KNOCKDOWN TO BLAKELY RTCC, Round The County Race delivery 11/11/11 from Bellingham

(squall@ 2:00, knockdown @2:48 this vid) left Bellingham for Blakely Island on 11/11/11 before 1pm in heavy air, rounded bottom of Lummi and encountered a wind shift and squall including a big puff knockdown (2:50 mark in this video) in which rolling the jib requires a winch (not normal configuration); impossible by hand. Could/should have eased main traveller or mainsheet first, though the overpowering sail was the already-reefed genoa. The main was the driving sail providing good helm control - already nicely double-reefed. But we do get nailed by high wind...

I wanted to capture a flavor for conditions so kept one hand on the wheel and the other on my little Fujifilm XP as long as was "reasonable".

This is our delivery to support the Round The County Race -- our version is called RTCC -- (Round The County Cruise). We intentionally went out in this for a long weekend and we hoped exceptional sailing in November...another vid later.

Forecast was south wind rising to 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph...becoming northwest, a switch which happened quite fast for those of us between Lummi and Sinclair. We had a double-reefed main, and part of a rolling reefing genoa; a good sailplan until the squall hit (preceded by a little whirling dervish sort of waterspout from the water up...)

Boat is nicely restored 70's era Newport 41

Camera is 1080 video mode of Fujifilm FinePix XP20

...

This was not the hardest part of the weekend by any measure. Ahead of us through the storm was Don Mierzeski on J35 Shirker, driving comfortably with a #3 blade on his last sail with the wind blowing hard all the way until he was safely docked at Blakely Island Marina. He will be missed by many on and off the water.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• sailing
• sail
• high wind
• heeling
• Sailing
• Round The County Race
• RTCC
• boat
• Newport 41
• squall
• Wind
• Bellingham Bay
• Lummi Island
• Knockdown

[talltimberofbham]

thanks for comments. main was not a prob, and even when flogging the pressure on the roller furling line was too much to hand pull genoa in. yes a small winch for this line would be ideal. now I consider putting it on the winch during the unroll, esp if no tacking ahead, so lazy winch is devoted to rolling in genoa under load...even heading up in that much wind you need winch. traveler ease should have been first, but not easy with this particular rig. it was all in control and strong boat: fun

[sohnrog]

I've been told to never put the jib furling line on a winch because it can cause the forestay to break, leading to a dismasting. I've certainly been tempted to do it many times. It can be near impossible to furl when the wind is really blowing.

[captainhml]

I noticed the lazy sheet got carried away by the wind. But you are right, you could have eased the mainsheet, or headed up for a minute and roller furled. Trying to roller furl a genny when under load is damned near impossible. But I love these videos! Nice and long! I sail on the East Coast in New England.

[captainhml]

I love these videos of your trip. But, that really wasn't technically a knockdown. The mast must touch the water to be considered a knockdown. Also, you had a double-reefed main but too much genny. You could have had the genny at 100% or less and still be balanced.On my boat I have a dedicated winch just for the roller furler line so you don't have to take the lazy jib sheet off and use that winch for furling genny in.

[TroyaE117]

That really was a nasty squall.

Your crew stayed calm.

I have sailed the North Atlantic, but only once or twice faced the anger of a shallow water squall.

I am afraid, with a young crew, I would simply have turned the motor on or turned and ran.

To each his own.

Good video.

Thanks.

[Nealabittner]

Awesome sail! Glad to have shared that time with you