[Rhodes22-list] Heaving To
Mark Kaynor
mark at kaynor.org
Wed Apr 6 11:45:17 EDT 2005
Hank,
Here's a good explanation:
http://www.boats.com/content/default_detail.jsp?contentid=1284&WebLogicSessi
on=QlP1342IoQYITF33vpPz1kVhf9s1fN9MrqBf81Nwc8kVnOpB9VNJ|7936847923416601835/
170924117/6/7001/7001/7002/7002/7001/-1
Mark
-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Hank
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 10:33 AM
To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Heaving To
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
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>__________________________________________________
> >>>>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>__________________________________________________
> >>>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>__________________________________________________
> >>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >>
> >>
> >
> >__________________________________________________
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> >
> >
> >
> __________________________________________________
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