.  I checked it for fouling before I went below.
> >>
> >>I have heaved-to (hoven-to?) under similar conditions, and it was a
> >>delightful piece of cake.  I ate a casual meal, listened to my stereo,
> >>and could sail my boat exactly where I wanted it to be for hours on
> >>end.  My pond is big enough (Long Island Sound) so that I can stay off
> >>lee shores for enough time to catch a little sleep.
> >>
> >>If I ever see conditions like those coming again I will surely get off
> >>my boat if I can.  If I can't, I will find open water and heave to.
> >>
> >>Bill
> >>
> >>Peter Thorn wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>>Bill,
> >>>
> >>>What are the worst conditions you have experienced at anchor?  Have you ever
> >>>been caught out in 30+ winds and waves?  If so, how did you anchor?  Just
> >>>curious.
> >>>
> >>>PT
> >>>
> >>>----- Original Message -----
> >>>From: "Bill Effros" <bill at effros.com>
> >>>To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >>>Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 7:04 PM
> >>>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Anchor Chain Question
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Bill,
> >>>>
> >>>>I've got the Fortress FX11, and I think it's a terrific anchor.  I also
> >>>>have the smallest Guardian anchor, which I store in a pouch,
> >>>>unassembled, and I've been very happy with that one also.
> >>>>
> >>>>I think those people know a lot about anchors, and I would be inclined
> >>>>to follow their recommendations.
> >>>>
> >>>>I have several lines with differing amounts of chain on each, and
> >>>>several with no chain at all.  I find I always go for the no chain at
> >>>>all, because I've never had any trouble with it, and it's so much easier
> >>>>to handle.
> >>>>
> >>>>The trick to anchoring (as with so many other things) is practice.  Try
> >>>>setting your anchor when it's not critical.  See if you have enough
> >>>>navigation skill to be able to determine if your anchor is dragging.
> >>>>
> >>>>When it's really blowing you shouldn't be on our boats in the first
> >>>>place.  Anchoring and praying is not the answer.  If you are trapped in
> >>>>a situation like this, and can't get to shore, head for open water and
> >>>>heave-to.  Practice heaving-to, too.  Work with the elements, not
> >>>>against them.
> >>>>
> >>>>The guy who developed those anchors recommends setting 2 at 180 degrees
> >>>>apart and tying both off on the bow.  Then neither one will have to
> >>>>reset if current or wind shifts.  Differing lengths of chain will  not
> >>>>matter, longer scope can be set because the boat will rotate in a much
> >>>>smaller arc relative to other boats.
> >>>>
> >>>>Avoid anchor overkill.  That goes for the chain, too.
> >>>>
> >>>>Bill Effros
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>William E. Wickman wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>I just got my nifty Fortress FX7 anchor.  The instructions that came with
> >>>>>the anchor said to use a short length of anchor chain (6 feet of chain if
> >>>>>anchoring in 25' of water or less, and add another 6 feet of chain for
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>each
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>additional 25' of depth).  Their claim is that chain anchor rodes lack
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>the
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>shock absorbancy of nylon rope when the wind increases.  This advice runs
> >>>>>contrary to what I have been reading in the Rhodes FAQ that most of you
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>are
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>using around 20 feet of chain.  So, does the Fortress require less chain
> >>>>>because it is so light?  What gives?  I presume that these anchor guys
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>know
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>what they are talking about, but...
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Also, since I have 20 feet of chain that I use with my gbi anchor, what
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>are
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>the dynamics of using shorter chain on a second anchor when setting two
> >>>>>anchors?  Does it really matter?
> >>>>>
> >>>>>B. Wickman
> >>>>>
> >>>>>__________________________________________________
> >>>>>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>__________________________________________________
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> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>__________________________________________________
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> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>__________________________________________________
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> >>
> >>
> >
> >__________________________________________________
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> >
> >
> >
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