While Abby get's ready to depart, Jessica is cleaning up after surviving an 8 hour storm in the Atlantic. 4 knockdowns, 70 mph winds , and 7-10 meter seas! Jessica Rides Out Perfect Storm and Knockdowns

I guess she's one tough little saior, huh?

__________________
"Everybody has to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
--W.C. Fields

Hunter 36
s/v FUGUE
Kemah, Tx.

Once you're out there ... there aren't but so many choices and quitting is not usually one of them.

You are right of course, Maren. Maybe it's unfair, but the first question in my mind was if it was rogue waves as the blog states, or too much sail? Not that I have the experience to even ask that question, just curious as to what others may think?

__________________
"Everybody has to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
--W.C. Fields

Hunter 36
s/v FUGUE
Kemah, Tx.

What would you call a 32.8' wave?

Now she knows she and Pink Lady can handle it the next time will be easier on her brain.

__________________

I would call it an Oh Shit moment

__________________
There is no better bilge pump than a scared sailor with a bucket.

Good sized.

Really, it isn't the size of the wave, it's the slope. Sully lost his computer on the Chesapeake bay. There aren't really big waves there but the bay can easily whip up some short, choppy waves. Choppy meaning steep slope. Look at it another way, would you really care if you went up 120' if the wave was super large, slow and rhythmic? Now, how about it was 8' and cresting over your aft quarter?

Of course, it's a lot tougher to talk about slope.

Glad to hear she's ok.

Looking at the sea state (which always looks a LOT smaller from a camera for some reason), it would appear she has not only the swells, but some little bits of confused seas. When these meet just right and hit you just right, you can get knocked down.



I knockdown is usually just an accident having more to do with the sea state than anything else. Having too much sail up would cause a broach or other moving accident rather than a knockdown, which can readily happen with a boat under bare poles.

Yeah, another good point there.

Her last blog said she just had a small storm jib, and she was strapped in inside, hunkered down! We experienced a total of 4 knockdowns, the second was the most severe with the mast being pushed 180 degrees in to the water. Actually pushed isn't the right word, it would be more accurate to say that Ella's Pink Lady was picked up, thrown down a wave, then forced under a mountain of breaking water and violently turned upside down.


I guess it's like Maren said, she didn't have many options. It must have been a long 8 hours, plenty of time for an underwear change!

__________________
"Everybody has to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
--W.C. Fields

Hunter 36
s/v FUGUE
Kemah, Tx.

I was looking at PassageWeather - Sailing Weather - Marine Weather Forecasts for Sailors and Adventurers for this leg of Jessica's route and noticed nasty weather in the south Atlantic. I guess she is heading north to avoid this stuff and get a bit of a rest before heading to the Cape of Good Hope. She will be traveling extra miles, but will be able to plan for a safer window. Since she's going non-stop, it's best not to break her little pink boat! Nice going Jess!

__________________
"Everybody has to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
--W.C. Fields

Hunter 36
s/v FUGUE
Kemah, Tx.