The Lady Survives a Gale

Thursday AM found us listening to the weather and deciding to do another overnight to Fernandina Beach or St Augustine. The weather near shore (less than 20 miles offshore) had winds from the SW 15-20 kts, changing to W by about 1 PM then NW to N by 4PM with winds increasing to 20-30 from the NW to N. Winds offshore were to be much higher..25-35 with gusts into the 40's.The temp was a comfortable 65 while we prepared the boat for a rough night. Our alternative was to wait till Friday after the cold front..temps Thur night were to be the coldest of the year in Charleston. The wind Friday thru Saturday was 5-10 out of the NW....meant motoring overnight to Fernandina Beach not an option.

With the decision to go we left about 10:30..my mistake #1 and motored out into the incoming tide past Ft Sumter and out to sea. At 11AM I set sail, trimming as close to the wind as possible....our desired course was 217 deg which would have been almost directly into the wind....what else is new....the wind is always on the nose of non existent when I want to go somewhere. With the boat sailing comfortably at 7-8knts close hauled we cranked up the tunes and enjoyed the sail. The seas were comfortable due to being off a lee shore...meaning the wind was blowing off the beach, the waves are much smaller since they do not have time to build as long as you are close to shore. Our course on the vane where the sails are set to a specific wind angle to the boat had us sailing almost due south. As expected the wind started to shift to the WSW....the boat would change course as the wind shifted to the W...the course we wanted.....but was almost 2 pm before this shift tool place, which meant we were being pushed further off shore.. The winds started increasing thru the 20's into the 30+kts. The seas were in the 4-6 ft range became more confused as the wind direction was different than the existing wave pattern. We continued to reef down ( make the sails smaller as the wind velocity increased) the sail as we went from Force 6 to a steady Force7. The Beaufort scale is a wind velocity scale used by sailors to describe the wind and wave conditions. As you can see in the picture to the right we have most of the main furled...we are now sailing "Gin and Jigger" The Jenny and the mizzen balance the boat. A very comfortable way to sail in heavy weather. One can almost turn off the autopilot and the boat will steer itself when the sails are balanced the following scale I have left off 1-5 ....1-3 is the Iron Jenny range, 4 is ok but this boat likes 5,6. 6+ things start to get interesting.

The Beaufort Scale
The Beaufort Scale or Beaufort Wind Force Scale is a system for estimating wind strengths without the use of instruments, based on the effects wind has on the physical environment. The behaviour of smoke, waves, trees, etc., is rated on a 13 point scale of 0 (calm) to 12 (hurricane). The scale was devised in 1805 by the British naval Commander, later Admiral, Sir Francis Beaufort (1774-1875). A further set of numbers (13-17) for very strong winds were added by the US Weather Bureau in 1955.
The Beaufort Scale, as originally drawn up, made no reference to the speed of the wind and various attempts have been made to correlate the two.
The scale is not often used today as more direct methods are used by meteorologists to measure wind speed. However, it is still useful in estimating wind speeds, especially when anemometers are not available.
Other resources


Beaufort number 5 - Wind speeds: less than 18-22 knots
At sea: Moderate waves taking a more pronounced long form; many white hourses are formed; chance of some spray
Sea disturbance number: 4
Probable wave height: 2 m (6-7 ft); (4-8 ft; 1.2-2.4 m)
On land: Small trees in leaf begin to sway; crested wavelets form on inland waters
Notes: Yachts shorten sail
Beaufort number 6 - Strong Breeze
Wind speeds: 22-27 knots (25-31 mph; 39-49 kph; 10.8-13.8 mps)
At sea: Large waves begin to form; the white foam crests are more extensive everywhere; probably some spray
Sea disturbance number: 5
Probable wave height: 3 m (9-10 ft); (8-13 ft; 2.4-4 m)
On land: Large branches in motion; whistling heard in telegraph wires; umbrellas used with difficulty
Notes: Yachts with double reef in mainsail; cared required when fishing
Beaufort number 7 - Near Gale / Moderate Gale
Wind speeds: 28-33 knots (32-38 mph; 50-61 kph; 13.9-17.1 mps)
At sea: Sea heaps up and white foam from the breaking waves begins to be blown in streaks along the direction of the wind
Sea disturbance number: 6
Probable wave height: 4 m (13-14 ft); (13-20 ft; 4-6 m)
On land: Whole trees in motion; inconvenience felt when walking against wind
Notes: Yachts remain in harbour, those at sea lie to

