Ep 19 Applying Lesson Learned from Gale: Solo Deployment of Storm Bag Jib
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ต.ค. 2017
- I test my ability to deploy (solo sailing) my new Storm Bag jib. I also demonstrate my departure and arrival procedures from/to my berth slip (supplementing Episode 18). A Storm Bag is a good compromise solution for gales for boat owners that do not have an inner forestay.
returning to sailing now son has grown big enough to feed himself and drive himself around. these are really helpful and enjoyable... tks
Patrick, appreciate your willingness to explore and discuss options, helps solo and short handlers think about what we are doing.
Practical suggestions always welcome.look forward to more vids...
Many thanks JJ.
Another great show, thanx Patrick.
Very pleased you made it back it one piece! Really enjoyed the series. Looking forward to hearing about your next adventure.
Always honest confessions......Bravo...!!
Thank you for some excellent work.
Thanks for your always calm, constructive and positive approach, very inspiring !
Thanks for the kind feedback Luca. Much appreciated.
Many thanks for these very useful instructional tips!
This is just a fantastic set of videos! Really helpful... thank you!
Many thanks Paul. Much appreciated.
Thanks Patrick. Once again a very informative lesson for me. Cheers.
Thanks Mark. I'm glad you got something from this one despite the very poor technical quality. Cheers.
You've got some nerve, sir, but I like how you comment on everything you are doing or planning to do. Thank you for that.
another great video! thank you! watching from work in São Paulo, Brazil! So inspiring and motivational! Can't wait to begin my full time sailing.
Hello in Sao Paulo (where I visited many times on business). Thanks much for the kind remark. Much appreciated.
I really like your very educative and entertaining videos here at your channel. You know what you are talking about. No doubt about that. Looking forward watching more. All the best wishes.
Very kind of you Bjorn. Many thanks.
Thanks for the series of videos. I watch a lot of sailing channels that discribe destinations. Which I enjoy seeing all the places I can travel to by sailing. I enjoy your format as you persent yourself to the viewer as a conversation on sailing techinc, troubleshooting thought process and general trip sailing details. I hope you put out more content like this. Thxs for your efforts- Ed
You've made my day Ed. Many thanks.
Hello Captain, i just watch all of your video in one day! They were really interesting as you can see, i had to see them all. Thank you very much for your time and sharing your experience. Cheers from another pilot and part-time sailor.Bon vent!
I admire your patience Snorak for putting up with my ramblings for all of that time! There are many things that carry-over from aviation to sailing -- understanding weather/wind, use of a radio, confidence to go solo, etc. But, many things in sailing we aren't allowed to do in aviation like maintenance. I've learned a lot about tinkering with tools since buying my boat. :-) Thanks for your kind remarks.
Hi Patrick. I've been watching your videos for nearly the past year and wanted to say thank you for doing what you do. It's educational and motivating. I recently purchased a Cape Dory 31 in New England, with eventual plans of doing singlehanded coastal and blue water sailing, and I truly appreciate your videos and advice. Stay safe out there.
Congrats on the purchase of your boat. I'm sure it will be the source of many great adventures for you, as mine has been for me.
I've thoroughly enjoyed watching this entire season, that I've just gone and watched them all again, cant wait for more videos, thank you sooo much, hope to cross paths with you in a port somewhere in the world so I can shake your hand and buy you a beer. Best wishes dan.
I never turn down a free beer Dan. I will be a pleasure to share one with you. Best
I am so glad these video or available. I can't believe you left genua on in that previous storm.
Very very very good job!!!! Very good 👍
Great video, answered my questions pertaining to me having a roller furling 140 genoa on my 1995 38 Morgan
As someone who is just about to start sailing for the first time early next year, these video's are so interesting and helpful. I enjoy the channels that have people sailing around the world etc, but your channel is so informative. Thank you so much.
And good luck to you as the adventure begins. Be warned, it is very addictive. :-)
Nice heave-to demostration. Real seamanship. Not everyone can do it. Well done!
Thanks Carlos. My boat likes to show its 'personality' when I heave to. I often spend 10 minutes trying to adjust the boom and sails just right......but every adjustment requires a readjustment. Sometimes quite frustrating. Many thanks for watching. Much appreciated.
I’m watching your vd in Japan
very useful and practical thanks!
Doumo arigatou gozaimasu. Very kind of you. Best regards
Patrick- I've watched your videos over the last week. What a delight. My offshore sailng has been on big racing boats with strong crews. The manner in which you handled Isabelle over the course of your trip, through calms, gales, damaged gear and what must have been some really uncomfortable conditions was as good as anything I've seen . Composure goes a long way, as does a conservative choice of sails based on the conditions and the crew, and in your case, absence thereof. In my own now limited coastal sailing I find that good planning in terms of course, sails and navigation goes a long way in avoiding the need for heroics something best left to the young and foolis. Again Bravo to you for showing all of us how its done.
You've made my day Martin. Thanks for the wonderful feedback. As you could tell, I am still very much in the learning mode, but having great fun doing so --- and far past the age of being too proud to show errors. Thanks for watching and commenting. Fair winds to you.
Impressive boat handling on leaving and docking. I had a forestay and staysail on my previous boat and sailed comfortably in winds over 45 kts. This is a good alternative. Thanks for the demo.
I'm getting a quote on an inner forestay on my boat this week GoodEnding. The Storm Bag is a good solution to 'get home safely', but I really need a staysail also --- especially as I plan to head up to the North Sea in the Spring. Thanks for watching.
Another belter Patrick 🇬🇧
Thanks for the feedback Steve. Fair winds.
series are very good. thank you for sharing..
Many thanks Repla.
Patrick thank you so much for the effort and time you have put in to making these videos. I have learnt a lot from watching them. I also thank you for your honesty and opinions. It is refreshing to see how life really is on voyages both coastal and blue water and not just see the exciting happy bits. I am soon to be sailing as crew down to Gran Canaria from Portsmouth in the UK on board a 72ft challenger yacht. This will be the longest sea passage I have done and I intend to learn a lot from it and prepare myself for my dream of doing it single handed albeit on a smaller vessel. Thanks again and please do keep up the good work, it’s all very enjoyable and educational. Fair winds Patrick. Regards Sean
Wow. 72 feet ---- that's in a completely different league! Sounds like a great adventure ahead of you. Best wishes for a great sail.
Hi Patrick - Thanks for putting together this series. I agree with your comment about motoring with conviction in a marina, I have seen too many accidents where slow and careful meant that wind and current took control
Well exactly Philip. It's hard to get that balance right, but I think it is slightly better to err on the side of a little too fast (and better control) than the other way around. Obviously, if you have a crew aboard, things become a bit simpler. Best to you.
