I was a flight instructor for 30 plus years and the thoughts on weather and go no go decision making is very similar. Its better to be on the ground Wishing you were in the air than being in the air wishing you were on the ground.
I commented on a vid years ago that you inspired me to want to learn to sail. Well, we did it, my wife and I. I talked her into ASA classes and we bought our first boat, a '79 Bombay Clipper. If you ever escape Canada and make it down to Cape Canaveral, FL again, we'd love to buy you a beer.
Very good advice. I had to deliver my boat on a 20 hr sail . I had two very experienced sailors.as crew. I designated one guy captain , first mate I was the second mate even though it was my boat . Another time I had a guest on my boat that sailed for New Zealand . When I told him he would be captain he started at the bow and inspected the whole boat . I have learned a lot from more experienced captains .
For me a cardinal rule is no one drinks alcohol when under way, and never during a long passage. You need your wits about you at all times to deal with any emergency that may come up, so alcohol is a no no when the boat is moving. Keep that bottle for when you are safely anchored.
Great point! Too many people think sailing =power boating= booze party. I have a rule that Happy hour starts after the anchor is set for the night or back at the marina if only out for a day sail. Sailing with nonsailors is sailing sole with obstacles.
I'm a veteran sailor on the Great Lakes for over 45 years. I've owned a olsen 911S and raced the competitive regattas on the Great Lakes such as the Machinac, TransErie race and a many other big local races. Your list was very complete but I would like to add 1 thing I think your skipper should always be aware of and that's the region in which hes sailing and how much water he has beneath his keel. Running around is no fun, it could be expensive and dangerous and knowing where all the shallows are Is as important as weather.
Tim, I like to comment on new boat owners making the mistake about checking the weather before venturing out. Even with several years of experience, you continue to learn from your mistakes, even when you thought you were playing it safe. I was sailing my 1981 Hunter 37 Cherubini "Cara Mia" in Long Island Sound, I believe it was 1999 Labor Day weekend. I was sailing from Essex CT to Port Jefferson. NOAA 's forecast at 7:00 am was 5 knot winds and 2 ft waves. With that I was planning on motoring most of the way although i had the sails up (mostly for appearance). By 10:00 am, we were well in center of Long Island Sound when NOAA updated the forecast to chance of rain for late morning. No big deal. Then about 10:30 NOAA again changed the forecast to chance of thunderstorm for late morning. With this update, i went ahead and took down my sails in preparation for some bad weather. Still, nothing that i was too worried about. It was after 11:00 or so when NOAA announced that a tornado warning was issued. In fact shortly after the forecast, two tornados touched down, one in Stanford Ct and the other Lindenhurst, NY. I could see on my radar that Cara Mia was right in between them. I had 3 other persons on board, and I was the only sailor. I immediately went to get my foul weather gear. A few minutes later it hit at 50 knot winds and 10 ft waves. I did not have the luxury of having help in getting a storm jib up. I had to run out the storm for 1 hr and 20 minutes. We had Coast Guard helicopter flying over. Fortunately, Cara Mia handled the storm very well and we had very long drink that night. Now that i am getting back into sailing, I hope to be a better skipper in the future and double check the weather reports with more than one source. Dario D
Right away I my eyes went to your T-shirt! I too am a trophy husband! I married a rich, beautiful, younger woman! Happy as hell! Now back to the video! Sorry for the interruption.
I have a small Catalina 14.2. I don’t even leave the harbor and had a few humbling moments recently while solo that left me a bit stunned and unprepared. The first incident happened at the dock while tying to the cleat with the jib up, one foot on the dock, one on the bow, I started to do the splits move and ended up in the drink. The second was last weekend it was 20+ knots which I didn’t feel comfortable sailing since my main doesn’t have reefing grommets, so I decided I’d do an hour motoring around the harbor. My little Honda 2.3 stuttered to a halt and with the wind I started drifting into docked squid boats while I used my telescoping paddle to try and navigate me away. Safe to say I panicked a little bit and flagged down a passing dingy who towed me back to my slip. Made me realize how even an hour putt around the harbor could turn bad quickly and I need to carry an anchor and my sails with me.
As a 12-year-old boy in 1968, I single-handed a Victory 21 from Redondo Beach to Catalina Island. It's a coming-of-age tale. My parents had just divorced, and I was pissed. It was my way of telling my parents that I did not need them anymore.
All these points were excellent but the weather cannot be emphasized enough.My wife and I are relatively new @ 2 yrs owning our boat.We live in Savannah Ga and moved her to Brunswick Ga on the ICW last week.What should have been a 2.5 day trip turned into 6 days.We encountered our first Gale with wind gusts up to 50 knts.This happened at 3am,pitch black darkness until day light.We we're both truly scared but had faith in our equipment to hold us in place.You are like you said at the mercy of the weather.We waited for the front to completely pass.Once we were able to get moving the rest of the trip was very pleasant.You must be vigilant about safety and stay on top of the weather.Sometimes you have to be patient and just wait where you are.Great videos,thks
My son 8 years old.....goes into hysterics, Then it runs up my wife's tackometer, my daughter who is 6 looks on deciding whether she is going to tack up too, all of it flicks my nerve switches 1 through 5 ; with 5 breakers left to 10 before I spontaneously combust.Being captain and dad is rough. For the first three season we didn't leave the mooring unless the weather forecast said Light and variable winds. Now we can handle 5-15knots
In the seventies my parents took us 4 kids (3 of which still in diapers) on their new fisher 32 on the north sea in rough seas... My moms only memory of that is 'i have to hold on to these kids' which became a running joke in our family. This happened only once. Even when they got a way more capable boat later on my dad allways reefed soon and anything over force 5 was a no go :). Of course in our early twenties we had to prove the boring old man wrong....I soon learned the same lesson when my brother went 5 meters up the mast trying to hang on to the spi halyard in a force 6.
