How to Work On Deck in Storms Video

How to Work On Deck in Storms - Storm Tactics

Once you've gotten a little bit comfortable with moderate winds, take your boat out someday when it's blowing fifteen knots, put her hard on the wind, get out of the cockpit, go forward right to the headstay, then come back on the leeward side of the boat. And every time you put your hand somewhere, wishing there was a handhold there, figure out a way to add a handhold. This is an important part, not only of helping you get ready, but helping you learn what you need to add to your boat. For years, I've been saying to Larry Pardey, I wish there was a handhold right aft here for heavy weather. We thought about and before setting off on this voyage, which we knew would be a very heavy weather passage, Larry Pardey found a very simple way to add handholds. He now says, I wish we had had these before. So you do it before you're going voyaging. These are just simple rope additions. A rope run through a hole that Larry Pardey has drilled in two fittings. Works really well. There's other choices, but make sure you have handholds everywhere you want them. Make sure your deck is clear so you can move forward easily on it. Consider other storage places for things you think you want on deck. Watch where you put your feet. Is there good nonskid everywhere you might put your feet when you are going forward in this conditions? Everywhere you're going to want to put your feet to work on the foredeck. Now, do this again in 25 or 30 knots of wind. Have your captain, yourself, everyone, get out on deck, one at a time, and go forward to the headstay and then come back on the leeward side of the deck. The next time you're out Sailing, headed for home with a following breeze, and a forecast for heavier winds, turn around and head back out to sea. I know it's a hard idea because we're all looking forward to that hot buttered rum that's waiting when we get in at anchor. But take a few hours. Put your boat hard on the wind as the winds increase. Set the storm sails, see how their leads work. Get yourself more comfortable with working out there on the foredeck when there is a breeze and when she is going to windward. This is a skill you need to voyage safely offshore. People talk about leading everything to the cockpit, making it so they can stay in the cockpit all of the time. It's not a reality. When it comes time to set storm sails, you're going to have to have the skills to get out on the foredeck. So before you go cruising, learn to be comfortable moving forward on your boat, no matter what the wind speed. Another thing you're going to have to do to handle storms safely and put them in perspective is to ignore the scare stories people will tell you. You'll hear people say, it would have been suicide to get out on the foredeck in 60 knots of wind. I've heard other people say, it was impossible to work on the deck. Well, you've got to change that whole attitude. What they were saying, in my opinion, was, I quit, I give up. Instead, you've got to think, can do. The pictures we're showing you right now, they're not scare pictures. They're can do pictures. These are boats racing in the famous, or infamous, Sydney-Hobart race. 42 boats didn't quit. They kept going in winds that the helicopter pilot confirmed were 70, gusting 80. And how did they do it? With a can do attitude, with boats that had proper storm sails, and boats that had absolutely clear decks. That's one thing that everyone spoke about afterwards. These boats were cleared completely. There was nothing on deck that could get washed over. We ourselves have been out in very strong winds. I watched Larry Pardey work on deck after rounding Cape Horn in 70 knots of wind. He crawled, he didn't walk, he had safety Lin Pardeyes on, he was very cautious. I helped him sail the boat to windward in 50 knots of wind between Staten Island and Cape Horn. We were on deck. But I will say, that I like many people, am guilty of letting Larry Pardey be out there when the winds are heaviest. It's a bad habit. But, I do know that I've worked on deck in 45 and 50 knots of wind. If I can do it, so can you. Now, Larry Pardey is going to talk about a few of the things you can do to prepare your boat so it handles heavy weather better.

Storm Tactics Video

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Once you've gotten a little bit comfortable with moderate winds, take your boat out someday when it's blowing fifteen knots, put her hard on the wind, get out of the cockpit, go forward right to the headstay, then come back on the leeward side of the boat. And every time you put your hand somewhere, wishing there was a handhold there, figure out a way to add a handhold. This is an important part, not only of helping you get ready, but helping you learn what you need to add to your boat. For years, I've been saying to Larry Pardey, I wish there was a handhold right aft here for heavy weather. We thought about and before setting off on this voyage, which we knew would be a very heavy weather passage, Larry Pardey found a very simple way to add handholds. He now says, I wish we had had these before. So you do it before you're going voyaging. These are just simple rope additions. A rope run through a hole that Larry Pardey has drilled in two fittings. Works really well. There's other choices, but make sure you have handholds everywhere you want them. Make sure your deck is clear so you can move forward easily on it. Consider other storage places for things you think you want on deck. Watch where you put your feet. Is there good nonskid everywhere you might put your feet when you are going forward in this conditions? Everywhere you're going to want to put your feet to work on the foredeck. Now, do this again in 25 or 30 knots of wind. Have your captain, yourself, everyone, get out on deck, one at a time, and go forward to the headstay and then come back on the leeward side of the deck. The next time you're out Sailing, headed for home with a following breeze, and a forecast for heavier winds, turn around and head back out to sea. I know it's a hard idea because we're all looking forward to that hot buttered rum that's waiting when we get in at anchor. But take a few hours. Put your boat hard on the wind as the winds increase. Set the storm sails, see how their leads work. Get yourself more comfortable with working out there on the foredeck when there is a breeze and when she is going to windward. This is a skill you need to voyage safely offshore. People talk about leading everything to the cockpit, making it so they can stay in the cockpit all of the time. It's not a reality. When it comes time to set storm sails, you're going to have to have the skills to get out on the foredeck. So before you go cruising, learn to be comfortable moving forward on your boat, no matter what the wind speed. Another thing you're going to have to do to handle storms safely and put them in perspective is to ignore the scare stories people will tell you. You'll hear people say, it would have been suicide to get out on the foredeck in 60 knots of wind. I've heard other people say, it was impossible to work on the deck. Well, you've got to change that whole attitude. What they were saying, in my opinion, was, I quit, I give up. Instead, you've got to think, can do. The pictures we're showing you right now, they're not scare pictures. They're can do pictures. These are boats racing in the famous, or infamous, Sydney-Hobart race. 42 boats didn't quit. They kept going in winds that the helicopter pilot confirmed were 70, gusting 80. And how did they do it? With a can do attitude, with boats that had proper storm sails, and boats that had absolutely clear decks. That's one thing that everyone spoke about afterwards. These boats were cleared completely. There was nothing on deck that could get washed over. We ourselves have been out in very strong winds. I watched Larry Pardey work on deck after rounding Cape Horn in 70 knots of wind. He crawled, he didn't walk, he had safety Lin Pardeyes on, he was very cautious. I helped him sail the boat to windward in 50 knots of wind between Staten Island and Cape Horn. We were on deck. But I will say, that I like many people, am guilty of letting Larry Pardey be out there when the winds are heaviest. It's a bad habit. But, I do know that I've worked on deck in 45 and 50 knots of wind. If I can do it, so can you. Now, Larry Pardey is going to talk about a few of the things you can do to prepare your boat so it handles heavy weather better.

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