Singing In The Rigging

[Gerry/Barracuda]

Yesterdays winds proved an exciting test for a Cape Dory. As I readied the boat I felt winds would be in excess of 20mph. I turned on the weather for the Potomac River which said Smith Point to Cobb Island expect small craft warnings with winds from 20-30 mph. I decided to rig jacklines and wear a harness with short tether. I rigged a working jib and no main. I thought of reefed main but may be too much in the gusts. I motored out of Upper Machodoc Creek finding the winds from the northwest blowing against the tide it kicked it up a bit 2ft chop. Heading out the channel into the Potomac which here is 5-6miles wide and 40 miles to the Chesapeke Bay a north wind can kick it up. Well winds were at least 20-30mph constant speed as I approached the mid channel winds increased dramatically. I would estimate 40mph. The rail was in the water with spray crashing over the bow as waves were 3-4ft. Exciting. Tacking was very quick and at times dramatic. I sailed close hauled for a while and things got wild! Wind seemed to increase wind whipped spray off of the white caps. THE RIGGING WAS SINGING! Just like in the movies. Gusts may have exceeded 50-60mph. I tried to hove to with a little difficulty as the boat had a lot of weather helm. This I held for a while. With the wind so strong I thought that the jib may tear. I went back on starboard tack west back to the creek rail in the water. As I was a mile off shore winds abated to a comfortable 20-30mph. The sun was setting as I approached my slip. What an exciting ride I had. I will definitely get a storm jib as this will make it easier to control the boat.

fair winds,
Gerry/BarracudaCD25
Upper Machodoc Creek
Potomac River VA

[Larry DeMers]

Fun ride! Scary enough to cause a Pucker Factor 4 warning, but still exhilarating when done! Definetly get a storm jib and a deep dbl reef in the main, and rig it. Then you can point better in that stuff, and hove to if needed. Seems we shared a system with you. Read my report up the page a bit on "A Frontal Passage on Superior". We had that same wind sytem, and it kicked up 9fters. Incredibly, this weekend we have 14fters on tap. Weather report in that article. You will have the same system a few days down line I expect.

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
CD30 Sailing Superior

Yesterdays winds proved an exciting test for a Cape Dory. As I readied the boat I felt winds would be in excess of 20mph. I turned on the weather for the Potomac River which said Smith Point to Cobb Island expect small craft warnings with winds from 20-30 mph. I decided to rig jacklines and wear a harness with short tether. I rigged a working jib and no main. I thought of reefed main but may be too much in the gusts. I motored out of Upper Machodoc Creek finding the winds from the northwest blowing against the tide it kicked it up a bit 2ft chop. Heading out the channel into the Potomac which here is 5-6miles wide and 40 miles to the Chesapeke Bay a north wind can kick it up. Well winds were at least 20-30mph constant speed as I approached the mid channel winds increased dramatically. I would estimate 40mph. The rail was in the water with spray crashing over the bow as waves were 3-4ft. Exciting. Tacking was very quick and at times dramatic. I sailed close hauled for a while and things got wild! Wind seemed to increase wind whipped spray off of the white caps. THE RIGGING WAS SINGING! Just like in the movies. Gusts may have exceeded 50-60mph. I tried to hove to with a little difficulty as the boat had a lot of weather helm. This I held for a while. With the wind so strong I thought that the jib may tear. I went back on starboard tack west back to the creek rail in the water. As I was a mile off shore winds abated to a comfortable 20-30mph. The sun was setting as I approached my slip. What an exciting ride I had. I will definitely get a storm jib as this will make it easier to control the boat.

fair winds,
Gerry/BarracudaCD25
Upper Machodoc Creek
Potomac River VA

demers@sgi.com