What does a Mac Sailor do in a SQUALL ??

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Ive never endured a squall, and hope never. But, I could use some advice. Im often a few miles out, so if I get caught, what's the procedure if there's not enough time to make it to shore. I know to pull down the sails, but is it advisable to anchor, crank the 50 HP and nose into the wind, or just .... close the hatch, get below, and "hang on" ??
I dont want to test my Mac X to see if it will float when flooded...
Any advice would be sincerely appreciated

[James V]

You should already have the ballest tank full, Right?
0) start motor and let warm up.
1) take down the sails.
2) put on foul weather gear and take every off the decks.
3) WOT and get out of the way.

if the motor will not start or if you have to go through it. Several things need to be done.

Motor away from the wind. Unless you have a 3rd reef point or a very strong small headsail. I would not try to sail. There has been stories where people have bare poled down wind at good speed. But you have to stear the boat.

If the squal has lightening, disconnect all electronics. Yea, that includes the motor. Drag something behind the boat to keep the stern into the wind. Tie big knots into lines is one way. You do not want to have the waves on the beam. My boat wants to go beam to the wind all the time. Gound the boat somehow. Take a piece of chain or wire cable and connect to the standing rigging. Once the boat is traveling somewhat down wind, go below and close the hatch and stay away from anything metal.

There has been a lot written about this. After your first one, the rest are easier (?)

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

My thought was that the boat would seem safer facing the high winds, anchored from the bow. In the event of high waves, blown spray,etc., the bow could take the blows better instead of the back, especially travelling down wind. I wonder how a Mac could be adequately controlled in squall intense high winds off the hook?
Thanks for the advice...I hope never to experience a squall, but I've heard some horrible fearful tales. The stability of the Mac with sails down, hatch secured, full ballast, and deck clear would seem to be SAFE.

Strangely, I havent found any threads for safety handling the MacGregor in squalls.

[James V]

LOUIS - Yes it is a little strange. On Galveston Bay you can see them comming for miles. A good anchor and line is a must.

One of the key things is to know what a squall looks like and take down the sails quickly. A min or 2 too long can make all the differance in the world. I was wanting to get the sail caddy installed http://www.sailcaddy.com/ and have all lines leading aft. I want to be able to get all sails down in less than 1 min.

[Frank C]

... Im often a few miles out,
... is it advisable to anchor,
... crank the 50 HP and nose into the wind,

Can you anchor when you're a few miles out?
If yes, I suppose you wouldn't be in a shipping channel, but what's the risk of being overrun?
I sure agree w/James about the lazy jacks to catch that mainsail - I'm adding them now.

We don't get that sort of quick storm here, but I'd definitely want to take the wind and waves over the bow. In that case, seems to me that motoring into the wind is quickest safety measure, as an assist to a reefed sailplan. If you can heave-to, then some might choose to go below, but I'd never want to leave the helm.

I'm self-taught and I've never been caught "scared" on the Bay, but it surely will happen someday. My closest brushes with "scared" were both while motoring past islands (Angel & Treasure islands) into strong ebb tides - both cases with strong winds astern. This creates extremely steep, 5-foot wave churn that makes driving the 26X feel like rock-climbing in a Jeep. Both days, I knew in advance that I didn't want sails aloft. It's intimidating to see a standing wave across your path, stretching 75 yards to either side.

I decided just this year to sign-up for a basic sailing course at an ASA school - due next week. But I think you can save $500 and get the same basic ASA instruction from the CG Aux - why not check it out?

[Helaku]

I have been through one in a catamaran and I would never want to anchor.

Wind pushing the boat hard on the anchor line and water coming over the boat sounds like a place I would not want to be.

[NautiMoments]

I like some of James list, you want to have the sails down, engine running, and everything secure. Close the hatch cover and make sure the boat and contents are as secure as possible. Make sure everyone has a life jacket on and, if you have time, get your foul weather gear on.

The CYA and Power Squadron training I have taken tells you to always put the bow into the wind/waves, even drag the anchor out the from so the friction in the water will help keep the bow into the waves. In the open ocean people use sea anchors to keep the bow into the wind/wave. If motoring sometimes it is best not to meet the waves head on but at a slight angle, 10-15 deg. IMHO, having large waves DIRECTLY on your stern is a dangerous situation. Again they say to have them on an angle but you must be VERY vigilant. The stern can be pushed around so easily to cause a broach; and large seas on the beam is not nice.

[Brian26x]

It happened to us last summer in the North Channel. We could see it coming, took the sails down, started the motor, closed the hatches and motored for a safe place. It hit when we were still 75 yards from the rocky entrance to a calm cove. the wind hit us our the starboard side and heeled us over 15-20 deg. and yes the ballast tank was full. The wind was so strong, I could not turn up into the wind until I gave it full throttle. The rain was blinding, no way I was going to try the tricky cove entrance under those conditions. Now that I had the bow into the wind and waves I cut back on the gas enough just to maintain some forward speed and control and putted back towards deeper water to ride out the worst part of the storm. The Mac was now taking things in stride. the squall lasted 5-10 min. by that time it was calm enough to head into the cove. That was our first bad storm, the crew and the Mac were not injured, other boats in our group did suffer some damage. It sure was nice to be able to overpower the wind with that 50hp Merc to get away from the rocks. I have a little more faith our Mac now.