Some good advice there. I wouldn't consider myself a new sailor as I've been at it for some years and started while in the Navy (like.... late '80s). But I do always consider myself a student of sailing and am always looking to learn. I'm on my 2nd boat, but very much just a coastal cruiser / day sailor. Funny story about your last point - I was out with a buddy on his boat one day and we hit some pretty fierce weather. Driving rain, winds whipping up and pretty big waves that seemed to come out of nowhere. We had his two kids and my daughter with us, who were all around 10 - 11 years old and all staying below out of the weather. As we "calmly" pounded the boat through the waves heading for home with reefed sails, confident we'd be fine, but at least a little worried none the less, my daughter pipes up from down below; "Daddy - is there supposed to be this much water down here"? Instantly my buddy and I both had a look and were not at all pleased to find about 8 or 9 inches of water on the deck. sloshing around as the boat heaved and healed. Pucker factor 99 let me tell you! Fortunately we were reasonably close to home and managed to pump the water out with the gusher and get back to the marina safely, but boy those moments that you never expected to happen sure do build character. They also remind you of all those safety considerations you need to make and help you choose to pay close attention to them as you carry on sailing.
they use to use a rating system for yachts - Class A yacht ( boat ) is a vessel that is built to navigate the open ocean and surpass a force 8 on the Beaufort scale and surpass sustained waves higher than 4 meters. These yachts are constructed to be self-sufficient in hostile seas. - Class B yacht ( boat ) is a vessel built to navigate on the offshore waters (200 miles and less) and can sustain UP TO force 8 and waves UP TO 4 meters. - Class C boat is a vessel built to navigate inshore such as lakes, rivers, bays, and close to the shore and can sustain UP TO force 6 and waves UP TO 2 meters. - Class D boat is built for protected or sheltered waters such as canals, rivers, small lakes and sustain a force 4 and waves UP TO .3 meters (less than 1 ft).
A story for you. With ~5ish years as a sailing instructor and 2 of them full time on top of ~20 years of boating, I was completely competent to operate a sailboat. I was used to being charge and having people on board who were willing to be helpful, but had no clue what to do or what to expect. Additionally, I also took the "not my boat, I'm not in charge" mentality when on a boat owned by a friend. We would race on this friend's boat, and the crew were all at least as capable as I was, and several even significantly more capable. A major local race was approaching, and it turned out the friend was going to be out of town. Our boat were the defending champions for this race, and so the owner didn't want to miss out. He told us, the crew, to go ahead and take the boat without him and run the race. The weather was good at race start, but was quickly turning. There were several discussions onboard about reefing early, or retiring from the race (as a lot of other competitors had already done). But we had the "too many captains and not enough captain problem" and no one on board wanted to step up and make the actual decision. I'll shorten the story here, but when the storm hit we were knocked down badly and the end result was a scary ride ending in a torn headsail, a sheet wrapped around the prop to further disable us, and luckily only minor cuts and bruises. The takeaway for me was that we should have decided ahead of time who would have the final word. It felt like a lesson that should have been obvious.
I was heading up a narrow channel seeking shelter from a storm when my spin sheet wrapped around the prop, stopping us dead. I debated several fixes including going in the water. But then I thought maybe I could unwind the sheet by engaging reverse. Easy off and I have never wrapped my prop ever since.
I swear, if I can scrape together more than $0.05- I'll send it to you. Until then, you're just gonna have take a subscriber, who 'Likes!' every video, and- bothers to comment (kindly no less!). I hope than just regular folk can enjoy the videos without too much discrimination! I sail like I fly- it's an easy way to manage the process. Although I may be PIC, I do have a competent XO on board as well (usually). Typically, we have sailed together (alot) in the past, and 'know' what the other would do in any given situation. Trust me- it helps, especially in weather. Sail trim is slightly intuitive, but discussing tactics can be done with very few words if you've done time together- decisions can be communicated with a look often. Safety is primary, fun is for guests. I can add to the list, but- mostly its all obvious (boring) but- a dialogue that must be had for all levels. Yet another good discussion video. Good on Ya!
Great advice Tim. Thank you! We are new-ish sailors planning to make a Long Beach to Catalina trip late winter. Your video has perfect timing!! Wish us luck on our charter..
Love your content!! Series idea: Now What Do I Do? A series on oh cr&p things went bad, ideas on what to do to recover? Experienced sailors can also provide What did I do to recover. Obviously non exhaustive. I'd include teaching troubleshooting methods in it. Also planning for the worst. What to have? What is junk? It'll take a bunch of research.
Excellent video. Tank you! Experienced sailors make these mistakes too, not just novices. Novices don’t know better, sea dogs get complacent. (I know from experience). I learned from my dad a few things: the hardest decision to make is to decide NOT to go out if things/weather are not OK. Never get caught with one foot on the dock and the other on deck with the lifeline between your legs. One more “one hand for you and the other for the boat” Cheers!
Good advice. Yeah check the weather. And KNOW that sooner than later the weather forecast will not be right! Also, know your crew, great point. Never count in someone to help in a jam that you do not know can help. Also, your point about telling folks what to expect is great I was out with a young couple for a fun day. The wind picked up and we were healing. One was nervous when we began to heel, but very logical and asked what do we do if the boat tips over. Give me the numbered instructions as to what I am to do. It dawned in me that I did not prepare them for what might happen well enough. Haha. We had a good laugh later as her being nervous, but still wanting a procedure to follow. It helped her coo with the stress of the heeling!!
My favorite assertion of command by a captain to a mouthy crewmember: "You're in charge of sex and music--when I want your fucking advice I'll whistle."
As a pilot I had a simple rule: I love to fly. If I fly today, can I be 99.999% assured of being able to fly tomorrow. I remember renting a plane to take a first time flyer on a trip to O22 (Columbia Airport). The weather was a high overcast with areas of virga, but nothing to rule out the flight. When I was going through the squawks on the airplane it showed #2 comm and nav radios as inop. Sure, there was a working nav/comm, but what happens when it all goes FUBAR? We waited for a better day. So much of what you went over is absolutely applicable to flying.
I thought the same! My brother in law had a small plane. He was VFR rated and would turn back if he was unable to see the airport where we would liked to have landed.
@@t.a.ackerman4098 and lived to enjoy flights after that. "It's better to be on the ground [dock] and wishing that you were flying [sailing] than to be flying [sailing] and wishing that you were on the ground [dock]"
It's an old mountaineer say in the Alps, "If in doubt, don't," which relates to the rapid weather changes in the mountains. This is very well true in sailing since doubts are about your own capability, the boat, crew, and the weather itself. Cheers.
Excellent list. I'd add one thing though I don't know where it fits in. I'd instruct guests and non-sailors in the basic use of emergency equipment such as the radio and life rings in case something happens to the crew. The average non-sailor would not know how to use those and they should. I love the T-Shirt!
