Forecast vs. Reality. Learning the hard way...

Well, today looked like a nice day for a sail. The forecast said 15 knots around the area with a chance of rain, but either way it was gonna be warm enough. The rain didn't come, but the wind did. And a lot more than we expected.

The forecast:



What we got hit with once we were in the middle of the bay...

...the coloured arrows are the average wind speed/direction and the grey ones are gusts.

These are the four weather stations that surround the are where I sail, mostly.



Needless to say, on an outgoing tide we were in 1 to 2 metre swells and battling to stay upright. This really was quite a ride. I nearly got thrown off about 4 times but just managed to grab the hiking strap or a handful of tramp lacing.

Couple this with little to no steering due to the rudders continually being kicked up by the jellyfish and it made for one hell of an adventure!

All told we were out for about 3 hours all up.

Half hour having a blast, then the rest of the time trying to safely get back in without going over or getting thrown off.

We got to the shore, but then had to get the sails down before we even attempted to put it on the beach wheels. Even once we got the sails down (and then got them out of the water - don't ask!) the boat was still being blown sideways along the beach as we pulled it forward and up the ramp.

I even had to turn the car and trailer around to be able to lower the mast in a semi-controlled manner.

Over all, a great day!!

It will definitely take a lot more to scare me in the future.

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'97 Hobie 16.

Skype: rob_arnolda

Glad to hear you got back safely.

I've been there more time than i care to count in my days of offshore fishing. Weather can change quickly for the bad.

One trip I will never forget... we were running out to the canyons (70 miles off jersey) in my buddies 50' ocean yacht. We left the dock at 0400 and as we broke the inlet we found the ocean to be a sheet of glass. We ran wide open to the fishing grounds and made it in record time. Went on the troll for 12 hours or so and boated 5 yellowfin tuna and a white marlin and was a great day. The crew was tired so we headed for home. I was at the helm and again making great time for the dock. Out of no where the sky turned black as far as i could see and the seas started building. First 3-4' which was obviously no problem for the 50 as i only had to back her down a few knots to keep it comfortable. I ran the radar out as far as it would go to try and find a hole in the storm to run through but there was none to be found. Now the seas were pushing 6'. Still not a problem but had to back way down on the speed and it was a "bumpy" ride. The waves were pushing offshore and conveniently at about a 45 degree angle to my coarse home. Which makes a better and safer ride but you have to constantly work to keep her on coarse. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a single wave that was clearly bigger than the others by 3' or so. I figured I better get a head start on steering into this one. I turned the wheel starboard and nothing happened. I turned it a little further... nothing. I had both rudders against the stop and still the boat did not react. As the large wave rolled past the boat and stopped pushing the bow the rudders were finally able to respond and the boat made and instant 90 degree turn while dropping into the trough of the wave. This violent change in direction forced me off the wheel and almost off the fly bridge as my buddy some how got a finger on my belt loop and kept me in the boat. I muscled myself back to the helm and shut everything down. The only thing going through my mind was I am about to send my friends million plus dollar boat to the bottom. Everything worked out OK besides a few bumps and bruises and my pride. This was 20 years ago but left an impression on me that i can never forget. When it comes to trusting the weather forecast I don't let it scare me out of running but i do plan for 10 knots worse than the forecast.

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'73 hobie 16 restored 2011
'00 Seaswirl fishin boat