Launching from beach in big waves

Hello,

I looked around and I was not able to find any advice on the subject of launching from a beach when the waves are larger.

Last weekend I was out on Lake Michigan when the radio was calling for waves 2 to 4 feet. After getting past the breaking waves near shore it was an absolute blast to power into the waves and to surf on them on the way back in.

However, I feel lucky that I was able to get out that far at all. The first time I tried the bigger breakers pushed the boat back and also sideways so I was pointed too far into the wind to sail. It felt good just to get back on the beach without breaking anything or getting a lung full of the lake. The only way I eventually got out was to use a line on the front of the boat to walk it out past the sandbar that the big waves were breaking on and then haul myself up on it when it was clear enough to sail out. Not graceful at all!

I have seen pictures of Hobie 14's sailing on REALLY big waves. How to I get off the beach in that weather?

Any help you can give would be much appreciated!

Scott.

You have to have a wind angle of near beam reach for easiest launching. The more on-shore the breeze, the harder to get through the surf. You need to keep the boat powering / moving. Keep the jib sheeted (if you have one) and main looser to keep the bows down and make steering easier without the rudders all the way down. Steer with the sails. The main rounds the boat up... jib heads the bows down more.

Watch the surf. There is typically is a pattern of larger sets and lulls. You want to launch at the end of a larger set and get through during the lull.

Hold the boat and allow the bow to turn away from the wind to a point that you can easily board and start sheeting before the boat rounds up. keep the main looser as to help prevent the boat from rounding up. Bear off and sheet harder once moving.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Thanks for the advice, Matt,

I did end up waiting that day for the wind to shift so I could go out on a beam reach. That is certainly a lot easier, but I hope I can still get out and sail even if the wind is blowing right up the shore. Maybe part of the problem is that I do not have a Jib to help pull me through the waves.

Reading your advice I don't think I am doing anything wrong. I guess I will just keep at it.

Thanks again!

Scott.

Keep your weight as far forward as possible in the surf also. Helps to drive through the wave.

_________________
Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

When beach launching, I launch into the wind and waves, kind of tricky.

As Matt says, I watch the sets, and wait for a lull. The better you can get at this, the easier it will be. I used to surf, so it is almost second nature to gauge the sets even a few hundred feet out.

Then, I wade out as fast as I can (run, even) pulling the boat behind me. I'll get as deep as belly high, pull the boat past me, giving it some forward momentum, then jump in, drop the rudders and pull the mainsheet and main fairly tight, close.

I close haul out and if a wave catches me, I turn and head into it at the last possible second. When I'm past it, then back to close hauling.

I've only beach launched in 3-4 footers and smaller. Mostly I harbor launch and tack up and out the inlet, which brings me out way past where they're breaking.

_________________

"HOBIE....
Say it LOUD and there's music playing...
Say it SOFT and it's almost like praying.....
I just sailed my WAVE out the Marina !"
West Coast Story

Pick your spot and timing. It's one of the few things you have complete control over.

Keep the sails drawing. Oversheet the jib, keep the main traveller centered, but the sheet loose. Weathervaning and going into irons is bad. Very bad.

Keep your weight forward. You're not going to pitchpole unless the wind is nuclear and you have a death wish.

Steer up the face of a wave, then sharply down again as you go over the top to set up for your next wave.

Don't stop to mess with rudders, etc. until you're well clear of the shore break.

Thanks to everyone who gave advice! It was a big help.

The last time out went a lot better when launching. Just using the main to steer helped a lot, and realizing that the rudders are not much help against the main until I can get them locked all the way down.

Now I was able to get out through the surf the first try in even bigger waves. I also learned that 20 knots is maybe a little too much for me. I will try to play in no more than 10-15 next time!

zzcoreyzz: Thinking about tacking up a channel with no motor and lots of traffic sounds worse than dealing with 4 foot waves on the beach. Do you ever run into problems?

Thanks again!

Scott.