Great video, while at the moment I do not own a boat in the future I plan to purchase one 2023 or 2024. Please make a video on the best sailboats for beginner sailors. Thanks✌️
Thanks for the shout out. Good video. One thing about accidents is that very often it's more than one thing, it's a serious of errors, miscalculations. It's not just the storm, it's the lee shore, and it's not just the lee shore it's the sputtering engine - without any one of these it would've just been a difficult day. As still a rookie when I take people out there's always that moment during the Captain's talk that I realize if I go overboard my friend isn't going to know what to do, won't be able to turn the boat around or heave to, or even work the radio. (911 they can do, and so far I've been within range). That's a huge responsibility. Sure I can show them how to start the motor. One friend would be able to do it, another would probably never be able to do it. My hero is mountain climber Ed Visiteurs. He has a rule "No one actually needs to climb mountains, but I have to return to my family." So long before he gets into the oxygen deprived high altitudes he makes a plan. I think it was Anapurna the turn around time was 2 pm. He was something like 30 minutes from the top when his alarm went off. He turned around. Probably $50,000 and months of planning and now he would have to come back and do it all over again. He stuck to his rule. Reading Deep Trouble about all the ways you can die in a sea kayak (I know someone who would've been in the third book of this series had there been one) I set up some rules. One sunny day I drove 25 miles to Redondo Beach just to escort some ocean swimmers a hundred meters off the beach - easy. I'd forgotten my PFD. That's a hard rule. Did I really need it? That day- no, but I drove home and got it. 75 miles of driving before I launched. What was good was not just that I'd followed my rule, but that it cost me a lot of time and driving - that reinforced it. Another rule is don't go out if there's even a chance of thunderstorms. If you hear thunder, somewhere near is lightning. One day I was out and it started raining. (it was an anomalous weather day I spoke with some NOAA people later they were still buzzing about it.) I love paddling in the rain, but then I heard thunder. Turn around. Reluctantly. There were some stand-up paddle boarders so I paddled over to them to mention the risk of lightning. "We're going to see the whales! We're going to see the whales!" It was like a mantra. I've paddled with a lot of whales in that area I hadn't seen any sign of them, I did a quick scan of the horizon, "There aren't any whales today." Didn't matter. I was the party pooper. I paddled in and saw the instructor/group leader about to set out with the rest of his customers. I mentioned the thunder and lightning to him. If he called if off he'd probably have to give everybody their money back. He just shrugged. As I carried my yak up the ramp he announced, "If you see any lightning, lay down on your boards." Of course they all survived - didn't see any whales. Good Book "Left For Dead" Nick Ward's experience wrecked in the Fastnet Race disaster of 1979. Most of the crew left in the life raft, the boat was still afloat. Two crew died very probably because the crew collectively panicked. Though he doesn't 'go there,' it's obviously a critical consideration. The boat floated through all of it, was found later and recovered. Ward was unconscious when the boat pitch-poled so maybe he (or any of us) would've panicked, climbed in the life raft and left others behind. I've got ADHD, usually when things go out of control my brain focuses - but I can also panic. But I do stay aware of everything that's happening. Training. When I first reefed a 32' Hunter I'd chartered it was like magic, the rail was no longer in the water, we were sailing up right and at about the same speed. (about 15 knots of wind so even heeled over was okay). That was an important lesson. Just reef some more. I really want to go out with experienced sailors in difficult conditions and work with the crew to reef, storm sail, deploy a drogue. I want to be able if I ever need, to do all these things, as good form, as practice and to save my boat and everyone on her.
My wife and i are heading into our Sophomore year of owning our own boat. This video was filled with top notch information. Will share with wife and discuss. So many good points in such a short video! thank you so much!
I don't have much sailing experience - almost all my sailing has been in dinghies and a sailing kayak. Like some of your other commenters, I have an aviation background, and I'd like to suggest checklists. I've seen two experienced sailors with CZcams channels (you and Zingaro) take on water and go frantically around the cabin trying to find the source. The Coast Guard had to remind you to put on your PFD (as you pointed out in the video). Putting steps on a checklist, laminating that checklist, and putting putting it at the companionway where you know where to find it in a hurry would help focus one's mind to proceed rationally through the emergency. The first step would be Don PFD. Then would follow all of the locations that water could enter the hull, either in order of likelyhood of failure or according to location. I think I'd also mark the locations of through-hulls with reflective tape, in case it has to be done at night without electrical power and all I have is a head light or flashlight. This stuff should be drilled periodically. I used to fly in P-3s with a survivor of the one that ditched in the Aleutians in 1978. When he was mission commander, we did ditching drills until they were perfect. But we still used the checklists to make sure nothing was missed. I think going through a checklist to make sure everything is in the right position and the boat's in good shape before leaving the dock would probably be a good idea, as well. Just a thought from a novice sailor and experienced airman.
Great video and informational topics, just would add make sure all people on board know where a serviceable fire extinguisher is. Most people don’t realize a fire on board is something serious.
Pre/sail inspection is a very high priority also, just like pre/flight in an aircraft. the first mate or Captain needs to do a very thorough internal /external inspection before leaving dock and document everything you do and place you go in a log book, it is your legal defense in any court case or investigation if anything should happen to you, a guest, a crew member or the vessel or any private or commercial property, LOG BOOK never skip it.
Fairly experienced sailor here - and I'm 5 for 5. Got caught in a derecho downburst - 80 kt gust front - wrecked my Pearson 26 (very stoutly built). Only a 10% chance of t-storms in the forecast, but in Oklahoma any chance is risky, pop-up t-storms happen incredibly fast.
Great episode. I did my first solo trip recently. Did the Erie canal then Atlantic and ICW to S.W. Florida. In our new to us 48 ft. steel ketch. Mistakes were made. Lessons were learned.
Well I live in San Pedro California home of the hurricane Gulch. For a few years I use windrider rave my friend was the first owner of the company and he used to let me borrow his boat every Saturday it was incredible but you're right weather isn't is important you don't want to be in a little boat when the weather turns and gets really bad even though I had a boat do 40 knots and get myself back to the doc real quickly especially in that boat the speed he kill you fast
I am the dummy who sailed 420's and lasers in wonderful conditions, 25 to 30 knots. So I am trying to get readjusted (to my crew) when I raced on a Farr 34 we just used the small spinnaker, and on our J-30 I don't remember a good windy race. good talk!
