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5 September 2010

On request, because many of us wondered what happened to Windswept, the boat our fellow SOLer was crewing on, Chaos has prepared this brief report!! What really happened with Windswept? Our first excitement of the day was on the downwind run to the start when the belt on the engine water pump broke and we had to do a running repair. It was blowing a steady 30 knots so raising the sails downwind with no engine assistance and very little way on was challenging. We made the start and, having decided to do the short course in the Non Spinnaker division, were in the first group off the line. NW wind. Downwind start. The first boat in the spinnaker division put theirs up and promptly broached. Soon the scene behind us was filled with spinnakers as the other divisions started with more broaches. As usual in the Sound when it is blowing the waves were short and steep. We made good progress downwind and set our furling jib wing on wing and with a reefed main started to enjoy a regular surfing speed of 10 knots. Norwalk went by, then Westport, then Bridgeport at record speed for us. We were doing well, making good speed and hanging with the faster boats. The forecast had been for 15-20kts gusting 30ish. Near Stratford Shoals we picked up a great surf and watched our speed reach 11.6 kts, new record for our heavy Cal 33, when a spinnaker boat behind us broached wildly and was pinned down. Before we could get the whisker pole off and reduce sail the gust hit us and the pole snapped. Now we had to tack downwind which meant some hair raising jibing even with 2 reefs in the main and the jib furled. With the waves so steep and close together the boat was rolling and very hard to steer. Somewhere in the process of getting the broken pole off the mast and the boat back under control I cut my leg and was bleeding, so with the forecast calling for the wind to build for the next 6 hours, the skipper made the decision not to break the boat or crew any further. Then came the fun part of finding the nearest sheltered harbour to sit it out. Port Jefferson, on Long Island, would have been a reach and was sheltered but we picked Bridgeport which was upwind but closer on the CT shore so if it turned into having to leave the boat and coming back to get it later we could get back to Stamford easily. If downwind was an exciting ride, upwind was horrible. The boat is 33' and the waves were a steep 5' with about 35' from crest to crest. Perfect for the boat to go over one and crash into the face of the next one. The gusts of 20-30 that were in the forecast were not gusts but a steady 30 with gusts above that. We were on our ear with a double reefed main and much of the jib furled as wave after wave exploded against the bow and hosed the deck and crew. Maybe the boat should be called Waveswept. The three miles to shelter seemed a long way. The 16 miles back to our home port a very long way. Hopefully next year we will get something between a Tropical Storm and a flat calm!

Comments

1 CG says...
Very very glad you made it back safely xxxx

Posted at 12:20 p.m. on September 5, 2010

2 Exmeromotu says...
Phew! Glad you made it to port safely! CAL boats pound like crazy even with moderate chop, must have felt as if the boat were coming apart (holding your breath) with each wave. Regards

Posted at 1:30 p.m. on September 5, 2010

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