Beaufort number 8 - Gale / Fresh Gale
Wind speeds: 34-40 knots (39-46 mph; 62-74 kph; 17.2-20.7 mps)
At sea: Moderately high waves of greater length; edges crests begin to break into spindrift; the foam is blown in well-marked streaks along the direction of the wind
Sea disturbance number: 6
Probable wave height: 5.5 m (18 ft); (13-20 ft; 4-6 m)
On land: Breaks twigs off trees; generally impedes progress
Notes: All yachts make for harbour if possible
Beaufort number 9 - Strong Gale
Wind speeds: 41-47 knots (47-54 mph; 75-88 kph; 20.8-24.4 mps)
At sea: High waves; dense streaks of foam along the direction of wind; crests of waves begin to topple, tumble and roll over; spray may affect visibility
Sea disturbance number: 6
Probable wave height: 7 m (23 ft); (13-20 ft; 4-6 m)
On land: Slight structural damage occurs (chimney post and slates removed)
Notes:
Beaufort number 10 - Storm / Whole Gale
Wind speeds: 48-55 knots (55-63 mph; 89-102 kph; 24.5-28.4 mps)
At sea: Very high waves with long overhanging crests; resulting foam in great patches is blown in dense white streaks along the direction of the wind; on the whole, the surface of the sea takes a white appearance; tumbling of the sea becomes heavy and shock-like; visibility affected
Sea disturbance number: 7
Probable wave height: 9 m (29 ft); (20-30 ft; 6-9 m)
On land: Seldom experienced inland; trees uprooted; considerable structural damage occurs
Beaufort number 11 - Violent Storm / Storm
Wind speeds: 56-63 knots (64-75 mph; 103-117 kph; 28.5-32.6 mps)
At sea: Exceptionally high waves (small and medium size ships might be for a time lost from view behind waves); sea is completely covered with long white patches of foam lying along the direction of wind; everywhere the edges are blown into froth; visibility affected
Sea disturbance number: 8
Probable wave height: 11 m (37 ft); (30-45 ft; 9-14 m)
On land: Very rarely experienced; accompanied by widespread damage
Notes:
Beaufort number 12 (-17) - Hurricane
Wind speeds: 64 knots and greater (> 75 mph; >117 kph; >32.7 mps)
At sea: The air is filled with foam and spray; sea completely white with driving spray; visibility very seriously affected
Sea disturbance number: 9
Probable wave height: 11 m and more (> 37 ft); (>45 ft; >14 m)
On land: Very rarely experienced; accompanied by widespread damage
Notes:

By 4pm the wind was W at a continuous Force 8 to 9. Wind gusting into the 40+ knot range. I continued to reef down, the boat sailing at 6 kts. Waves were starting to break over the bow. My fear is that we blow out a sail.. Boat is doing well...better than the crew. One hell of a ride!!!!..

It was now 4:30PM, the winds were Force 9. I continued to reef down..Joyce was getting cold as the temp had dropped below 50 deg and with the wind chill it was getting a little uncomfortable up above. I sent her below..had her crank up the generator and turn on the heat. The batteries needed charging and the heater is an added benefit.Waves were still breaking over the foredeck...every once and a while we would get one to slap amidships and 20 -30 gallons would crash over the dodger. It would have flattened a soft dodger. It was going to be an interesting evening. We were steady Force 9, the seas even more confused. And I was starting to get cold, I reefed down to 2 little hankies and went below....there was nothing further I could do up above. It was a beautiful sunset and the stars were coming out...but was not a night for star watching.

Once below with the radar..yes working just fine now, we got out the pillows and piled them up in the Saloon. We laid there watching the wind instrument show a steady Force 9...with a few 10's. According to the weather things should be settling down by 11:30 PM. I was starting fall asleep. Joyce took the watch...meaning she took over the aft end of the settee. By about 1:30 the wind had dropped to Force 7-8 with a gust to 9. Joyce went aft and I took the watch. At 3:30 Joyce relieved me ...we were Force 6-7...but I had no plans of adjusting sails till daylight. The boat was sailing at 4-5 kts. About 5AM I sent Joyce back....winds were down to Force 5 seas also down...put out some sail to keep the boat going 6=7 kts...by 8am we had sail up in 20 kts ..boat doing 7-8 kts...Big breakfast...eggs, Joyce's sprouts, some magic spices to add some flavor....outstanding...we did forget dinner the night before. Arrive into Fernandina Beach about 2PM...showered, cleaned up the mess...anything not nailed down was not in its rightful place.

Mistake #1 We should have waited till 1-2 pm before leaving. The winds would have shifted to the W and we would not have been pushed as far E where the winds and seas were higher.

Mistake # 2 Because we did leave early, I should have tacked back toward shore to keep from getting so far E and away for the shore.

Luck on our side ...since we were only 20-30 miles offshore the waves were only about 1/2 the size because we were in the lee of the coast. Had the winds been form the east at that speed...well let's not go there.

This was the 1st major blow I have been through in 27,000 miles of sailing on this boat. We could have waited till Friday and missed this blow. It was our choice...or some might think our mistake, but either way it's nice to know my boat and crew can stand up the some heavy weather. Once we reefed down and went below, the boat took care of its self and us. Not till we stuck our head out the hatch did we appreciate our safe haven. A real confidence builder for both the Capt and 1st Mate.