[Rhodes22-list] Heaving To

Wed Mar 16 10:23:55 EST 2005

Slim and Bill, First let me recommend a great book "Storm Tactics" by Lin 
and Larry Pardy.  The whole book talks about Heaving To under differnt 
configurations.  I have had about 3 chances to pratice differnt 
configurations.  So far I have found the Genny setting to be Reefed to where 
the clew is right against the outter stay and tight.  The main works best on 
the second reef (about a little less than half main) just off the leeward 
stay and the tiller about a foot from hard over.  In 15 to 20 this gave me 
about 1 to 1.5 knot drift directly downwind with the nose at about 45 
degrees to the wind.  I was not completely satisfied with the result but I 
could duplicate it in a pinch and I would be better than being at the mercy 
of the storm.  I will keep futzing around to get perfect results.  I am 
inclined to think that the R-22 will ride better with a storm trysail for a 
main (You IMF people have an advantage here).  I am also not sure of the 
centerboard setting.  In my experiment I pulled it most of the way up to get 
that downwind drift I wanted.  Hope it helps.  If anyone has had better 
experience heeving to Jump in.  Bob

>From: Steve Alm <salm at mn.rr.com>
>Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>To: Rhodes <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Heaving To
>Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2005 14:47:17 -0600
>
>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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