Connect my dinghy with a long rope and start rowing at least when
the front arrives you may only have 15 miles to sail in it. probably
make 2knots in calm oily conditions.
Or wait for the front and sail home on reduced sail area.

SandS said...

What would you do if,......you were 4 miles west of a shore line the wind drops out, it,s oily calm ,engine wont start,your in 200 ft of water,its nearly sunset and theres a 30knt sthwesterly change forcast for 6am the following morning. your boat is 28ft long and weighs 3.5 ton all sails and rigg is ok .You are 30 mile from a safe habour?

Nothing, take shifts and each person have a sleep and wait untill the 30 knt winds to arrive and have a heap of fun sailing when it does arrive

what,,,,It's 30 knots not 50 ,couple of reefs the main , # 3 heady cruise home in the morning ,If your that worried get on the blower call up the Coast Guard and get em to tow your sorry ass home!

Is this a trick question??

Can't see the problem myself?? Hopefully basic seamanship would get one out of the problem you describe??

Just a valid lesson that on a sailing boat the main power comes from sail and the AUXILIARY is the engine.

Thank goodness on real boats, we have two sources of getting where we need to go...LOL.

trace

SandS said...

Some interesting ideas there. I like PlaneSailing,s Rowing Idea , from the point of veiw of being able to put more distance between you and the lee shore . Thats the biggest risk here I recon, the potental for the 4 mile buffer to rapidly disappear
The Idea of doing nothing , not keeping an eye on current and or tide drift could put you in a nasty position , while your waiting for your 30 knts [ or 50 knts as is someones want] to sail home with . Also to use the time to change sails etc would make sence .
And Cisco,s "let someone know the situation and position" would hopefully be the first thing we would all do. And thankfully I havent had to deal with that situation myself Cisco, but now Ive got some Idea,s If it ever happens. And yes, spark plugs may come into play on the tenders outboard, while towing out to sea!!

I first misread your situation as having the shore 4 miles to the West, ie a typical East coast situation with the change coming offshore. Reading it as you being 4 miles off the West coast puts you more like somewhere off Tasmanias West coast. A slightly more serious position. Now with a SW change forecast for approx 12 hours away you shouldn't be out there in a poorly prepared boat, surely the forecast change was first issued at least 48 hours earlier. Preparation is the key, don't head off in a boat that is not 100% reliable. Why won't the engine start? Poor maintenance or doesn't the hypothetical operator even know the basics of his boats systems. If the motor won't start whats to say that the rig is in good condition and that the operator can be trusted in his knowledge of how the whole boat works. As indicated in my earlier post if the operator doesn't know how to change the spark plugs in a diesel then he probably doesn't know how to get himself out of the predicament he is in. Best not to be out there in the first place.

frant said...

SandS said...

Some interesting ideas there. I like PlaneSailing,s Rowing Idea , from the point of veiw of being able to put more distance between you and the lee shore . Thats the biggest risk here I recon, the potental for the 4 mile buffer to rapidly disappear
The Idea of doing nothing , not keeping an eye on current and or tide drift could put you in a nasty position , while your waiting for your 30 knts [ or 50 knts as is someones want] to sail home with . Also to use the time to change sails etc would make sence .
And Cisco,s "let someone know the situation and position" would hopefully be the first thing we would all do. And thankfully I havent had to deal with that situation myself Cisco, but now Ive got some Idea,s If it ever happens. And yes, spark plugs may come into play on the tenders outboard, while towing out to sea!!

I first misread your situation as having the shore 4 miles to the West, ie a typical East coast situation with the change coming offshore. Reading it as you being 4 miles off the West coast puts you more like somewhere off Tasmanias West coast. A slightly more serious position. Now with a SW change forecast for approx 12 hours away you shouldn't be out there in a poorly prepared boat, surely the forecast change was first issued at least 48 hours earlier. Preparation is the key, don't head off in a boat that is not 100% reliable. Why won't the engine start? Poor maintenance or doesn't the hypothetical operator even know the basics of his boats systems. If the motor won't start whats to say that the rig is in good condition and that the operator can be trusted in his knowledge of how the whole boat works. As indicated in my earlier post if the operator doesn't know how to change the spark plugs in a diesel then he probably doesn't know how to get himself out of the predicament he is in. Best not to be out there in the first place.

Best of luck trying to find the spark plugs in the diesel Frant!

cRAZY Canuk said...

Break out the tool box and fix the old noise box?

Use your sailing skills to sail the boat in what little wind comes by to stay off the lee shore and wait for the front to get you home?

yep, try to fix the old iron headsail ,and any breeze that comes well take it.

Sounds good to me ! Gota have that breeze though!