Seabrake/Drogues and Heavy weather sailing

Heavy Weather Sailing

The main comments in this series are from Ken in Tasmania, a blue water sailor of considerable experience.. Edits have been made to delete extraneous material.

Hi, Shane got me thinking about the different theories of heavy weather sailing.

Whereas in the past, it used to be encouraged to heave-to in extreme conditions, it would now appear that one is encouraged to run before the weather. Whilst I have used this method for reasons I will go into in a minute, I have also found it very terrifying, the chances of pitchpoling is real, the two incidents in our South Coast proved this to me. Since then and because of both those experiences as stated we now carry and deploy a seabrake when running before a big sea, it especially effective when using the autopilot and a quartering sea is running.

The methods of heaving to or going slowly to windward with storm sails up seem to be getting less favourable, mainly due to the designs of newer boats. From research that I have done it would appear that light rigging or rudders are the weak links. Even on the heavier long type keel boats (Compass style) the rudder is very vulnerable if the boat cannot make way and is pushed back down the face of a wave.

From information I have managed to glean from the professional trawlers, if they a running before heavy weather and are in danger of being pooped on a wave face, they put the engine astern and try and let the wave pass under them rather than surf down the face, in the same sense that we use a seabrake to stop us from surfing as well.

Once again, the method of riding out a storm will depend on our situation and just how much sea room we have, the deeper the water the longer we have between sets to recover.

Now what I would like to see is other peoples thoughts and experiences on the above.

Thanks KenM

What sort of sea brake do you use Ken? A big parachute or drogue. Do you put the brake centred on a bridle or on one side?

How far back is it, two waves behind, or something else? Could the forces break the horn cleat out?

Some had said that these things are a case of the cure being worse than the disease. Not sure why. You clearly would not agree... Or WOULD you agree in some conditions? And if so what might they be?

Brrrr... Scarey stuff!

Colin

Hi Colin,

"Seabrake" is the brand or name of the device. IT is as the name suggests a controlling or braking device, as opposed to a drogue or parachute.

If you Google "Seabrake" you will get the big picture far better than what I can explain, also on the search engine there is a good article from "Sail-world."

A bridle set up is used so that the seabrake can also be used as emergency steering.

I have 50metres of double braided line plus 3 metres of 8mm chain as recommended, with a trip line.

The original "Seabrake" we had was a fairly unweildly device that rather looked like a anti-submarine mortar with small doors cut into the side, these could be adjusted so that they opened and closed when a predetermined speed was reached. Extremely efficient, but quite expensive.

The current one is of fabric and not speed adjustable, but still very good.

Am yet to deploy it in real adverse conditions, i.e. when we are terrified enough.

When you have checked out their website, I will be very interested in your thoughts.

Cheers KenM

If you are ever in Fremantle Maritime Museum, there is a dramatic seabrake display with a WA circumnavigator's boat at a steep angle near the floor The seabrake cable snakes 50M high up into the roof simulating the top of the wave with the boat in the trough. Impressive.

Never thought of Compass' backsliding on a wave, really scary if I was holding the tiller. Oh for a small rudder

Something not addressed in the posts is how to mount a bridle on Compass’. Colin was right to worry about ripping out the horn cleats. Personally, I would take a turn around each stern cleat and make the bridle ends off to the sheet winches and if you had them a turn around the spinnaker winches too. See more on towing in Maeling’s Safety Manual.

Regards Geoff Raebel

Hi Ken,

I didn't know about this device. I had only read of drogues and sea anchors.

It's a REALLY interesting read and it would seem to me (from the promo stuff - I'm a sucker for that!) that it's a really useful thing to have aboard.

There seems to be no place to find out what it costs. The links don't work for that. Any idea?

Colin

If its the same "Seabrake" that Burke make, $199 whitworths catalogue

2008-09 page 99

Using the above, what speed to do try to reduce to, 2 to 3 kts? or is it different for each wind/sea situation? (the product info says, aim to reduce speed to below 7kts, this still seems a little fast??) I have one, but have not used it, or even set it up yet.

Cheers TOPHAT-Shaun

It depends on the sea conditions, wind speed and how much sail you are

still carrying.

I like to keep going at about 5-6 kts.

Yes it is the one Burke make, they are made under licence.

Try it and you will be pleasantly surprised, also it is very wise to

set it up and try it before you actually need to use it in anger. The

first couple of times you use it you will find it a long slow process

to get it organised. I have a separate bag which I have all the line

and chain set up ready to connect to the seabrake, I carry this in the

cockpit locker for obvious reasons.

Cheers KenM

Incidentally my reference to a bridle earlier was because the Pardy's discuss sea anchors and drogues quite a bit and they have those on a bridle so they can alter the attitude of the yacht to the sea. They adjust until it's most comfortable and safe. It's written up in "Heavy Weather Sailing" (Cole) as well. With those devices that is not for steering.

The "Seabrake" seems a hit!

Colin

Hi,

The secret in using this device (Seabrake) is the use of double braided line for the tow rope. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. If you use a 3 strand type rope it will allow the seabrake to rotate and unravel the rope. I use 14mm double braid and had the chandlery splice a large thimble in the end so that I can use a large bow shackle to attach it to the seabrake.

The Pardy's have been discredited in a number of areas and their use of drogues in heavy weather is very old thinking.

Colin, we took some encouragement from Allard Coles book as he cites an example in the Fastnet race of a sister ship to ours sailing thru the storms without damage.

Cheers KenM

Hi,

Just finished reading Pardy's STORM TACTICS this very minute and would be interested in where/who has discredited the info they presented and why.

Phillip.

Yeah me too! They are my heros! I've read their stuff, Coles Heavy Weather Sailing etc and I figured I would follow the Pardy’s techniques once I get a bigger boat and start some serious voyaging. I.E. Heaving-to with storm sails and using a large parachute anchor on a bridle to hold the bow 45 degrees off the wind and also keep the boat from sailing forward out of it's slick. I would also like the option of running so a smaller drogue to deploy off the stern is a good idea but it seems to me that heaving-to would be the best option most of the time. Of course all this is just from reading. Don't have my little Compass set up with any of this stuff although I sometimes heave-to. I'm interested in the opinions of those who've actually made it through serious weather!

CheersMark

I'd like to add my voice to this too please. I am very much in the same position as Mark and Phillip. Read the books, trying to work towards the dream and ... WHOA... what I was ingesting and thinking over won't work?

Colin

I would also like the option of running so a smaller drogue to deploy off the stern is a good idea but it seems to me that heaving-to would be the best option most of the time.

Of course all this is just from reading. Don't have my little Compass set up with any of this stuff although I sometimes heave-to. I'm interested in the opinions of those who've actually made it through serious weather!

Cheers

Mark

Just a closer from the Webmaster. Ideas develop and change over the years, fashions come and go. With anything we read or see, we have to apply our own values and experience. When building Maeling I was horrified to find the reefing system set up for Port tack. My experience said it was better to have right of way when things are complicated.

On emergency steering, did you know that old Men of War sometimes had to tow a battle damaged compatriot clear. If you try to tow another boat, you will find you can’t make enough way to tack. Those old Men of War rigged a spring line to each side of the towing hawser. To tack, they tightened to spring in the direction they wanted to tack. My guess is that Seabrake steering uses much the same principle

Happy Reading – Geoff Raebel