Hi Tim, you‘re just so right! In a way we probably have to commit all these mistakes to some degree on our way to improve - just hoping nothing serious happens. Fair winds!
Something that was instilled in me while in the military in Iraq was a statement that I have found to work in just about any situation, that being "complacency kills".
Had some close calls on a trip up the Michigan coast, days we definitely shouldn't have been out. I don't know if you have, but maybe you could do a whole video on waves. How they work, how they work against our boats, the safest approaches, and the differences between salt and fresh water waves. Great videos!
I've raced on all the great lakes except Superior for over 40 years. They all are a little different in a blow. Erie's west basin is relatively shallow so waves can be as high as 8 to ten feet. The waves are close together so sailing over the crests at a 30/40 degree angle is important. Lakes Michigan and Huron are deep and the waves can be as high as 15 to 20 ft in a gale. But they are spread further apart, allowing for sailing in the troughs. They don't call them fresh water oceans for nothing.
One other thing.. make sure the thru-hull valves are closed. I had a drain hose come off the sink.. it fell to the bilge... the water came in like a garden hose. Great video.. thanks.
It has a shut off valve. I keep it shut off all the time now.. until I need to drain the sink and keep plugs on the boat just incase the valve should break.
Regarding chain of command I would nuance this. In Civil Aviation, the leading sector in safety , the emphasis is now on good communication skills so the total knowledge and awareness of the whole crew is put into effect, called CRM. We see that on yacht racing crews as well. America's cup for example, quite professional communications on these machines where just one example of failed CRM almost sank an entry (unfortunately also my favourite team). It does suppose more then 1 competent crew on board :)
Here is one.... Make sure your passengers will sit and not move as you are moving around, in and out of the cockpit. You know how they see you coming and at the last minute they move and totally fuck up your approach? Keep up the great work Tim. Thanks.
OMG! The question of experience…I got paired, at the put in, on a 3 day whitewater canoeing trip w a guy who had been on water 3 times in his LIFE. We almost died.
Great point about whether an individual needs shade! My wife is extremely sensitive to the sun, it’s a genetic disorder. In the rare event I can coax her out on the water sun exposure is the first consideration.
My brother-in-law had a small airplane and he was VFR rated. I enjoyed flying with him but he would turn back if conditions called for it. If he didn't have a visual on an airport, well we can't land there. He didn't have an IFR rating. I guess the point I'm trying to make is don't endanger yourself or others.
3:37 that bit is dangerous and should taken with the knowledge that this does not apply if you feel uncomfortable with what the captain is doing. If this is the case than respectively let the captain know and tell them why, if they insist then obey.
My scariest sailing experience was when I was just starting, I took an offer I got on a crew finder group and ended up finding out the hard way the captain had lied about his experience, it became obvious once we were 2 days out of port, was an all around shit show but it did build my confidence, I got our asses to port and walked away. Think I'd have to get to know or verify sailing experience before I'd join a random boat again.
Out of the 5. I thought for sure you would mention having a preventer for the boom for down wind sailing . Ha it only takes one time for the boom to come around after a jive to knock someone in the head or perhaps knock someone over hoard . Sad to say. I made that mistake. It only takes one time
with all the hype these day with "sail life" more and more people need to be exposed to this kind of advice. there are people buying boats nowadays who have no business being out at sea. it takes a defined grit to sail. imo there will be more and more accidents (and perhaps more fatalities unfortunately). there was this YT couple which i wont name, who bought a boat, thought they could study sailing, and sail it to bermuda. on the way the weather got bad (which happens and no one is immune to it) and they got the scare of their lives. upon arrival boat was sold. more than lacking the abilities what hapenned its what always happen: people break before the gear does, and that kills them.
I call other more experienced captains on board the admirals so all the honor goes to them while I'm in charge. Because who wants to demote himself back to the mere captain, right? :)
awesome vid liked the 3 feet of water in the bilge do to i follow you and yes you have the tee shirt for that one been there done it and lived you should of put a link for that one lol love the vids
I was a flight instructor for 30 plus years and the thoughts on weather and go no go decision making is very similar. Its better to be on the ground Wishing you were in the air than being in the air wishing you were on the ground.
Ditto from a long time climbing guide.
I commented on a vid years ago that you inspired me to want to learn to sail. Well, we did it, my wife and I. I talked her into ASA classes and we bought our first boat, a '79 Bombay Clipper. If you ever escape Canada and make it down to Cape Canaveral, FL again, we'd love to buy you a beer.
Escape Canada? Canadians cannot travel out of the country? Can't be true, that would make Canada like N Korea. Hope to see Lady K sailing again.
@@LydieBaillie Good Lord, I wasn't being literal. lol
Very good advice. I had to deliver my boat on a 20 hr sail . I had two very experienced sailors.as crew. I designated one guy captain , first mate I was the second mate even though it was my boat . Another time I had a guest on my boat that sailed for New Zealand . When I told him he would be captain he started at the bow and inspected the whole boat . I have learned a lot from more experienced captains .
BIGGEST MISTAKE: When shopping, try to find the biggest boat for the least amount of money.
I found this boat for FREE!!!!
@@WojciechP915 When I was selling my catalina 25 I was amazed at how many people showed up that never even sailed. I mean not even a dinghy
For me a cardinal rule is no one drinks alcohol when under way, and never during a long passage. You need your wits about you at all times to deal with any emergency that may come up, so alcohol is a no no when the boat is moving. Keep that bottle for when you are safely anchored.
Sound advise.
Great point!
Too many people think sailing =power boating= booze party.
I have a rule that Happy hour starts after the anchor is set for the night or back at the marina if only out for a day sail. Sailing with nonsailors is sailing sole with obstacles.
Excellent advice
I'm a veteran sailor on the Great Lakes for over 45 years. I've owned a olsen 911S and raced the competitive regattas on the Great Lakes such as the Machinac, TransErie race and a many other big local races. Your list was very complete but I would like to add 1 thing I think your skipper should always be aware of and that's the region in which hes sailing and how much water he has beneath his keel. Running around is no fun, it could be expensive and dangerous and knowing where all the shallows are Is as important as weather.