We have thoroughly enjoyed your videos and learnt things [two 70+ year old sailors in Cowes]
Thanks for the kind feedback Peter. (I'm quickly catching up to you on the age thing!) Fair winds.
Patrick, you could make a living just handling people's yachts, your brilliant.
Ha! I'm just about used to how my boat handles coming into and leaving a marina. My limited brain power could never handle the complexity of knowing how other boats might respond. ;-) Thanks for watching Geoffrey.
Thank s Patrick, is really interesting, I was not knowing about this storm jib arrangement, it's really useful to know and for future use, from what I see in your video it's really more useful that a normal jib. Cheer's and keep going with good video s :)
Thanks Super ADI. A storm jib is not normally something you would use below 30 kts -- it just doesn't have enough power in lower winds due to its lack of size. Obviously, that lack of size becomes a great advantage when the wind gets to 35+ knots. However, at 35 knots of wind, a solo sailor is going to struggle trying to get a 'classic' sail up by him/herself. That's when a 'clip on' Storm Bag really earns its salary. That's when I wish I had had one with me during my light gale on my trip to the Azores. Thanks again for watching.
Hello Patrick, I'm new to your TH-cam page, I have just finished to see all your vlog, I must say, it was fantastic and very inspiring, from how to mooring, solo sail cross over to Azeros, and all technical informations, Thanks you very much and look for ward to see next EP.
Very kind of you to drop such a nice note Ann Lisbeth. Much appreciated.
Wow that's a great improvement ! That storm jib is a must have sail !
Yes, a few have criticized it, but I think it is a great 'get me home' sail. I would find another solution to cross the atlantic (inner forestay with solent or cutter staysail) --- but for coastal and short (200-300 mile passages) where you will generally have a reliable the weather forecast, this is great insurance.
@@patricklaine6958 I always say " any port in a storm " I'm not fussy when the need arises !
Hi Patrick. I just discovered your channel today and unashamedly watched them all in one go. I solo sail on the Chesapeake Bay and will be upgrading to a larger boat shortly (from a 28 ft to 33/35 -ish) and have enjoyed your Azores trip and docking techniques. For a straight-forward channel about sailing, your did a great job and I look forward to what you produce next ... easily subscribed to your channel.
Thanks
Chris
Very kind of you Tubeu. Thanks very much. I lived on the banks of the Cheapeake for a period, and loved getting out on small, motorless sailboats there. Great memories.
I’ve just arrived to your channel after viewing tons of sailing videos from people badly equipped, lacking good forecasts, not understanding weather and risking their security in ocean passages. Would like to congratulate your positive and methodical approach to sailing, I think that’s the way. And I have learnt from your experiences so honestly exposed. Keep it up. From a former sailor; a big thumbs up! If you ever plan to coming to south of Spain (Huelva, Cadiz or Sevilla) or you are transiting to the Med. Let me know. I’d try to say hello to you If my schedule allows and have a beer together. Cheers and fair winds!!
Very kind of you Juanjo. If I make it down there, I'll certainly give a shout. The first one will be on me.
My friend, your videos are waaay way better than any RYA or PER teaching videos. Your videos should be use in classrooms.
Thanks a lot!!!!
Very kind comment Mariano, but those guys are real pros.......given a choice between watching my videos, or listening to them, you are much better off with the latter. :-)
Way to go ! congrats !
Super chronique, très enrichissante, un très bon transfert d'expérience, la chaine monte c'est bon signe !
Oui merci Fred. Je suis étonné d'avoir suscité autant d'intérêt avec mes modestes connaissances et expériences. A bientôt à La Rochelle j'espère.
Great video.
Thanks for the visit Conyermud. Much appreciated.
Your a very lucky guy, Patrick. Doing the Azores is something I have always regretted not doing, when I had the opportunity. Nice to see the the hands-on stuff in the later episodes. Very inspiring. Interesting mainsheet configuration? Also, I’ve added “volvo-ing” to my book of nautical terms. Fair winds, and be safe.
Volvo wind has been a Godsend to me on quite a number of occasions now. I sent a note to the publisher of a book on meteorology, and I think they are going to add it to the chapter on notable regional winds. :-) Many thanks for watching.
Patrick, great work with the go pro. I have an inner forestay that’s hooked up with a pelican hook and hanked on staysail at 22kt+.
Can be dropped and replaced with “ orange” when really nasty..
I watch the weather carefully, but not as gusty as the North Sea!
Really enjoy the vids, very instructive and inspiring..
Bon Chance
S/V Venceremos
+j.j. Thanks. You have the ideal set-up, and one that I want. I got my first eye-watering quote for that just before Christmas. For viewers who do not have an inner forestay like j.j. but are considering one, it is not just a question of drilling a hole or two in the foredeck for an eyelet and attaching a cable to the mast. The forces on the foredeck will be enormous on a 40 boat, so you risk separating deck from sidewalls. So, you either run the forestay all the way through the deck and out the forward bow (to be attached to a stainless steel plate), or you build a construction internally so that the forces on the eyelet are shared by the deck and the sidewalls. $$$$. Then you need to decide to run the cable to near the top of the mast, or only to about spreader level. (There are sail form trade-offs with either solution.) However, if you run to the spreaders, you now also need to install two running backstays for additional support to the mast. $$$$. Then you either use the same fairlead track, or build a new one more inboard for better sail trim. $$$$$. Then you have to install additional clutches and anti-friction rings for guides for the halyard (and possibly a new furler). $$$$$ And don't forget a new halyard and opening in the upper mast. $$$$ It's quite an investment in time and money. But, for serious blue water sailing, it is a necessity. Bon vent à Venceremos.
Patrick, good test, which just confirmed I'll never be buying one. I'm sure you would be much better off with a nice Dyneema inner stay. Far more options to play with including added sails for lighter airs. Also everything could be ready to hoist, including sheets, just hank on the jib of your choice. I think you worried about stowing your fenders, but that looked like very hard work. Still well done for testing, more of the same?
greetings from Finland!
And Hei to Tero in Finland. Thanks for watching. :-)
Ahoi Patrick, thank you very much for showing the storm jib. I think it might be not the best solution, but one of the best. It works surprisingly well and fast, but I would not like to crawl to the bow in really high winds. Probably it needs a lot of practice, what most people forget when they buy new gear. It takes a lot of time if you have to read the manuel of the life raft, the storm jib, the radio, the epib etc. just in the moment you get in trouble ;) I was really impressed that you could heave to with this litte peace of fabric. I think it is one of the best storm tactics if you have enough room to leeward. I once saw a system where the storm jib was in a sack/tunnel like a gennacker on deck in front of the mast. The lower end of it's forestay was already shackeld to a bold behind the furl and the sheets had their own pulley in the right position and went to the cockpit all the time. So the only thing you had to do was to put the Spi-haleyard on its head when you see the gale coming and pull the storm jib out of the bag when you need it. Hope it was possible to understand what i mean ;) Anyways, I think the stormbag is a good option for the most of us, especially if you don't wait till the last moment to hoist it.
