Did it about 60 miles off of Bermuda in a gale (30+ knots) in short choppy 
seas.   Had the # 3 up and double reefed main.  We were bashing our way in when 
we had to chill things out a bit for a sick passenger.

All we  did was tack without releasing the jib sheet.  Settled right down. You 
think the weather was turned off.  Rather pleasant actually.

I wish I knew this trick when I was 17 and with a blonde on my father's 24'.  
Had the boat doing circles (kind of) and almost ran over a clammer.   Woops.   
Life was good if your Dad had a sailboat with a cabin.

David F. Risch
1981 40-2
(401) 419-4650 (cell)


Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2014 13:17:21 -0500
From: muckl...@gmail.com
To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Subject: Re: Stus-List C&C 41...offshore cnc models- now heaving to

I never had luck or need to be hove-to myself till last spring when a broken 
fuel gage left us without engine propulsion.  The Chesapeake was pretty rough 
by bay standards.  High frequency 6-10 foot breakers and 20-25kts wind.  We had 
been running up the shore and, given time, would have been pushed into the 
shallows.  We decided being adrift was poor form especially in the shipping 
channel despite it's conciderable width.  So, we gained steerage and began 
making way by unfurling the headsail and managed to work the main up into a 
double reaf through a series of coordinated pinches into the wind.  Despite no 
immediate danger we decided that any attempts to make it up the narrow river 
for the nearest refueling, under sail alone, was going to be extremely 
challenging at best.  We finally gave in and called BoatUS for a fuel delivery. 
 

After 1-2 hours and repeated phone calls for updated position, the fuel guy 
finally says, "You gotta slow down!  You must be goin' 7kts.  I'm only going 8 
in this little 22 foot boat.  I'm getting beat up out here. I can see ya but I 
can't catch ya!"  

Sure enough directly to our stern there was a tiny glint on the horizon that 
was occasionally emphasized by an explosion of water.  We immediately turned 
around and within what seemed like 5 minutes we were within hand signal range.  
We performed our less than practiced hove-to, not really knowing for sure how 
well behaved the boat would be.  The fuel guy had fenders out and expertly 
maneuvered his boat to ours.  Without ever touching boats he was twice able to 
get close enough to pass a mooring line tied to a 5 gallon jug.  We pulled them 
aboard, fuelled up and motored 5 hours to our originally planned anchorage, 
finally stopping around midnight.  In the morning we topped up by adding about 
35 gallons to our 40 gallon tank.

In the end I have quite a bit of confidence in being able to perform the 
maneuver effortlessly if needed.  The boat makes me look good.  All that being 
said the one thing that can go wrong is having two much headsail compared to 
main sail.  Every time you think you have it the nose will keep drifting 
further and ruther to weather and soon you are downwind and have to watch for a 
jibe or possibly worse just crosswind and getting blown over.  I prefer to keep 
my headsail off the mast so roller reafing till the clew is even with the mast 
is one of my first steps.

A european sailing magazine I was reading actually advised that a hove-to 
manuver should be the first thing you do for a MOB.  The boat stops almost on a 
dime and will start slowing backing down on the victim.   If unable to reach 
the victim in this manner then straighten the wheel, release the headsail sheet 
and finish the "tack".  Once making way again any of your traditional rescue 
manuvers can be performed (circle, figure 8, etc...)

Good luck and may all if us find ourselves needing to hove-to for a redhead.
Josh Muckley

S/V Sea Hawk

Solomons, MD
On Feb 5, 2014 9:20 AM, "David Knecht" <davidakne...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Andy- I have never been in a situation where I feel the need to heave to, 
but I feel like I want to practice it in less than extreme conditions next 
summer.  Can you describe the details of getting into this state and staying 
there?  What I have read sounds simple, but I doubt anything is simple in high 
winds and 12 foot seas and that detail devil is always lurking nearby.  Thanks- 
Dave

On Feb 5, 2014, at 9:06 AM, Andrew Burton <a.burton.sai...@gmail.com> wrote:

I once took a Swan 651 to weather in 12 foot seas. It wasn't comfortable, 
either. I think you'd need a pretty big boat...
Usually, if I have 12 foot seas on the nose (and I'm not racing), I'm hove to, 
relaxing and waiting for the wind to shift, while I have a cuppa tea under the 
dodger, watching the scenery roll by. Life at sea doesn't have to be an overly 
(physically) strenuous endeavor.




Andy
C&C 40
Peregrine





David KnechtAries1990 C&C 34+New London, CT





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