It's called "naigation ".
Tim, I like to comment on new boat owners making the mistake about checking the weather before venturing out. Even with several years of experience, you continue to learn from your mistakes, even when you thought you were playing it safe.
I was sailing my 1981 Hunter 37 Cherubini "Cara Mia" in Long Island Sound, I believe it was 1999 Labor Day weekend. I was sailing from Essex CT to Port Jefferson. NOAA 's forecast at 7:00 am was 5 knot winds and 2 ft waves. With that I was planning on motoring most of the way although i had the sails up (mostly for appearance). By 10:00 am, we were well in center of Long Island Sound when NOAA updated the forecast to chance of rain for late morning. No big deal. Then about 10:30 NOAA again changed the forecast to chance of thunderstorm for late morning. With this update, i went ahead and took down my sails in preparation for some bad weather. Still, nothing that i was too worried about. It was after 11:00 or so when NOAA announced that a tornado warning was issued. In fact shortly after the forecast, two tornados touched down, one in Stanford Ct and the other Lindenhurst, NY. I could see on my radar that Cara Mia was right in between them. I had 3 other persons on board, and I was the only sailor. I immediately went to get my foul weather gear. A few minutes later it hit at 50 knot winds and 10 ft waves. I did not have the luxury of having help in getting a storm jib up. I had to run out the storm for 1 hr and 20 minutes. We had Coast Guard helicopter flying over. Fortunately, Cara Mia handled the storm very well and we had very long drink that night. Now that i am getting back into sailing, I hope to be a better skipper in the future and double check the weather reports with more than one source.
Dario D
Wow sounds scary- glad everyone was safe
Right away I my eyes went to your T-shirt! I too am a trophy husband! I married a rich, beautiful, younger woman! Happy as hell! Now back to the video! Sorry for the interruption.
I have a small Catalina 14.2. I don’t even leave the harbor and had a few humbling moments recently while solo that left me a bit stunned and unprepared. The first incident happened at the dock while tying to the cleat with the jib up, one foot on the dock, one on the bow, I started to do the splits move and ended up in the drink. The second was last weekend it was 20+ knots which I didn’t feel comfortable sailing since my main doesn’t have reefing grommets, so I decided I’d do an hour motoring around the harbor. My little Honda 2.3 stuttered to a halt and with the wind I started drifting into docked squid boats while I used my telescoping paddle to try and navigate me away. Safe to say I panicked a little bit and flagged down a passing dingy who towed me back to my slip. Made me realize how even an hour putt around the harbor could turn bad quickly and I need to carry an anchor and my sails with me.
As a 12-year-old boy in 1968, I single-handed a Victory 21 from Redondo Beach to Catalina Island. It's a coming-of-age tale. My parents had just divorced, and I was pissed. It was my way of telling my parents that I did not need them anymore.
All these points were excellent but the weather cannot be emphasized enough.My wife and I are relatively new @ 2 yrs owning our boat.We live in Savannah Ga and moved her to Brunswick Ga on the ICW last week.What should have been a 2.5 day trip turned into 6 days.We encountered our first Gale with wind gusts up to 50 knts.This happened at 3am,pitch black darkness until day light.We we're both truly scared but had faith in our equipment to hold us in place.You are like you said at the mercy of the weather.We waited for the front to completely pass.Once we were able to get moving the rest of the trip was very pleasant.You must be vigilant about safety and stay on top of the weather.Sometimes you have to be patient and just wait where you are.Great videos,thks
My son 8 years old.....goes into hysterics, Then it runs up my wife's tackometer, my daughter who is 6 looks on deciding whether she is going to tack up too, all of it flicks my nerve switches 1 through 5 ; with 5 breakers left to 10 before I spontaneously combust.Being captain and dad is rough. For the first three season we didn't leave the mooring unless the weather forecast said Light and variable winds. Now we can handle 5-15knots
In the seventies my parents took us 4 kids (3 of which still in diapers) on their new fisher 32 on the north sea in rough seas... My moms only memory of that is 'i have to hold on to these kids' which became a running joke in our family. This happened only once. Even when they got a way more capable boat later on my dad allways reefed soon and anything over force 5 was a no go :). Of course in our early twenties we had to prove the boring old man wrong....I soon learned the same lesson when my brother went 5 meters up the mast trying to hang on to the spi halyard in a force 6.
It is much easier to single hand when you are the only one on the boat.
Some good advice there. I wouldn't consider myself a new sailor as I've been at it for some years and started while in the Navy (like.... late '80s). But I do always consider myself a student of sailing and am always looking to learn. I'm on my 2nd boat, but very much just a coastal cruiser / day sailor.
Funny story about your last point - I was out with a buddy on his boat one day and we hit some pretty fierce weather. Driving rain, winds whipping up and pretty big waves that seemed to come out of nowhere. We had his two kids and my daughter with us, who were all around 10 - 11 years old and all staying below out of the weather.
As we "calmly" pounded the boat through the waves heading for home with reefed sails, confident we'd be fine, but at least a little worried none the less, my daughter pipes up from down below; "Daddy - is there supposed to be this much water down here"? Instantly my buddy and I both had a look and were not at all pleased to find about 8 or 9 inches of water on the deck. sloshing around as the boat heaved and healed. Pucker factor 99 let me tell you!
Fortunately we were reasonably close to home and managed to pump the water out with the gusher and get back to the marina safely, but boy those moments that you never expected to happen sure do build character. They also remind you of all those safety considerations you need to make and help you choose to pay close attention to them as you carry on sailing.
Thanks
they use to use a rating system for yachts
- Class A yacht ( boat ) is a vessel that is built to navigate the open ocean and surpass a force 8 on the Beaufort scale and surpass sustained waves higher than 4 meters. These yachts are constructed to be self-sufficient in hostile seas.
- Class B yacht ( boat ) is a vessel built to navigate on the offshore waters (200 miles and less) and can sustain UP TO force 8 and waves UP TO 4 meters.
- Class C boat is a vessel built to navigate inshore such as lakes, rivers, bays, and close to the shore and can sustain UP TO force 6 and waves UP TO 2 meters.
- Class D boat is built for protected or sheltered waters such as canals, rivers, small lakes and sustain a force 4 and waves UP TO .3 meters (less than 1 ft).
