What does a Mac Sailor do in a SQUALL ??

[zuma hans 1]

The two squalls I've hit were both on Lake Mead, and getting the sails down in 45 seconds is a drill I am going to PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE before the next one.

Also, I will never EVER EVER sail again with the engine up for less drag.. Stupid stupid stupid. The extra .1 mph is not worth it.

Entering an unfamiliar harbor 3 years ago, I was closely following a three-masted sailing ship in past the breakwater when she took a hard tack port. I looked left and saw a swell beginning to turn translucent at the top. YIPES!

I swung left also, and wasted precious time lowering the outboard. I took the wave nose first, but only because I had enough momentum to come about directly into the wind (and wave) still moving forward.

Memo: always have engine down (and preferably warmed up and idling - I mean, it should be run once in a while anyway) when near rocks, entering a tight harbor, weekend-captain boats, thunderstorms, beer can regattas, etc.

[NautiMoments]

Louis, funny that we have been discussing this subject; this weekend I was caught in a squall and a rip tide combined. We were at the end of an island where 2 current streams meet, one from the west and the other from the south. For those from the Pacific North West it was at the northern tip of Patos Island just north of Sucia in the San Juan Islands. We were going south with an ebb tide. The wind was from the north, behind us, at 10-15knts, the seas were about 1-2 ft chop. We saw the white caps approaching from the west and as it got closer could see the wind on the water. While my wife took down the sails and made sure everything was secure I lowered and started the motor. We had such little time that we used the boomvang line to secure the sail. We always ware our PDFs and we new exactly where we were so a fix was easy. Since had been sailing the ballast was full, dagger board and rudders down, but the engine was disconnected from the steering and locked straight. By this time the squall was on us and the waves turned to 7-8ft high and about 20ft apart, short and steep. We headed into the waves at 10-20 degs at slow speed not wanting to slam the boat down on the next wave and overstress the boat, and me. By playing with the power and steering we were able to keep it down to only 2 times when we teetered on the crest of the wave then slammed down the following side, of course burying the bow in the next wave. Since the waves come in sets we found a spot where we thought we could turn and ride with the wave, on our stern, thus maybe getting to the lee of the island. This was not a good idea. Even though we had lots of fins in the water, without the engine hooked to the steering I could not give that burst of power at the right angle required to keep the boat straight when a big wave hit. At that point your rudders now have no steerage due to the speed of the water from behind. We were broached almost immediately and she went over to about 50+ degrees. Needless to say in the next lull we turned into the waves and gave up our quest for the lee of the island. There is a tiny cove at the end of the island and we were able to maneuver into it during the lulls in waves. We anchored for a bit to reconnect the engine to the steering and get our wits about us. Our friends who have a 33 Beneteau joined us. By this time the squall had passed but the winds remained at about 20-25 knts from the WSW. We decided to brave the remaining rip tide since it was just a short distance to our destination. Once out we found that steerage was good and we could manage the now 5-6 steep waves not too badly and travel the mile out of the confused rip tide. In the channel the waves were still confused at about 3 but mostly from our stbd quarter. We left the dagger board down half way and both fins in the water while motoring at about 4-5 knots. Following the Beneteau we realized that we were actually rolling less that they were when a larger wave hit.

Conclusion, I had an X for 3 years and this is our 2nd season with the M but I feel the MacGregor will hand this type of seas better than most crew. I do think the rounder hull on the M might have made for less pounding, but speed, power control and angle to the waves were the key. Second, if it is getting rough or you see rough water ahead, even though you are going to continue sailing, reconnect the engine just incase. I was not happy about being in this situation, and do not look forward to doing it again, but feel more confident that the boat and I could handle it. The wife said the same. In the March 2005 issue of Pacific Yachting did a review of the MacGregor 26M and called it a capable coastal cruiser.

[zuma hans 1]

I am increasingly of the opinion that leaving the engine down and connected at all times (except maybe a race) is a good idea.

[Night Sailor]

The only time I the raise the motor while sailing is in very light air (<5mph) where there is plenty of sailing room and no traffic, or encountering mats of lily pads, kelp, etc. or debris other debris that might damage/entangle the prop. Some consider the lower unit a drag item, but I consider it as more rudder area, and more weight below the COG.

I never disconnect the rudders from the motor for any reason. My X works just fine without effort when attached.
And if you accidentally leave the motor in gear while in the water, it makes a noise, to remind you that to start it quickly to get out of truoble, it needs to be in neutral.