Thank you very much for your very constructive comment Capt Sailnator. Some others have criticized the Storm Bag because it is not perfect. Well, I'm not looking for perfection. Every sail solution will have its advantages and disadvantages. I feel very comfortable going to the bow with the Storm Bag and attaching it. I'm sure I can do the entire process in 90 seconds, now that I have done it once. I feel much less enthusiastic about carrying a sail bag forward solo, and pulling it out to hank on to the inner forestay, and then retreating to hoist the halyard. That sounds 'challenging' in 35 kts of wind. The system you describe sounds wonderful, but has the disadvantage of leaving a fair amount of sail on the forward deck in a storm. That said, I like the simplicity, and that most of the hard work is done before the storm hits. As you state, it's much better to go to the storm sail too early rather than wait until too late. :-) Fair winds to you.
Great video, many thanks. Some your videos I am watching many time as can because so high quality and so in details, I like it very much. I wish you a lovely evening. my Dear friend sailor. Your all the videos to me very impressive and I am really enjoying watching wish pleasure.
And fair winds to you on your great journey too Rimas.
Impressive handling in and out of that marina. You make it look easy. I havent had the chance to do that myself, but, I already know it can be the hardest part of sailing. So, it does concern someone like myself. Someone thats never piloted anything other than a 20' Cuddy Cab StarCraft before thats planning on becoming a Live Aboard on a 33-35' Monohull. If you havent already and take request. A detailed video or two covering that topic, "Ship Handling in a Marina", would be of greatly appreciated. Also, Thanks for the videos. Ive enjoyed them all so far.
Thanks Darren. I filmed around 90 arrivals --- and a few departures in later episodes, but did not do one just dedicated to marina maneuvers. That would probably be a good idea. Thanks for watching.
I thinking of purchasing a gale sail for the same purpose. This is very interesting! I think it's a better option for a passage like I intend to take it on.
I still carry mine with me, but have never used it.... It's a valuable tool, so I'll keep it with me. Fair winds.
Interesting, but looked like more work than a regular hank-on storm jib. Of course you need an inner stay for the latter. Good job getting into the slip in those blustery conditions!
Yeah, I think I made it look harder to do than it really is Kevin. (It was my first time using this new system in real wind.) The key point with this system is that I don't have to manipulate any sail while on the foredeck --- just attach the halyard to the bag and run the sheets. That's important to me as a solo sailor. That said, I will certainly install an inner forestay before making a transat passage. Also, I've seen some who actually hank on the storm jib while it is still in the turtle and just leave the package attached to the safety lines or mast until needed. That's a pretty good way of avoiding having to deal with the canvas in a storm. Thanks for the comment.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. Very nicely presented content and impressive knowledge! Let me know if you ever sail to Oslo!
Thank you Geir. Norway is tentatively on my list for a passage next Spring/Summer. I'll note your name and will contact you with pleasure if I make a port call in Oslo. Very best
That would be great! I used to have a 24' Draco Summerwind and I am in the process of buying something bigger. Probably in the spring. It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on boat sizes for solo sailing. When does it get too big? When is it too small? How did you choose yours and are you happy with it?
While owners have favorite brands of boats Geir, I think the previous owner is more important than the specific brand of the boat you buy. If you think about it, the big names will have Seldon masts and boom, Lewmar winches, a Volvo Penta engine, and sails from one of the well-known companies. (You can substitute other major brand names for specific components, but you get the idea --- they are all very good.) Thus, it then comes down to preferences about cabin layout. Far more important is how the previous owner cared for the boat. If it was a charter boat, well, it was probably treated roughly. A boat owned by a serious sailor, who took it out often, will likely have been well-maintained. A boat owned by someone who never left port..... well, not for me. As to length, if you plan on doing a lot of solo sailing, I think 40' is a good compromise between comfort and ease of doing port maneuvers. Longer than 40 feet and I would not be comfortable doing port maneuvers solo. They can be quite stressful in winds/current (unless you have crew to help you). Good luck in your search Geir, and perhaps this Summer!
re-watched this video. I always learn something or catch something new when I watch your videos. This time it was, "send in the clowns....." 😆
Ha! That one slipped in as I was being overwhelmed by mother nature. She chuckled, and then called off her dogs.
@@patricklaine6958 if you ever make it to the Chesapeake, I would love to treat you to a crab cake or your choice.
Hi Patrick - thank you for this, and in fact for all your video output, they are both interesting and a pleasure to watch.👍 The storm bag innovation seemed to perform reasonably well but the one shot nature of it is a huge drawback. I cannot help thinking the inner forestay is the way to way to go, and rather like the principle of when to reef, the time to rig the storm sail is 5 mins before you thought of rigging it.😉 I would have thought it could be prerigged and bagged if you saw a weather system approaching.
You are right of course Norman. My concern would be that I would be tempted to just reef the genoa (until it is too late). Then I would be faced with trying to hank-on a storm sail in 35 kts of wind. As you suggest, the Storm Bag is a nice product, but it really is a 'get me home' sail for a short passage where you would not have to use it a second time (Bay of Biscay, North Sea, English Channel, etc.). That's what I bought it for....not a Transat or cruising the Southern Ocean. In those cases, an inner forestay is clearly the way to go. Best regards
Thank you for the info
Many thanks Paul. Sorry for the poor sound on that one. I do eventually get better at that.
Sheeting in the main a bit will bring you closer to the wind and keep the boat in the flat water. You might find your boat will heave to perfectly without any fore sail at all, a lot of modern sloop rigs do. Nice video, keep them coming!
Yeah --- in another video I show that the boat heaves to perfectly in up to about 20 kts of wind. When the wind increases over 25-30 kts or so, it just never stabilizes, and I have tried every configuration (including no headsail at all). I just think the other forces (wind/seas/lee drift) are too much for the spade rudder and fin keel to counter-act in severe conditions --- at least, I have not been able to on my boat. That said, I prefer foreaching anyway --- and have now learned to fall off another 5-10° so the headsail does not flog when doing that. Thanks for commenting.