A story for you. With ~5ish years as a sailing instructor and 2 of them full time on top of ~20 years of boating, I was completely competent to operate a sailboat. I was used to being charge and having people on board who were willing to be helpful, but had no clue what to do or what to expect. Additionally, I also took the "not my boat, I'm not in charge" mentality when on a boat owned by a friend. We would race on this friend's boat, and the crew were all at least as capable as I was, and several even significantly more capable. A major local race was approaching, and it turned out the friend was going to be out of town. Our boat were the defending champions for this race, and so the owner didn't want to miss out. He told us, the crew, to go ahead and take the boat without him and run the race. The weather was good at race start, but was quickly turning. There were several discussions onboard about reefing early, or retiring from the race (as a lot of other competitors had already done). But we had the "too many captains and not enough captain problem" and no one on board wanted to step up and make the actual decision. I'll shorten the story here, but when the storm hit we were knocked down badly and the end result was a scary ride ending in a torn headsail, a sheet wrapped around the prop to further disable us, and luckily only minor cuts and bruises. The takeaway for me was that we should have decided ahead of time who would have the final word. It felt like a lesson that should have been obvious.
I was heading up a narrow channel seeking shelter from a storm when my spin sheet wrapped around the prop, stopping us dead. I debated several fixes including going in the water. But then I thought maybe I could unwind the sheet by engaging reverse. Easy off and I have never wrapped my prop ever since.
I swear, if I can scrape together more than $0.05- I'll send it to you. Until then, you're just gonna have take a subscriber, who 'Likes!' every video, and- bothers to comment (kindly no less!). I hope than just regular folk can enjoy the videos without too much discrimination!
I sail like I fly- it's an easy way to manage the process. Although I may be PIC, I do have a competent XO on board as well (usually). Typically, we have sailed together (alot) in the past, and 'know' what the other would do in any given situation. Trust me- it helps, especially in weather. Sail trim is slightly intuitive, but discussing tactics can be done with very few words if you've done time together- decisions can be communicated with a look often. Safety is primary, fun is for guests. I can add to the list, but- mostly its all obvious (boring) but- a dialogue that must be had for all levels.
Yet another good discussion video. Good on Ya!
I love you
You are still "The Professor". Keep it up!
Great advice Tim. Thank you! We are new-ish sailors planning to make a Long Beach to Catalina trip late winter. Your video has perfect timing!! Wish us luck on our charter..
Good stuff Timber!! Cleveland loves ya!
Are you talking about Cleveland ohio? If so I'm just one town over in Lakewood.
Love your content!! Series idea: Now What Do I Do? A series on oh cr&p things went bad, ideas on what to do to recover? Experienced sailors can also provide What did I do to recover. Obviously non exhaustive. I'd include teaching troubleshooting methods in it. Also planning for the worst. What to have? What is junk? It'll take a bunch of research.
Excellent video. Tank you! Experienced sailors make these mistakes too, not just novices. Novices don’t know better, sea dogs get complacent. (I know from experience). I learned from my dad a few things: the hardest decision to make is to decide NOT to go out if things/weather are not OK. Never get caught with one foot on the dock and the other on deck with the lifeline between your legs. One more “one hand for you and the other for the boat” Cheers!
Good advice. Yeah check the weather. And KNOW that sooner than later the weather forecast will not be right! Also, know your crew, great point. Never count in someone to help in a jam that you do not know can help. Also, your point about telling folks what to expect is great I was out with a young couple for a fun day. The wind picked up and we were healing. One was nervous when we began to heel, but very logical and asked what do we do if the boat tips over. Give me the numbered instructions as to what I am to do. It dawned in me that I did not prepare them for what might happen well enough. Haha. We had a good laugh later as her being nervous, but still wanting a procedure to follow. It helped her coo with the stress of the heeling!!
Loads of practical wisdom in the vid. Well presented too.
My favorite assertion of command by a captain to a mouthy crewmember: "You're in charge of sex and music--when I want your fucking advice I'll whistle."
As a pilot I had a simple rule:
I love to fly. If I fly today, can I be 99.999% assured of being able to fly tomorrow. I remember renting a plane to take a first time flyer on a trip to O22 (Columbia Airport). The weather was a high overcast with areas of virga, but nothing to rule out the flight. When I was going through the squawks on the airplane it showed #2 comm and nav radios as inop. Sure, there was a working nav/comm, but what happens when it all goes FUBAR? We waited for a better day. So much of what you went over is absolutely applicable to flying.
I thought the same! My brother in law had a small plane. He was VFR rated and would turn back if he was unable to see the airport where we would liked to have landed.
@@t.a.ackerman4098 and lived to enjoy flights after that.
"It's better to be on the ground [dock] and wishing that you were flying [sailing] than to be flying [sailing] and wishing that you were on the ground [dock]"
It's an old mountaineer say in the Alps, "If in doubt, don't," which relates to the rapid weather changes in the mountains. This is very well true in sailing since doubts are about your own capability, the boat, crew, and the weather itself. Cheers.
Excellent list. I'd add one thing though I don't know where it fits in. I'd instruct guests and non-sailors in the basic use of emergency equipment such as the radio and life rings in case something happens to the crew. The average non-sailor would not know how to use those and they should. I love the T-Shirt!
That shirt just states the obvious. He should just take it off and go shirtless.
Great video, while at the moment I do not own a boat in the future I plan to purchase one 2023 or 2024.
Please make a video on the best sailboats for beginner sailors.
Thanks✌️
How many hundred times have I been on a sailboat, and you still have to tell me "It won't tip over " lol - Great video!
Excellent summation. Every day on the water is a different day and a learning day, no matter how seasoned you are.
Great video. As a new sailor I appreciate the content. Just recently completed the ASA 101, and am the proud new owner of a San Juan 23.
Thanks for the shout out.
Good video. One thing about accidents is that very often it's more than one thing, it's a serious of errors, miscalculations. It's not just the storm, it's the lee shore, and it's not just the lee shore it's the sputtering engine - without any one of these it would've just been a difficult day.
As still a rookie when I take people out there's always that moment during the Captain's talk that I realize if I go overboard my friend isn't going to know what to do, won't be able to turn the boat around or heave to, or even work the radio. (911 they can do, and so far I've been within range). That's a huge responsibility. Sure I can show them how to start the motor. One friend would be able to do it, another would probably never be able to do it.