[maddmike]

Been in a lot of squalls over the years. Some were short lived and rather tame, some short lived and not so tame; even one microburst with winds to 70 knots for 10 min. or so near Norman Wells on the Mackenzie River that even managed to get the locals attention, as I found out later that night in the bar. Sometimes I've been at anchor and OK, sometimes at anchor and been dragged (twice in the middle of the night #1 on the Mississippi Gulf and #2 South side of Puerto Rico in a mangrove lagoon. At sea, your actions depend on the circumstances and your comfort with the anticipated conditions. Lightning; pull all the electronics and put the back-up GPS in a sock in an insulated cooler, no lightning-no big deal. Squall line goes from horizon to horizon, time to reef and get out the foulies, and prep the sea anchor (just in case). Scattered squalls here and there; ride em out, down wind if necessary and steer with the mainsheet-the rain flattens the waves. Single big squall that you can't get around or out run with clouds topping out at 30,000+ ft. and lightning and maybe a funnel cloud or two; treat it like a hurricane, time to find out if you really know your sh~t. Small squalls between islands on a beam reach; furl in the jib a bit and ease off the main, stay on course (ho hum experience, in a MAC once you know your boat). Main point, learn and practice your SAILING skills BEFORE you get into your first squall at sea. Use your motor, but DON"T depend on it. It's there to assist you-not SAVE you. The MAC can handle just about anything that comes your way (except maybe traffic during a squall, almost got hit by a ferry in a squall once). Don't be lazy, learn to sail your boat in a bit more wind each time the opportunity arises, play around-see what your comfortable with. I got the nickname 'Maddmike' on St. John because I liked to go out at night when the weather got bad so I could practice somewhere close to shore (and possible assistance)-before I HAD to use the techniques for real in the middle of nowhere. IMHO Anyone planning on taking their MAC more than 4 hrs. from shore should learn how to not only survive a nasty squall-but how to feel comfortable in their boat in one.

[craiglaforce]

I agree with Mad Mike that it is useful to progressively practice sailing in higher and higher winds. The main things being to learn how to reef down for the higher wind speeds while maintaining helm balance and control.

If it gets blowing hard enough, I just start the engine and drop all sails. WIth water ballast in, the boat will plw through just about anything. If you are in salt water and wear eyeglasses, they are impossible to keep clean if you are getting sprayed with intermittant drying of the white salt on the lenses.

If the waves are big enough to toss the stern around violently (steep waves over 8 feet or so), you have to raise the rudders to keep from breaking equipment. Motor steering lets you maintain some steering control without breaking the rudders.

Anchoring in high winds is very violent, so I have always thought about getting a drift drogue to set up on a 30 degree bridle off the bow, as the ultimate defense, if the motor was to quit, and you had some room to drift. If you don't have the sea room then using an anchor with the same bridle would be necessary.

I would never want to anchor stern to the weather. That is unpleasant even in normal pleasant weather.

Luckily, I have always been close enough to the slip when a storm hits to just motor back, and this is very comfortable with the sails down.

[zuma hans 1]

Yipes, all these war stories are making our little gusts in the So Cal ocean seem like puffs. We don't get summertime squalls in the ocean here.

Now I wonder how the Macgregor 26X will weather a 7.1 shaker???

[Mark Karagianis]

After experiencing the 6.8 '94 Northridge Earthquake, I plan to board up all my broken windows (I have plywood on hand for this), stock all of the perishable food in the house in my boat, grab crew (& dogs, of course), and head to Marina del Rey, detouring around all of the downed freeway overpasses. Then we'll head to Catalina Island for a week of sanity away from all of the zombie looting maniacs. Maybe we'll catch a tsunami once we're past the breakwater and surf there at 450 mph. I better get a sea anchor so I can drop out of warp speed.

[Mark Prouty]

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.

I was on that Cruise also. I made it into the cove. We got the sails down but the high freeboard itself felt like it would push the boat over when the wind was broadside. Sure made for some excitement.

[Jim Bunnell]

I was there too, a bit farther out than Brian. Also blessed the horsepower as we righted into the wind. The rain in the eyes was blinding for the moment - but I thought the hail might do it for good! Then I got smart and pulled my sunglasses up. Sure was a dark sky in that squall, but my eyes felt a lot better.