Great information
Thanks Mr. I considered not posting due to the terrible sound, but figured that some people may find a little of interest here. Relieved. :-)
Interesting. I had a Dacron storm jib blow out in a gale otw to Gulfport one night in the Mississippi sound. (60') rigged for a big offshore crew but delivering for a race the following weekend. had to go forward to get it down and save it. I needed it to help point and manuever and had to go to the motor. Forces at play broke skeg and it started flooding. I stuffed the hole with a t-shirt and nursed it into the harbor, saved the boat. The things we do for regattas!
Wow. Now that is a memorable passage. I like boring, uneventful passages. :-)
Me too. Except for the long part. I'm not sure I'd have patience necessary to remain on a boat for 4 weeks at a time. Yours is fast enough that you make good time even with reduced sail. I totally get that. I wouldn't want to fly a Spinnaker by myself either.
Great video. To repack this sail, that will be a tuff one and not possible on board. So if you go offshore several days not the best option. Thanks for the video.
Thanks EJ. Well, yes and no. Storm Jib is not a sail you will use very often --- in fact, once a year ---- perhaps. It's (very) rare to run into two full gales during the passage time most of us spend at sea. I have done a fair amount of sailing now --- and have never encountered two gales in the same passage. I don't consider the fact that it can't be repacked on board a major problem. It is much better to have the insurance of the storm jib aboard --- and repack it when you get to your next harbor. :-)
@@patricklaine6958 yes that's true but it could happen. So I am fine with my ATN gail sail just in case, running down the Pacific!!
You are welcome...fair winds
Thanks for sharing your experience.
That is a bucket load of money for a one off use.
Sounds like folding a parachute.
I love that description Mick -- "folding a parachute". (But that is exactly the issue. It can't really be done on the boat.) You can buy another type of 'wrap-around' sail made by ATN called the Gale Sail. It is a more conventional type sail where you just clip the sleeve on the leading edge of the storm jib around the furled genoa. It can be "reused". I didn't buy it because I just couldn't picture myself on the bow, alone, wrestling with a lot of canvas in 30+ Kts of wind. The other alternative is to mount an inner forestay (which I'll probably do eventually). Thanks for watching. Folding a parachute. Love it.
I'm just starting out, I have an 11 meter cat,
And no experience sailing so love all you folks who are sharing your knowledge and experience.
You do a great technical sailing channel.
Thanks.
Very best to you and your cat Mick. Bon vent.
Merci bon monsieur . Than you for your tremendous contributions to the sailing community. 👌 ⛵️ ⛵️ ⛵️ 👌
Very kind of you Zone Television. Much appreciated.
Do another solo voyage it's really fascinating to watch
Thanks so much for the encouragement Frank. My style/knowledge irritates some of the pros, but I can live with that. :-)
I think that this series is better instruction than you get from many ‘schools’ that charge a lot of cash. Start a Patreon page I say.
Very kind of you Nixon. I'm not interested in monetizing this though ---- it's just for fun. I wanted to share my learning experience with other intermediate level sailors. The schools are expensive, but those pros know their stuff. Thanks for watching. Much appreciated.
Very useful. I've just finished catching up on all your videos, so the storm you experienced on the way to the Azores is fresh in my mind. The storm bag looks about as 'easy' as the alternative of a removable inner forestay. Practical Boat Owner magazine did a test (in about 45 knots) last year and liked the storm bag - but also concluded that it would be near impossible to re-pack on the boat. As I will need to get my rigging replaced in the next 12 months I am seriously thinking about the removable inner forestay option. - I used one on a training 40 ft boat in a force 8 once and it was pretty simple to deploy. Great demonstration of leaving a finger pontoon - I never have the confidence to give a lot of throttle and get moving quickly to give steerage, although I know I should.
Thanks JAS. I repacked the Storm Bag today at home after using it on the boat yesterday. As another contributor commented with laser precision, the Storm Bag really is like a parachute -- good for one use, and then you need to repack it on land. I too have used the removable stay on another boat, and found it exceptionally easy to use. I will definitely put in a removable stay at the next major works, but even with that, the thought of hanking on a sail, solo, on the foredeck in 35 kts of wind is, well, daunting. I'm sure it can be done, but I'm not looking forward to it. Regarding maneuvering speed in marinas, I know everyone says 'slow and easy', but I have never made a major error by moving, let's say, 'with conviction'. On the other hand, I have totally botched arrivals/departures by not having enough speed. A delicate balance. Looking forward to your next video. They are terrific.
Patrick, what gear are you using for filming?
+j.j., all videos were done with a Hero 5 Session GoPro. The mic is embedded in the camera (not an external mic that you can put a 'dead cat' on) so it is very susceptible to wind noise. I tried to film under the spray hood whenever there was any wind at all. Thanks for watching.
The last time I sailed on a boat with an inner forestay, we rigged up the storm sail long before the high winds hit, and then sailed as a "cutter". Then as the winds built, we reefed the genoa until it was time to fully furl it-- et voila, the storm jib was already hoisted and working! BTW, I'll bet you would have been able to heave to exactly the way you had wanted to with the storm bag, if the main were smaller and more balanced to the tiny headsail.
January 23, 2013 sail magazine article on fabric rig Solent rig.Patrick this looks promising.the material is used for fabric standing rigging, light and easily handled by one person..
I may convert from steel to fabric for staysail, and add Solent rig..
Yes -- dyneema stays and shrouds are becoming more common now J.J. My concerns are three: 1) any chafing could rapidly become a crisis; 2) they often use a block/pulley to tighten them --- so just another piece of hardware to get in the way of things; and 3) UV will damage it, but you can't see or measure the damage. I think this is a great development for racers, but not so sure about for cruisers. That said, several boats on my pontoon have already made thee switch so my concerns are certainly overstated. Thanks for commenting.
The fuel system should in fact, self polish as the pumps always supply more fuel than required. The excess is returned to the tank, so the tank should stay relatively clean but after a few years of use stuff will always find the first suitable location to build up and form a slug. Knowing where that point is on your system is the secret and as you say, keeping the tank topped up where possible is good practice and a glass bowl trap helps but once again the slug can build on the first inward hose to pipe joint. So checking that first connection at least once a year is a good thing. Good vid on an important subject.
Excellent commentary Barry. Another engineer also commented that our systems are self-polishing already. I hadn't thought of it that way, but you are exactly right. One change I want to make on my boat is to change the separator from being solid (with drain bolt on the bottom), to one with a glass bowl. I think I am required to put in some kind of heat shield around the glass as I need to mount it in the engine room. I'd also like put it in a slightly higher place, but don't know what impact that will have on fuel line pressure. I'll ask an expert before changing anything.
Thank you Patrick. Fascinating stuff! Very helpful. Learned a lot from your videos. Including this storm bag thing. Looks like a working well, including "heave-to". If you look at your first tack, while you were handling the jib sheets, the boat was in "heave-to" state and actually stopped, as it supposed to...Do you feel it will be able to that at 30+ knots?