My hero is mountain climber Ed Visiteurs. He has a rule "No one actually needs to climb mountains, but I have to return to my family." So long before he gets into the oxygen deprived high altitudes he makes a plan. I think it was Anapurna the turn around time was 2 pm. He was something like 30 minutes from the top when his alarm went off. He turned around. Probably $50,000 and months of planning and now he would have to come back and do it all over again. He stuck to his rule. Reading Deep Trouble about all the ways you can die in a sea kayak (I know someone who would've been in the third book of this series had there been one) I set up some rules. One sunny day I drove 25 miles to Redondo Beach just to escort some ocean swimmers a hundred meters off the beach - easy. I'd forgotten my PFD. That's a hard rule. Did I really need it? That day- no, but I drove home and got it. 75 miles of driving before I launched. What was good was not just that I'd followed my rule, but that it cost me a lot of time and driving - that reinforced it.
Another rule is don't go out if there's even a chance of thunderstorms. If you hear thunder, somewhere near is lightning. One day I was out and it started raining. (it was an anomalous weather day I spoke with some NOAA people later they were still buzzing about it.) I love paddling in the rain, but then I heard thunder. Turn around. Reluctantly. There were some stand-up paddle boarders so I paddled over to them to mention the risk of lightning. "We're going to see the whales! We're going to see the whales!" It was like a mantra. I've paddled with a lot of whales in that area I hadn't seen any sign of them, I did a quick scan of the horizon, "There aren't any whales today." Didn't matter. I was the party pooper. I paddled in and saw the instructor/group leader about to set out with the rest of his customers. I mentioned the thunder and lightning to him. If he called if off he'd probably have to give everybody their money back. He just shrugged. As I carried my yak up the ramp he announced, "If you see any lightning, lay down on your boards." Of course they all survived - didn't see any whales.
Good Book "Left For Dead" Nick Ward's experience wrecked in the Fastnet Race disaster of 1979. Most of the crew left in the life raft, the boat was still afloat. Two crew died very probably because the crew collectively panicked. Though he doesn't 'go there,' it's obviously a critical consideration. The boat floated through all of it, was found later and recovered. Ward was unconscious when the boat pitch-poled so maybe he (or any of us) would've panicked, climbed in the life raft and left others behind. I've got ADHD, usually when things go out of control my brain focuses - but I can also panic. But I do stay aware of everything that's happening. Training. When I first reefed a 32' Hunter I'd chartered it was like magic, the rail was no longer in the water, we were sailing up right and at about the same speed. (about 15 knots of wind so even heeled over was okay). That was an important lesson. Just reef some more. I really want to go out with experienced sailors in difficult conditions and work with the crew to reef, storm sail, deploy a drogue. I want to be able if I ever need, to do all these things, as good form, as practice and to save my boat and everyone on her.
Thanks for that episode
I'm an a inspired sailor and your knowledge is become mine knowledge
My wife and i are heading into our Sophomore year of owning our own boat. This video was filled with top notch information. Will share with wife and discuss. So many good points in such a short video! thank you so much!
I don't have much sailing experience - almost all my sailing has been in dinghies and a sailing kayak. Like some of your other commenters, I have an aviation background, and I'd like to suggest checklists. I've seen two experienced sailors with CZcams channels (you and Zingaro) take on water and go frantically around the cabin trying to find the source. The Coast Guard had to remind you to put on your PFD (as you pointed out in the video). Putting steps on a checklist, laminating that checklist, and putting putting it at the companionway where you know where to find it in a hurry would help focus one's mind to proceed rationally through the emergency. The first step would be Don PFD. Then would follow all of the locations that water could enter the hull, either in order of likelyhood of failure or according to location. I think I'd also mark the locations of through-hulls with reflective tape, in case it has to be done at night without electrical power and all I have is a head light or flashlight. This stuff should be drilled periodically. I used to fly in P-3s with a survivor of the one that ditched in the Aleutians in 1978. When he was mission commander, we did ditching drills until they were perfect. But we still used the checklists to make sure nothing was missed. I think going through a checklist to make sure everything is in the right position and the boat's in good shape before leaving the dock would probably be a good idea, as well. Just a thought from a novice sailor and experienced airman.
Great video and informational topics, just would add make sure all people on board know where a serviceable fire extinguisher is. Most people don’t realize a fire on board is something serious.
Pre/sail inspection is a very high priority also, just like pre/flight in an aircraft. the first mate or Captain needs to do a very thorough internal /external inspection before leaving dock and document everything you do and place you go in a log book, it is your legal defense in any court case or investigation if anything should happen to you, a guest, a crew member or the vessel or any private or commercial property, LOG BOOK never skip it.
Fairly experienced sailor here - and I'm 5 for 5. Got caught in a derecho downburst - 80 kt gust front - wrecked my Pearson 26 (very stoutly built). Only a 10% chance of t-storms in the forecast, but in Oklahoma any chance is risky, pop-up t-storms happen incredibly fast.
Great episode. I did my first solo trip recently. Did the Erie canal then Atlantic and ICW to S.W. Florida. In our new to us 48 ft. steel ketch. Mistakes were made. Lessons were learned.
The only time we almost hit the rocks is when we had five experienced captains on board. They were arguing back and forth.
Perfect timing 👍
This is great, very well founded one! Thanks a lot.
Well I live in San Pedro California home of the hurricane Gulch.
For a few years I use
windrider rave my friend was the first owner of the company
and he used to let me borrow his boat every Saturday
it was incredible but you're right weather isn't is important you don't want to be in a
little boat when the weather turns and gets really bad
even though I had a boat do 40 knots and get myself back to the doc real quickly
especially in that boat the speed he kill you fast
Your best video yet. Thank you.
I am the dummy who sailed 420's and lasers in wonderful conditions, 25 to 30 knots. So I am trying to get readjusted (to my crew) when I raced on a Farr 34 we just used the small spinnaker, and on our J-30 I don't remember a good windy race. good talk!
You have not trained your crew properly.
Appreciate the thoughtful comments. Thanks!
Regarding the weather, we have a saying in aviation. "It's better to be on the ground wishing you were flying, than the opposite"
Hi Tim,
you‘re just so right! In a way we probably have to commit all these mistakes to some degree on our way to improve - just hoping nothing serious happens. Fair winds!
