[Rhodes22-list] Heaving To
Rik Sandberg
sanderico at earthlink.net
Wed Apr 6 15:04:04 EDT 2005
Hank,
There is a wealth of information about both heaving to and the use of a
sea anchor in heavy weather in Lin and Larry Pardey's book "Storm
Tactics Handbook.
http://www.paracay.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=STH&Category_Code=PARACAY
I got mine directly from Lin and Larry at one of their seminars, but I'm
sure you could get a copy from amazon or most other name booksellers.
Rik
Bill Effros wrote:
> Hank,
>
> The general explanation provided by Mark is excellent. I've added it
> to my collection.
>
> The R-22 with IMF is particularly well suited to heaving to in winds
> from 20-30 kts. Above 30 kts. it starts to get difficult to control
> an R-22, and I get off the water under those conditions--where we
> sail, those winds will push you into something--and it can be tough to
> move in another direction.
>
> Following is my answer to your question from 2001. Larry Sparks
> started this thread in 1998:
>
> Here's what Larry Sparks had to say about heaving to:
>
> RE heaving to. You have to balance the sails and rudder. Easiest
> way is
> to furl the jib to about 100%, tack and don't release the jib sheet, ease
> out the main on the new tack to balance against the backwinded jib,
> and set
> the tiller somewhat to leeward to further balance. Try it, it
> works..Larry
>
> It does work.
>
> I heave to almost every time I go out. I do it for practice because I
> think
> it's the safest thing to do if you get caught in a storm like the ones
> Mike
> & Michael described. I also do it because I generally single-hand and it
> allows me to grab lunch; take a leak; or do whatever I need to do
> wherever I
> happen to be without losing control or setting an anchor.
>
> I've gone out in gale force winds to try it out, and found it works
> just as
> well when you need it. I've never been caught in a storm, but one day I
> will be and when that day comes you can be sure I will heave to.
>
> The Rhodes-22 doesn't come about easily when the winds exceed 25-30
> knots.
> I find it simpler to jibe under those conditions. I furl most of both
> sails
> before starting this maneuver.
>
> Heaving to is incredibly peaceful even when the winds are howling. Both
> sails are reduced to comfortable levels. The main spills most of the air
> that hits it. Just enough jib is let out to balance the main. The
> tiller
> is lashed to steer the boat sort of into the wind. The wind will push
> the
> boat somewhat sideways at 11/2 to 2 knots. Your course doesn't
> zigzag. You
> just bob along like a cork; your direction is like a slow moving crab.
>
> You don't have to do or touch anything. Just watch where you are
> going. It
> is effortless, and can be done for days at a time if need be.
>
> A friend of mine found himself on an 80 foot wooden sailing vessel midway
> between the continental United States and Bermuda when hurricane Mitch
> hit.
> The captain of the ship (a woman by the way) decided to heave to. My
> friend
> took videos of the storm. It looks nothing like the "perfect storm."
> It's
> just a half dozen people on jacklines bobbing along on a big wooden boat
> debating the size of the waves (they were in the 25-50 foot range) and
> reflexively shouting "Wheeeeeeeee" as they slide down the faces of the
> waves. They hove to for 2 days. My friend says in the future he will
> always heave to in a storm. So will I.
>
> Bill Effros
>
> Hank wrote:
>
>> 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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>>>
>>
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>>
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