You're exactly right Yaakov. I was effectively 'hove to' then and stopped. How will it behave in a real storm? Time will tell. I certainly have much more confidence that I am better equipped now than when I went through the gale on the way to the Azores. Thanks for commenting. Much appreciated.
Appreciate the concerns. I guess I would consult with owners and riggers.
Yeah --- I am going to ask around. (I have a friend who is a semi-retired rigger. I'll ask what he thinks.) It certainly seems like an elegant solution if they are robust enough. Thanks for commenting.
Understood,I’ll ask around too.
That storm bag seems to be flapping pretty good and its higher then I thought it would be . Am I being too critical ? You're seeing things live and I'm looking through your camera lens ! I'm pleased that you're happy with it ! I need to do exactly what you did.
No, you are right. I used a makeshift 'anti-friction ring' attached at the base of the shroud lines for the sheets. That was poorly placed. I'll use the normal sheet track the next time. Good spot.
HUMM. I'm paying attention. Especially the solo leaving and returning. My 381 is smaller but I hate to hit things. Never heard of the Storm Bag, thanks.
Ron
Solo arrivals and departures will always be challenging. With a second crewperson aboard, you just get somewhere close to the finger/pontoon, and that person steps ashore with a line in hand. In light winds/current you can often do the same when solo. When winds or current are stronger, you need to develop a customized technique for solo arrivals/departures that matches the circumstances of the marina, and the nature/size of you boat. No one solution will work everywhere. Solo sailors need to be creative, and thick-skinned because of all of the 'advice' they will get from multi-crew skippers with limited solo experience. :-) Best regard rjl.
Hello Patrick, I have just finished watching all your videos- very enjoyable and instructive, thank you. .
One question. On your trip out to the Azores, you turned off your freezer to conserve your battery power but I thought you had a fuel cell installed on board?
Thanks David. Yes, I had a fuel cell on-board, and it behaved beautifully. I turned off the fridge and a few other non-essential electrical devices just as a precautionary measure. With high seas and strong winds, the autopilot was working quite hard, and I didn't want to take any chances of it draining the battery completely. My fuel cell is a bit 'undercapacity' for the size boat I have, but it worked just fine maintaining a good charge on the battery through 30 hours of gale without needing to resort to the (dead) engine. I have mentioned it elsewhere, if I were to get a fuel cell again, I would get one with more capacity to be comletely at ease. Great question.
It appears that the head or tack needs to be tightened to keep the sail from flogging. I would also try sheeting between the mast and the standing rigging to keep the sail flat. The center of effort is still far forward, even with the sail on the head-stay. I think you will fore-reach out of your slick or your bow will be blown to leeward in a hove to scenario with high winds. Cant wait to see it in action. Nice video.
Well spotted Oceanghost. This was the first time I ever used this sail, and for the sheets, I rigged anti-friction rings at each shroud base. This just wasn't the right position. In the 'real thing', I will pull the sheet through the normal genoa fairlead traveller, and that should allow me to adjust the sail much flatter and tighter and eliminate the flogging. I'll be sure to film it if I find myself in a hard blow so we can see how it works out. Obviously, the best solution is an inner forestay, but that will be for next year. Thanks for watching.
Thanks Patrick,
Do you have prop walk to port?
Cheers, very helpful.
I have a sail drive, not a conventional shaft and prop, so the prop walk is much less of a factor on this boat. When I put it in reverse, there is a slight movement to starboard.
Thanks For sharing your experience of Storm Bag. I share your concerns over use of furled Genoa in storm conditions, primarily because you’re totally reliant upon furling (line) drum and/or halyard holding under extreme conditions. The ever present danger of the halyard failing and Genoa unfurling in extreme conditions could be catastrophic.. Incidentally I didn’t see your existing Genoa sheets in place, I’m assuming you unshackled them and secured the furled Genoa with ties. Nice to see the Storm bag raised well above the deck out of harms way in plunging seas - that’s another drawback with part furled genoa, dependent on how high the foot is cut. Very impressive stern manoeuvres when leaving the pontoon, assisted I think by your hull design and twin rudders. My friend’s long keel Camper Nicholson is not so obliging and a real ‘dog’ to steer astern, but gains hove-to. Thanks very informative.
Thanks Evanofeilpe. One of my major concerns as a solo sailor is what will I do if the furling line parts and the headsail completely unfurls. A nightmare scenario. (I have a Plan B and Plan C, but not very reassuring.) The genoa sheets do remain in place when using the Storm Bag. You either turn the furler until the sheets reach deck level (if the line is long enough), or just pull them down to the deck by hand and attach the Storm Bag over them (which is what I did). I agree completely with your comments about having the storm jib foot high enough to avoid waves, but low enough to lower the center of force (compared to a genoa). Very important. BTW, I do not have twin rudders, but do not have the issue of the long keel, which I agree is very difficult to maneuver going astern. Those guys are real masters in their ability to get in and out of tight places.
Nice job documenting your trip to the Azores! Thanks. The inner forestay seems a far better solution than the Storm Bag. If you have a spare halyard you only need to attach two fittings to the mast: one to connect the inner forestay to the mast and another one to guide the spare halyard to a position below the inner forestay. Then you must decide on a method to tension the inner forestay. I've recently done this myself (using a dyneema stay) and could provide pictures. Karel
Yes Karel, one of my neighbors has a removable inner forestay made from dyneema. It is a very appealing concept. That said, you still have to go forward solo in 35 kts with a sailbag in your hand and hank on the storm jib...... That is what worries me about this strategy. Another viewer has suggested I install a permanent inner forestay with a stay sail on a furler. As soon as the wind becomes too much for the full genoa, you furl it, and unfurl the stay sail. That is an appealing idea as well, though you give up some tacking flexibility with the fixed inner stay. I guess there will always be trade-offs. Many thanks for your contribution to the discussion Karel. Much appreciated.
Oops, I should have read this before posting my comment, well said Karel
Thanks Anthony. Clearly, an inner forestay, fixed or removable resolves the problem (though not without a few trade-offs as well). I really didn't feel the Storm Bag was too much work to put up. Remember, this is a sail that might be used 1 or possibly 2 times per year. I'm also not too bothered by the fact it can only be used once (and then must be refolded ashore). I consider this a 'get me home' sail. It's ideal for use during a stronger than forecast gale during a 2.5 day crossing of the Bay of Biscay, or 2 day crossing of the North Sea or 1 day crossing of the English Channel. I will install an inner forestay before doing a major passage like a Transat, etc. Good discussion. Thanks for commenting Anthony.