Something that was instilled in me while in the military in Iraq was a statement that I have found to work in just about any situation, that being "complacency kills".
Had some close calls on a trip up the Michigan coast, days we definitely shouldn't have been out. I don't know if you have, but maybe you could do a whole video on waves. How they work, how they work against our boats, the safest approaches, and the differences between salt and fresh water waves. Great videos!
I've raced on all the great lakes except Superior for over 40 years. They all are a little different in a blow. Erie's west basin is relatively shallow so waves can be as high as 8 to ten feet. The waves are close together so sailing over the crests at a 30/40 degree angle is important. Lakes Michigan and Huron are deep and the waves can be as high as 15 to 20 ft in a gale. But they are spread further apart, allowing for sailing in the troughs. They don't call them fresh water oceans for nothing.
"Trophy Husband"? A wedding band?! Did I miss something in the past while I haven't been paying attention?! Congratulations!
Hahaha no no. She likes to buy me stuff ♥️💜
One other thing.. make sure the thru-hull valves are closed. I had a drain hose come off the sink.. it fell to the bilge... the water came in like a garden hose. Great video.. thanks.
Had you no shutoff valve or wooden plug to deal with it?
It has a shut off valve. I keep it shut off all the time now.. until I need to drain the sink and keep plugs on the boat just incase the valve should break.
Love show!
Good list! Sailing in front of Toronto on the cat - that's brings me a good memories :) Thank you!
Fantastic video! Very very valuable! I hope we all listen.
Great Lakes for the win! 😎
Absolutely love your channel and your perspective. Thank you very much for sharing your passion
Interesting story, sailing with you sounds like fun, well done
Regarding chain of command I would nuance this. In Civil Aviation, the leading sector in safety , the emphasis is now on good communication skills so the total knowledge and awareness of the whole crew is put into effect, called CRM. We see that on yacht racing crews as well. America's cup for example, quite professional communications on these machines where just one example of failed CRM almost sank an entry (unfortunately also my favourite team). It does suppose more then 1 competent crew on board :)
Excellent episode
Here is one.... Make sure your passengers will sit and not move as you are moving around, in and out of the cockpit. You know how they see you coming and at the last minute they move and totally fuck up your approach? Keep up the great work Tim. Thanks.
OMG! The question of experience…I got paired, at the put in, on a 3 day whitewater canoeing trip w a guy who had been on water 3 times in his LIFE. We almost died.
Very good and important stuff Tim! One of your best efforts, cheers!
Great point about whether an individual needs shade! My wife is extremely sensitive to the sun, it’s a genetic disorder. In the rare event I can coax her out on the water sun exposure is the first consideration.
My brother-in-law had a small airplane and he was VFR rated. I enjoyed flying with him but he would turn back if conditions called for it. If he didn't have a visual on an airport, well we can't land there. He didn't have an IFR rating. I guess the point I'm trying to make is don't endanger yourself or others.
With enough beer and meat your bad weather experience can turn into fun time with friends at the marine dock )
3:37 that bit is dangerous and should taken with the knowledge that this does not apply if you feel uncomfortable with what the captain is doing. If this is the case than respectively let the captain know and tell them why, if they insist then obey.
I always explain that nothing on deck is decoration. The "ropes" should not be pushed out of the way, sat on top of, tied off to things etc....
My scariest sailing experience was when I was just starting, I took an offer I got on a crew finder group and ended up finding out the hard way the captain had lied about his experience, it became obvious once we were 2 days out of port, was an all around shit show but it did build my confidence, I got our asses to port and walked away.
Think I'd have to get to know or verify sailing experience before I'd join a random boat again.
Out of the 5. I thought for sure you would mention having a preventer for the boom for down wind sailing . Ha it only takes one time for the boom to come around after a jive to knock someone in the head or perhaps knock someone over hoard . Sad to say. I made that mistake. It only takes one time
If you know what you're doing, it never comes to that.
Great video! Nice yoke btw.
It appears that congratulations may be in order. Wishing you the best.
I like the format, but I sure wish Spring would get here...
with all the hype these day with "sail life" more and more people need to be exposed to this kind of advice. there are people buying boats nowadays who have no business being out at sea. it takes a defined grit to sail. imo there will be more and more accidents (and perhaps more fatalities unfortunately). there was this YT couple which i wont name, who bought a boat, thought they could study sailing, and sail it to bermuda. on the way the weather got bad (which happens and no one is immune to it) and they got the scare of their lives. upon arrival boat was sold. more than lacking the abilities what hapenned its what always happen: people break before the gear does, and that kills them.
Billiant idea for an episode!!
Hi love all your great info.
What are your thoughts about the chaser 39 sailboat ?
Love the shirt dude.
I've turned back to port three times because of extreme weather last year. Don't want to beat my girl
Looked thru you library. Did you ever cover Bill Crealock and the Pacific Seacraft efforts?
Not yet but I'll have a look :)
super informative, thanks :)
I call other more experienced captains on board the admirals so all the honor goes to them while I'm in charge. Because who wants to demote himself back to the mere captain, right? :)
I always assume the weather will get worse. So even if conditions are right at my limit i won't go out. I hate white knuckling it.
awesome vid liked the 3 feet of water in the bilge do to i follow you and yes you have the tee shirt for that one been there done it and lived you should of put a link for that one lol love the vids
Left seat time check the dam weather most important thing to do AMEN
Go William!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Any tips on getting into the sailboat delivery service?
Not really. I thought about doing it for a while. Not even sure where to start.
Navigation skills?
... Cheers...
So your first one being too many captains is like back seat drivers but with more consequences? LOL
Look at me,I'm the captain now
Check the damn weather : 14:24 AND no matter the forecast LOOK out offshore and see if the forecast matches the sea state. Often it doesn’t.
That picture of Will Smith in the background didn't age well.
Hmmmm my bell notification got turned off....I'm pretty sure I didn't do it....hmmmm
how do you like your dometic fridge
Love it. Fantasssssstic product!
@@LadyKSailing sorry to ask but how many amps do you figure it eats a 24 hour period
Nice shirt! Is there any other news you want to share?
Haha no. She just like marking her territory 💍
Can't people just use a seasick patch? Do they not work for everyone?
CRM!
Say what? 3ft of water in the cabin?!
wind dont kill sailors, rocks do.....
Actually, it's the water.