I enjoyed reading yoru narrative about your trip from Wrightsville to Charleston. I used to workt he Waterway on ICW tugs through that section. I can well identify with the currents in the Cape Fear and on down. It is incredible sometimes. I have also seen three foot standing waves in Elliotts Cut south of the Whapoo bridge. Good advice about traveling on favorable tides.
We did a trip from Charleston to Beaufort, SC and back and a great trip. It is one that you should try while down in Charleston. We waterwayed down and sailed back offshore. It may be a good chance for you to get some experience offshore and practice sailing under different conditions. We sailed overnight and had a great trip. Just two of us spelling each other at the tiller aboard a CD 25D. Breezes offshore were moderate and we were 24hrs dock to dock from Beaufort town docks to City Marina on the Ashley.
Also, while in Charleston do some sailing beyond the jetties. It is a ways out from the Stono but is great to get on one tack and just go.
As to sailing the wateway or motoring, we found that sailing it was great much of the time. We had one moment when we sailed through Surfside bridge, not recommended. We had to come about right at the bridge to allow more time for the opening. Most of the time with the restricted water, people are hesitant about sailing and motor to have more control.
Keep working at your skills and have a great time sailing.
Bob B.
CD 25D, Tiva now in Lake Hartwell, SC
Formerly, Tugs Island Boy and Royal Engineer
Now I know what the fuss is about inlets
Moderator: Jim Walsh
-
Andy Denmark
- Posts: 630
- Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 11:38
Interesting narrative, Chase
Wow, what a trip!
Consider that mal de mer (no relation to Larry or his great boat) might have done you a huge favor by stopping you before attempting to go around Cape Fear offshore. Cape Fear is second only to Cape Hatteras as the second deadliest cape on the US Atlantic seaboard. Even in the best of weather, prudent skippers do not casually sail around either one as they can and will throw the unexpected at you. I take meclizine 24 hrs before going offshore to keep the seasickness in check. It's non-prescription but OTC at most pharmacies and works better than the "name brands" for me.
Heaving to is an essential maneuver to learn and can be a lifesaver. You could have used it while awaiting the tide change at Masonboro and been much more comfortable.
Your weather helm was almost certainly the result of too much mainsail up. The 30 is designed to have sail shortened (in the conditions you experienced here) with staysail and double-reefed main. The next step down is a reefed staysail and triple-reefed main. Down another step is a trysail and storm jib (on the inner stay).
You were lucky at Little River Inlet. That can be one nasty place and I avoid it (notice I didn't include it anywhere in my previous posts). (The Calabash anchorage almost makes up for the inlet, though.) The reasoning here is that there are no bailouts coming downwind in heavy air and breaking following seas in a narrow inlet. As someone replied, laying off hove to while waiting for better conditions might have been a more prudent option. Of course, if darkness was a factor then your planning was a bit amiss. Staying offshore overnight was an option, of course, but plunging through this inlet under sail in those conditions had to be a bit scary!
The pure wilderness of the Waccamaw River and Cape Romain is starkly contrasted against the "armpit" of the ICW behind Myrtle Beach. In some of the Waccamaw anchorages you wouldn't be surprised to see dinosaurs wandering about in the morning mist (Echo Creek at #29, Throughfare, for instance). And the Cape Romain Atlantic flyway is a different kind of beauty with waterfowl everywhere this time of year.
As for your points:
(1) ditto
(2) rethink the furler idea until you fully understand/appreciate the rig you have particularly reefing aspects. Reefing down as far as you would have to in the conditions you went through would blow out the clew of a genoa, making it literally untrimmable when fully unrolled. A properly rigged downhaul on headsails will douse quicker and easier than any furler can do it.
(3) All my life I've been amazed at the numbers of nice boats that sit in slips or on moorings that are seldom/never used.
(4) see reply to #2
Notes: I agree completely with Fred about the vang/preventer and also about removing the club. For a few questionable benefits it prevents attaining efficient sail shape, it's a killer to deal with in heavy conditions, and it renders the foredeck minimally useable for the rest. Really high pain-in-the-ass factor for me. I especially agree with Fred's last paragraph! (BTW, Fred, Fenix is really looking good!) Didereaux's and Charlies comments are also right on target. Jim Lewis' comments on heaving to, as mentioned earlier, are certainly worthwhile.
Another comment RE: loose halyards. Since I use a cruising spinnaker a lot, I always have a spare halyard available that can be used in either direction. This alone is a great reason to have a spinnaker halyard whether you intend to ever use a chute or not. It's really cheap insurance and could be a lifesaver.
Looking forward to catching up with you down the log somewhere. Maybe you can make it to one of our Fleet cruises or activities in Oriental before long.
I'm just back from Georgetown/Pawley's Island on a handholding trip and have a pile of email to work through so will catch up again later.
________
Amber Trichomes
Consider that mal de mer (no relation to Larry or his great boat) might have done you a huge favor by stopping you before attempting to go around Cape Fear offshore. Cape Fear is second only to Cape Hatteras as the second deadliest cape on the US Atlantic seaboard. Even in the best of weather, prudent skippers do not casually sail around either one as they can and will throw the unexpected at you. I take meclizine 24 hrs before going offshore to keep the seasickness in check. It's non-prescription but OTC at most pharmacies and works better than the "name brands" for me.
Heaving to is an essential maneuver to learn and can be a lifesaver. You could have used it while awaiting the tide change at Masonboro and been much more comfortable.
Your weather helm was almost certainly the result of too much mainsail up. The 30 is designed to have sail shortened (in the conditions you experienced here) with staysail and double-reefed main. The next step down is a reefed staysail and triple-reefed main. Down another step is a trysail and storm jib (on the inner stay).