Hi Patrick, would another advantage of an Inner forestay other than for a storm jib, be to use it when sailing down wind, Ie 2 sails upfront goose winged one on a spinnaker pole or similar ?????
You are describing a classic 'cutter' set-up Robbie (with two headsails that can be used not only when heading downwind -- in fact, downwind my not be their most efficient use). I think there is a minor advantage to doing as you suggest, but the mainsail will take a lot of wind.... I think most people would prefer to just run wing-on-wing with the main and genoa (poled out), but I have often seen people put out all three sails as you suggest. I'm not sure that the benefit is worth the extra work, but it looks impressive. :-)
It will be interesting to hear how you like it after having it for a couple storms and getting use to it. For comparison, did you price out a storm jib and an a inner forestay for it.
I install an inner forestay in Episode 36 in advance of my passage across the North Atlantic to Iceland. I anticipated rough waters, so water a complete sail plan to deal with it. I was very glad I did. :-)
Hi Patrick
Many, many thanks for your videos. I'm gradually working my way through them. You seem to be very lucky in your berth as you seem to have plenty of fairway to play around with.
Anyway, what I wanted to ask is what happens with the genoa sheets when using the Storm Bag? Do they not get in the way when raising the storm jib? Do they get in the way when tacking? And finally do you not need to use the genoa fairleads for the storm jib sheets?
Thanks
Philip
Yes, I am lucky with the wide fairway. On the other hand, the prevailing wind pushes me into the other boat in my berth space 85% of the time. As to your question, you just slack the genny sheets and let them hang down next to the furler and then on the deck. The Storm Bag slides right up and over them --- no problem. As to fairleads, in this video I used two anti-friction rings that are mounted at the base of shrouds (for my boom brake). This did not work well. The next time I do this, I'll just pull the slack genny sheet out of the fairlead and use this fairlead as normal. Some people actually mounted a second inboard fairlead rail, but I think that is a bit of overkill.
Hi Patrick interesting video i like it! very informative! i have gone with twin fore stays and a traditional storm jib as a solution on my boat but yours seems better behaved than Puffin ever is.It did seem like quite a lot of work but nice that most of the effort was back in the cockpit rather than on a pitching fore deck! Can you achieve a proper slick if you mess with it when hove too ? i do not really but am able to get it pointing reasonably and fore reaching a little at 1 -1,5 knots.
I also have docking envy as your vessel seems so well under control going astern as opposed to the stick it in reverse and lets see what happens approach of a more traditional boat like mine.I spent 2 weeks in La Rochelle waiting out those squalls before crossing to Spain probably when you did that test :)
Steve, I have NEVER had a proper slick on this boat when hove to, and I have tried every variation on every technique on the web and books. Like you, I can get it pointed nicely into the wind, but moving forward rather than sideways at 1-2 kts. That's not really a bad thing, as conceptually, I prefer the technique of forereaching rather than heaving to, but it irritates me to no end that I can't make the boat do it like in the books. On reversing, I am fortunate to have a sail drive, which has much less prop walk than a traditional prop and shaft. (The center of rotation is much farther forward with a sail drive, so muted.) Please give a shout if you pass by La Rochelle again. Would love to buy you a beer.
Well done Patrick very good option to a dedicated inner forestay. I saw a lot of leech flutter ( a few hours of 30 plus knots of wind with that flutter is going to be pretty hard on that storm sail) , does the storm bag jib have a leech line? Are the storm bag sheet blocks fixed on the foredeck or are they on adjustable track? Moving the turning blocks forward would reduce the leech flutter ( I think) Tom. PS fine boathandling on your departure and arrival.
Many thanks Arcturus. There is no leech line on the storm jib, but I think the flutter you saw was 'user error', not a design flaw. I just had not adjusted the sheets correctly as I was focusing on other aspects at the time. One thought that did cross my mind was not to tack the storm jib across to the lazy sheet, but just keep it tight using one sheet. I noticed the flutter disappeared when I did that, and the sail was almost in the ideal position anyway. I edited out a sequence where I show how I rigged the sheets. I attached a 'friction ring' on a dyneema soft shackle at the base of each turnbuckle. I did not use the normal genoa fairlead blocks. I may give them a try the next time if leech flutter is really an issue, but I don't think it is. Thanks for commenting.
Very interesting video Patrick. I have question about your fenders, how do you secure them while sailing?
It looks like they are "upside down" while sailing with a string attached or something with a shackle?
And when you are entering a harbor you just drop the fender with the string in the water?
Kind regards Peter
That's exactly it Peter. On one end of the fender is a small, narrow piece of bungee cord with a hook (available at ship chandleries) that I attach to the lifelines, and the lanyard at the other end of the fender remains attached to the bottom of the stanchion. Two comments: many people will make fun of you for doing it this way :-) ; and there is some risk that a sheet could get tangled with the fender. (This has never happened to me, but it is possible.) I store my fenders below deck during long passages, but leave them hooked to the safety lines when I just go out for the day unless I know there will be high seas.
Hi Patrick another nice video and the storm jib worked well but I couldn't see how it hooks up on existing jenoa furlel and able to hoist it cheers.
Thanks George. I hesitated about publishing this video because 1) the sound is terrible, and 2) I should have worn the GoPro on my head so you can see what I am doing. Apologies. The yellow bag just wraps around the furled genoa and then clips together. You hook the halyard to the top, and clip the 'tack' to something solid on the furler to hold the base in place (it has a lanyard that allows it to ride up about 50 cm or so). Again, sorry for the poor technical quality of this video. If you Google Storm Bag you will see better videos of how it works.
Patrick Laine excellent thank you😊
Hi Patrick, yesterday i detected your films and this evening i have finished with episode 19th. I'm very interested to see, who you managed your solo to Horta. Especaliy the last four days in storm.... well done, would my YM-Instructor have said. I'm sailing solo like you but with an 30 ft boat (WINNER 900). In a short time i will be retired an so i can fullfill my dream to round Britain. It was really interesting to follow your journey to Azores and i have learned much. Thank you for the work.
Sorry for my bad english, it was good enough for my YM, but in conversaitions like this i fail.
Greetings from Germany, Klaus
Well done to you Klaus and thank you for watching. I too am dreaming about doing a 'round Britain' cruise. I'm thinking about doing half of one next year (to the Shetlands and then over to Norway). Perhaps the full thing the next year. Good luck on your future solo adventures. Your YM training will come in very handy. Best regards
Wow, you are all the time on duty? I was a pilot, too but not like you. A private pilot only enyoing to fly on motorgliders and light single enginge planes less then 1 ton. I finished as an aerobatic pilot in lower classes due to my small amount of money. But i can understand your ideas of plan "b" or "c", this is the point for me.