Brian.

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

I've experienced a squall when overnighting in a local Marina. Outside of the noise...the Mac did well with its full ballast, lines tied securely, and water tight cabin. Being tied up in a Marina is no way I can visualize being out on the water several miles out and here comes the "blow".
Depths in areas we sail range from 10' to 20', usually within 5-7 miles of shoreline within the Galveston Bay. Otherwise, we're in the intercoastals, never in the Gulf of Mexico. So my thinking of anchoring, facing the winds with the bow gives the best protection. Honestly speaking, I think trying to hang on when trying to motor in outrageous gusts would be more dangerous than riding it out on the hook, unless one is close to rocks or a dangerous shore, then motoring is necessary.
Brian26X describes that option well, and thanks !
Thanks for all the ideas, advice, and experienced help. Its like this, if the Admiral sees me "afraid" during a squall, I likely would loose a sailing partner (I have to look confident, experienced, and sailing "edchukatid")
< I must look like this during a squall

[Catigale]

I got caught on the Hudson, about 1/4 mile wide, two summers ago. A clear squall line came up the riverand visibility dropped to near zero - could just see of the end of the boat, it seemed.

Our biggest concern was getting hit by a freigher coming up the river.

I had an experienced skipper guest on board, who suggested me head for a nearby ATON (a large flag on a metal scaffold) and circle it until the line passed.

We stayed within 10 feet of the ATON, too close for a freighter to hit us in all likelihood.

By knowing exactly where we were, we periodically broadcast our position on both CHannel 16 and Channel 13 to alert traffic

We felt the scaffold was more likely to be hit by the lightning than our mast and would take most of the charge.

The visiblity improved in about 3 minutes while we slowly circled the ATON

[NautiMoments]

Good point about visibility. We should add "take a fix" to the list. That way if we had to send a Mayday we would know where we are. If we are near shore we would know any danger areas near us.

[Herm. Beeck]

How do you deploy the sail caddy? Do you have to open it up and can a strong wind blow the sails out of the caddy?
Can anyone compare the sail caddy to the lazy jacks?

[James V]

Here is an old thread on the Sail Caddy -
http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... ight=caddy

[JRonUnderSail]

Hi,
I'm new to this forum, but I've had one of the first S(water ballast with centerboard) boats, and a 1995 26X(15 hp) until 2003, (oops Catalina 30 for a bit, but too expensive to dock and maintain), and now another 2001 26X (with 9.9 Yamaha 4 stroke)...
22 years on Lake Superior, based out of Bayfield, Wisconsin. Every other weekend... Yep seen big storms, and been in them... Since I have smaller motors this means that I use sails quite a bit... Huge 4 th of July storm, a few years back: storm jib, and 2 nd reef on the main (3 reefs total) for 2-3 hours.... The 26X sails very well in big seas. Once in a huge rainstorm (12" over 4 hours), we ended up motorsailing with storm sail and motor in 4-8' seas... The work just fine as long as your crew doesn't turn green!
Light winds are great for the 26X... I've keep up with a 45' racer in 5-6 mph winds... We had a genoa and main up, drinking a fine glass of wine: the Captain of the 45' had his crew trimming sails to try to walk by us... The will sail well if trimmed and rigged well. (I also has a split backstay so it would sail the same in both directions)...
I looked at the "new boat" several weeks ago, but I didn't like the interior..
Cheers, and fair winds,
JR

[Night Sailor]

Gulf of Mexico squalls by their very nature are short lived, a matter of 10 or 15 minutes duration about half the time, the rest no longer than 30 minutes. Wind direction is unpredictable and not constant, but can get pretty strong... into the forties very quickly. because of the short duration, we seldom head for harbor during the typical summer squall. If the NOAA broadcasts, or marine buoy data show a long duration event, and we still have many miles to go, then we will crank up the iron seahorses and with sails furled head for safer waters to wait it out in the lee of an island, causeway or at last have good scope for the storm anchor which i consider to be about 10:1.

I like to be proactive if I see a squall line coming or forming at the edge of a front. Before the wind hits I furl the sails, don foulies, start the motor, stow any loose objects on deck or below, send crew below to close all hatches for the duration. I want only one person to be subject to the often very cold rain or hail. Those conditions cantire a helmsperson quicklly and it's good to have a fresh person come up after the squall passes to take the helm.
I like to motor into any wind or seas with just enough speed to counter the wind and wave pressure and to keep enough way on that steering is easy and effective. I find the boat rides better that way so it's less tiring on me.

If off a windward shore I check to see if the bottom is close enough to drop anchor off the bow with maximum rode paid out. I would only turn the stern to the wind and waves under motor power if there were no other choice. I believe that the yawing and pitching from motoring stern to waves orientation is much harder on the keel and rudders.

On the open gulf no shore in sight, deep water, I do the same as I would for a squall, only using heavily reefed sail if I'm low on fuel.