You were lucky at Little River Inlet. That can be one nasty place and I avoid it (notice I didn't include it anywhere in my previous posts). (The Calabash anchorage almost makes up for the inlet, though.) The reasoning here is that there are no bailouts coming downwind in heavy air and breaking following seas in a narrow inlet. As someone replied, laying off hove to while waiting for better conditions might have been a more prudent option. Of course, if darkness was a factor then your planning was a bit amiss. Staying offshore overnight was an option, of course, but plunging through this inlet under sail in those conditions had to be a bit scary!
The pure wilderness of the Waccamaw River and Cape Romain is starkly contrasted against the "armpit" of the ICW behind Myrtle Beach. In some of the Waccamaw anchorages you wouldn't be surprised to see dinosaurs wandering about in the morning mist (Echo Creek at #29, Throughfare, for instance). And the Cape Romain Atlantic flyway is a different kind of beauty with waterfowl everywhere this time of year.
As for your points:
(1) ditto
(2) rethink the furler idea until you fully understand/appreciate the rig you have particularly reefing aspects. Reefing down as far as you would have to in the conditions you went through would blow out the clew of a genoa, making it literally untrimmable when fully unrolled. A properly rigged downhaul on headsails will douse quicker and easier than any furler can do it.
(3) All my life I've been amazed at the numbers of nice boats that sit in slips or on moorings that are seldom/never used.
(4) see reply to #2
Notes: I agree completely with Fred about the vang/preventer and also about removing the club. For a few questionable benefits it prevents attaining efficient sail shape, it's a killer to deal with in heavy conditions, and it renders the foredeck minimally useable for the rest. Really high pain-in-the-ass factor for me. I especially agree with Fred's last paragraph! (BTW, Fred, Fenix is really looking good!) Didereaux's and Charlies comments are also right on target. Jim Lewis' comments on heaving to, as mentioned earlier, are certainly worthwhile.
Another comment RE: loose halyards. Since I use a cruising spinnaker a lot, I always have a spare halyard available that can be used in either direction. This alone is a great reason to have a spinnaker halyard whether you intend to ever use a chute or not. It's really cheap insurance and could be a lifesaver.
Looking forward to catching up with you down the log somewhere. Maybe you can make it to one of our Fleet cruises or activities in Oriental before long.
I'm just back from Georgetown/Pawley's Island on a handholding trip and have a pile of email to work through so will catch up again later.
________
Amber Trichomes
Last edited by Andy Denmark on Feb 13th, '11, 03:21, edited 1 time in total.
heaving to, Beaufort and clubless cutter
Guys,
Thanks a million for your comments on my post -- it's worth a lot.
Bob, we'll sail to Beaufort for sure Jan/Feb when we get a good stretch of weather. Can't wait. No bugs.
Jim, Andy, et al, what's the proper method for heaving to in my cutter rig? Different method for carrying various sail in heavier conditions?
Little River WAS the hairiest because it was all following, even without contrary current. The seas had picked up a bit in SE swell by then so Frying Pan didn't really buffer it. Aside from those points, the conditions were relatively mild. We assessed which way things were moving prior to entry and high-sided it and there were no breakers once I got off the edges. Cutting the corner on the sea buoy may have been the folly there. As far as planning, I was cutting it close for sure. However, you'll be happy to know that we got to our pork chops and wine shortly after dark.
Now as far as the staysail boom goes, I guess I'd have to rig another winch and cleat for the staysail sheets. Not real sure Fred and others how you have yours set up. It sure is easy to sail as is.
I'll be adding the downhaul next trip and will get proficient with the existing sails for now. Can't afford roller-furling upgrade right now anyway.
Vang/preventer -- any recommendations? The vang I installed on my old trailerable was a 4:1 program(I think) with a fancy block/cam job which I can't see keeping the boom from jibing. Are ya'll talking about a rigid deal?
Fred, Fenix is really sharp. Hope one day I can do some projects on that scale with Anne Freeman. She really needs the topsides and decks painted, etc.
Andy, I'll be up Oriental Way this summer, late June or July. Hope to see you then and perhaps Jim and Parfait's Provider's skipper (can't remember his name) and any others while up that way.
Take Care, sure appreciate all the good counsel.
Chase
Thanks a million for your comments on my post -- it's worth a lot.
Bob, we'll sail to Beaufort for sure Jan/Feb when we get a good stretch of weather. Can't wait. No bugs.
Jim, Andy, et al, what's the proper method for heaving to in my cutter rig? Different method for carrying various sail in heavier conditions?
Little River WAS the hairiest because it was all following, even without contrary current. The seas had picked up a bit in SE swell by then so Frying Pan didn't really buffer it. Aside from those points, the conditions were relatively mild. We assessed which way things were moving prior to entry and high-sided it and there were no breakers once I got off the edges. Cutting the corner on the sea buoy may have been the folly there. As far as planning, I was cutting it close for sure. However, you'll be happy to know that we got to our pork chops and wine shortly after dark.
Now as far as the staysail boom goes, I guess I'd have to rig another winch and cleat for the staysail sheets. Not real sure Fred and others how you have yours set up. It sure is easy to sail as is.
I'll be adding the downhaul next trip and will get proficient with the existing sails for now. Can't afford roller-furling upgrade right now anyway.
Vang/preventer -- any recommendations? The vang I installed on my old trailerable was a 4:1 program(I think) with a fancy block/cam job which I can't see keeping the boom from jibing. Are ya'll talking about a rigid deal?
Fred, Fenix is really sharp. Hope one day I can do some projects on that scale with Anne Freeman. She really needs the topsides and decks painted, etc.
Andy, I'll be up Oriental Way this summer, late June or July. Hope to see you then and perhaps Jim and Parfait's Provider's skipper (can't remember his name) and any others while up that way.
Take Care, sure appreciate all the good counsel.
Chase