If you make round Britain may be we meet us on opposite course. I will follow you and when i make it really to GB i will call you..Cattle on, tea is prepared.
Did the chap beside you get a new yacht? I thought it was quite handy having a blue target as you entered the marina.
After I sunk him, insurance paid for everything. ;-) Just kidding. Another berth opened up further down the pontoon, and I moved there. When the wind was very strong from the other direction, I needed to approach my berth from the far side of the blue boat, and there just wasn't enough room for my 40 footer, so I was on the 'request move' list for a while. Thanks for watching.
Patrick,
Do I take the fenders away even for a short trip ( i am lazy myself )?
YES, always, even for a short trip, you see yourself going forward and you get the picture.
On the Dufour 40 I own there was a forestay installed with a jib ( with reefs ), also a fluo strom jib with hooks, and it DOES make a difference.
It is definitely a security issue that will help you sail safely back to port.
The girls around me say you must have plenty of mirrors on your boat because your hair is always -mise en plie-
Interesting videos,
Take care,
Guy.
:-) I knew I would be criticized for the fenders. OK. I completely agree that an inner forestay is the way to go for more security (and better performance). I just got a quote -- for the cadenas and structural support alone (forward deck aft of the anchor locker): 1600€. To which I must add the forestay, the halyard attachment, and if I don't go all the way to the top of the mast, two running backstays. Ouch. En ce qui concerne mes cheveux, on ne sait jamais quand on aura l'occasion de rencontrer Ariel ou une de ses cousines sirènes... Thanks for watching.
Patrick
I think you will love an inner forestry, and sail If you install it...
I'm sure of it Edward. I got a quote -- and it was going to cost around €8-9,000. I had other priorities this year, and was not going to cross a major ocean........probably for next year. Thanks for watching.
Patrick, I made it to The Azores from Newfoundland this year,
You inspired me, thanks for your help!
Bonjour, de très bonnes vidéos. Mon expérience du Storm bag est plutôt négative du fait de son usage unique! Le déployer est simple, le replier sur un 40 pieds en transat à plusieurs a été compliqué, il est resté 2 jours dans la douche.... je préfère définitivement un etai largable mais il faut que la mature le supporte
Merci Frédéric. Je suis d'accord avec vous, sauf peut-être un peu moins négatif. Le Storm bag est bon pour traverser le Golfe de Gascogne ou la Mer du Nord (les passages de 2 ou 3 jours). Pour une transat, vous avez raison, rien ne remplacera un étai largable. Merci encore d'avoir regardé.
Pour du voyage en solo, une trinquette sur enrouleur et étai fixe me semble être la meilleure solution. Le câble métallique est intéressant en terme de sécurité également.
Votre solution est élégante Robert. En fait j'ai un ami qui a fait presque exactement ça. J'ai hésité à cause des complications de virement de bord avec le génois mais je suis sûr que tôt ou tard je vais faire comme vous suggérez. J'aime beaucoup l'idée de "tout ou rien" avec le génois. Merci beaucoup d'avoir partagé ça avec nous.
Sheeting in the main when heaving to, you may find that the boat settles nicely.
I really need to take a pro out with me someday Bowman. I have tried sheeting in, easing the sheet out, turning the helm fully to counter the genoa, turning the helm partially to counter the genoa, leaving the helm 'free', etc. I just can't seem to get a decent, 'textbook' hove to position. I have some friends who are VERY experienced. I'll invite one aboard for an afternoon and practice heaving to to see what I am doing wrong. (All that said, I really do like forereaching as a storm tactic, provided I have a proper storm jib, which I have now.) Thanks for the comment (and apologies for the poor technical quality of this video).
Hi Patrick, You may be doing nothing wrong. It could just be the design of the boat that doesn't really want to allow heave to. Quite a lot of modern boats have a very small forefoot in the water and as such don't really heave to well.
I wonder if anyone has tried putting a storm jib, with its own internal luff wire, inside a sock? Bring the coiled sock to the foredeck, hank to a retractable pad eye, hank to the halyard and run the sock hoist through the halyard shackle. The sock hoist and douse lines could be lead aft. And, as a further development maybe the storm jib could be made self tacking.
Many people rig their secondary sails to the foredeck inside a bag/turtle --- so that they can easily be hoisted. It makes for a cluttered foredeck, but saves wrestling with sails under high winds….
I don't know, Patrick. The more I watch you struggle with a roller furled genny and this storm bag thing, the less I want to do with roller furling. Those things are for convenience only, to make it nice and easy to take down sail when drifting into the marina in 10 kt winds.
The maxim I always operated under is the old one: "When you think about changing sail, that is the time to do it." You put the reef in the main before the wind picks up; it's easy to take it out if the wind doesn't. I changed the genny the same way.
I kept the storm sail in the v-berth so that I could rouse it out quick when I needed it. I had a downhaul rigged so that whatever I bent on the forestay I could get down just as fast as I got it up, and I never had to worry about roller furling jamming.
Try it sometime as an experiment. Take the roller furler off and try out the old way. Maybe you'll like it better.
My genoa is enormous James (145%). It is difficult to take down and handle in a quiet, calm marina. I just can't imagine trying to do that alone at sea, even with a downhaul. On the other hand, what I could very easily envisage is the genny on the furler (as is), but complement it with an inner forestay to which I could hank-on a variety of smaller stay sails/storm sails like you suggest. The advantage of that would be that the furling genoa would either be all the way out, or all the way in, instead of trying to reef the genoa with the furler -- which is not good for the furler or the genoa. I'll give this some more thought. Thanks for contributing to the discussion.
I had a 140, but it's a big difference in sail between a 28' and a 50', for sure. I like the inner forestay idea, too. You might be able to keep a storm jib stored on the foredeck in a sail bag, hanked on and ready to hoist at a moment's notice.
I always wanted one of these: stingysailor.com/2014/10/18/foredeck-sail-bag-solution-2/
Yes James. A number of boats in my marina have this kind of sailbag on their foredecks. Perhaps when I get an inner forestay.....
Patrick, I'm sorry that this comment comes so long after you posted this very helpful video (as they all do for us singlehanders). I noticed that your mainsheet runs back to the cockpit through a series of blocks leading from the block at the gooseneck, along the side deck, and finally to your hand at the starboard aft part of the cockpit. I've never seen this arrangement before. Can you show us that arrangement in a future episode?
Yes Patrick. Well noted. It's called 'The German System' after the way the German team competing in the America's Cup rigged their main that way 50 years ago. It is a continuous sheet from the aft port winch, through blocks up forward, back to the middle of the boom, then forward again on the other side, and back to the other aft winch. The beauty of this system is that you can ease or sheet-in the boom from either winch. This is GREAT when you suddenly get hit by a strong gust and the boat heels way over. You don't have to slide downhill to the lower winch -- you just reach right next to yourself and ease the upper winch. If I ever get another boat, I'll rig it the same way! To try it is to love it.
