1. Uncontrolled energy is what destroys yachts during a storm. Yachts get going too fast, and then lose control and broach. Yachts with high levels of kinetic energy jump off the crests of waves into the troughs and the uncontrolled energy breaks bulkheads loose and destroys rigs. Yachts with high levels of energy sail into walls of water (called waves) and their yacht shudders from stem to stern as they crash into the seas.
2. Yachts that safely dissipate their kinetic energy survive storms without damage. You must monitor and control the energy in your yacht so that it never reaches dangerous levels.
3. If you are not careful, stormy seas and strong winds will transfer their energy to your yacht, and when that energy reaches dangerous levels, bad things will happen. Rudders break off, yachts roll and pitchpole, masts come down, and people sustain injuries.
Your job in a storm
1. Position your yacht in a location so that it´s exposed to the least amount of energy. Storm avoidance or at least positioning yourself in the "safe" semicircle will do a lot to limit the amount of energy that you have to deal with in a storm.
2. Once you find yourself in a storm, you must decouple the energy of the storm from your yacht. Just because the wind is blowing fifty knots and there are twenty foot seas doesn´t mean that all of that energy has to climb on board your yacht. You can heave to, use drogues or even parachutes to decouple the energy of the storm from your yacht.
3. Reduce your yacht´s energy (speed) to the smallest amount possible consistent with good seamanship. When you stop your yacht or reduce its speed, you are stepping away from the edge of disaster. You are saying goodbye to brinksmanship and hello to good seamanship.
Reprinted with permission of - David Abbott, http://Maxingout.com
Part 3:non-breaking seas, breaking seas and black holes...
Storm Management for Cruisers Part 3
Storm Management for Cruisers Part 4
Storm Management for Cruisers Part 5
Storm Management for Cruisers Part 6
Storm Management for Cruisers Part 7
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