Thanks for the quick response, Patrick. The German System looks to be a great improvement over my cabin-top mainsail sheeting system, which isn't so great for a singlehander. It's fine when I have crew but most of the time I need a setup that's easier to manage from the helm station. The German System looks like the way to go. Thanks a bunch!
On my boat there is a 2nd stay, but currently it is removed. The previous owner explained that it can chafe the Genoa when just coastal cruising and tacking often, so I am thinking of attaching it again at the mast end but 'store the bottom' detached from deck, lead to the side deck and secure when not in use. I do have the stay-sail and storm jib (both hanks on manually) to use it with. Wonder if that might work?
I have done a lot of research on this Snake, and weighed all the pros and cons. My personal decision is to attach a permanent inner forestay with a furler. I'll use my 145% Genoa in light to medium winds, and then put out the staysail. In busy areas where I might have to tack for traffic, I'll just use the staysail. Regattas are not my thing, so I don't mind the slight performance trade-off between the two furling sails. Thanks for commenting.
Awesome video, thanks for showing how that works. What halyard did you pull it up with? You have a spare up front? Sailing Dijan
Thanks Sailing Dijan. It is the halyard normally used for the spinnaker ---- always available for use with just about any sail (or hoisting people or things out of the water). ;-) Thanks for putting up with the poor technical quality of that video.
Patrick Laine - it was great. I just started out. Wants see poor.. See YT- sailing dijan. The coming third one will be proper. Thanks
You have a lovely boat. Looking forward to following your future adventures. BTW, the drums will never fit into the V berth space. :-)
I am wondering if you looked at the gale sail? It is a hang on over wrap on the furled jib. I like the storm bag but not being able to redeploy it would be a draw back.
I looked at the Gale Sail very closely JW (but did not actually try it out). It has been well-reviewed in sailing magazines and I was very tempted. However, I just can't picture myself on the foredeck, SOLO, trying to hank on a sail in 30+ kts of wind. I think it would be an excellent choice for a crew of 2 or more, but am not so sure about solo sailors. That is my rationale for choosing the Storm Bag over the Gale Sail. I'd be delighted if other solo sailors could give their experience with a Gale Sail though. Many thanks for watching.
Hİ Patrick thank you for sharing great videos with us One day do you think to cross Atlantic with your Bavaria . Some people dont advise crossing with light pruduction boats . I have also a Bavaria 38 cruiser which I like to sail to the Atlantic But confused somewhat Thank you
The Bavaria would be a fine vessel to cross the Atlantic in Gulnur. I would not hesitate at all to cross in my Bavaria ---- as have thousands before me. Your 38 Cruiser is more than capable of doing so also if it has been well-maintained. All of the light production boats had quality issues in the 80s and 90s. Those problems have long since been addressed. After all, they all use world class components now: Selden boom/mast; Lewmar winches; Volvo Penta/ Yanmar engines; Sails from North / Elstrom / Incidence; Plotters from Garmin/Raymarine; etc. After the commonality of the key operational components, it is internal comfort factors that remain, or keel/hull design issues for racers. I love my Bavaria.
A ppriciated Patrick Wish you the best sailing weather
Would it be impossible to put the storm sail fore of the genua, like a jib of jibs? It would need a bowsprit of some sort, but then (at least theoretically) it could be furled (from cockpit) and be out of the way for the genua? Or maybe it would be too far forward of the pivot point of a 40’er?
The short answer MiQ is yes. It is possible. I received a quote just last week for a variation on that theme. It was for a staysail mounted on a furling "torsion rope" that can attach at the base of the genoa furler and be hoisted by the spinnaker halyard. Two "issues" with this. 1) These torsion ropes are really 'all or nothing' systems, i.e., the sail all out or all in; and 2) Exactly as you suggest, it would be pretty far forward of the center of force pivot point, and still a bit high. I'm not real comfortable with the thought of that in 35-45 kt winds..... The quote for the system was about 5,000 euros, but I think I'll go for the more expensive inner forestay solution (mounted aft of the chain locker) and keep the center of force more to the rear and lower. Excellent comment.
Patrick, Hope you are well. We are planning for the ARC Europe in 2024 and are looking to get a storm jib. Now having had yours for some time, did you use it in heavy weather and are you still happy with it? I know that you have since sold that boat. This looks like a functional and easy option over a roller. Thoughts? Rich
I kept the 'Storm Bag' when I sold both of my previous boats. I have used it a couple of times, but only in training. I have never had to use it 'for real'. The fact that my two previous boats had an inner forestay with a very flat staysail probably eliminated the need for the storm jib, but I kept it, and am carrying it with me now on my expedition to Iceland/Norway and return to France. I'll probably never use it, but think it is a nice solution for when things get really ugly.
@@patricklaine6958 Thanks Patrick. Enjoy keeping up with your adventures and appreciate your advice!
great set of vids, whats the boat.
Very kind of you Malcolm. My boat is a German-built, Bavaria 40 Cruiser from 2008. II am very pleased with it, though like any boat, there is always something to do.
Patrick you need to turn the sound up.
Hi Patrick. You were complaining that the boat was still moving forward when hove to, but I noticed that the mainsail didn't seem to be fully sheeted-out to the shroud, so was still driving you forward. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen the mainsail fully sheeted-out on your boat, even when dead-running. Is the mainsheet long enough?
First of all, the sheet is more than long enough Anton. It is the "German sheet system" -- which means you can sheet in and out from either side. There is plenty of sheet available. On the other hand, you are correct in saying the main is often not fully sheeted out. It was an old sail (12 years) and worn quite thin in a number of areas, so I did not want it chafing against the shrouds/spreaders for long hours. (I just replaced the mainsail with a new one.) That said, I have experimented for short periods of time when hove to with the sail and rudder in all positions. My boat heaves to perfectly in light to moderate winds (and I show this in a couple of videos). However, when the wind is above 25 kts and in 2-3 meter waves, it does not want to stabilize --- the bow slews wildly from side to side regardless of sail/rudder position. I have read that this is a characteristic of fin keels and spade rudders on a number of models of boats. I accept that, and have chosen forereaching as my preferred storm tactic. Thanks for commenting.
@@patricklaine6958 Ah yes, chafe - hadn't thought of that. But when all's said and done, you're actually getting by OK in the videos I've watched, so there's no big problem. Happy sailing when the lock-down's are lifted (we should have headed for Iceland!)