Screensavers Perfect Storm

If you haven’t seem the movie “Perfect Storm” go get it, its not bad, but it wouldn’t be wise to watch it if your planning a trip by water with anyone a bit nervous.  Its amazing what sequence of events lead up to some of the circumstance that place us in a position we would rather not be, and any one of those lead up decisions would have changed the out come.

The setup for us started at Honiara but we didn’t know it at the time.  We needed to decide at that point  our departure point ie where we would leave( checkout ) of the Solomon Island’s. Unfortunately  these check in/out places are never at the ends of a group of islands, so you either checkout and miss seeing the last lslands,  checkout and see them illegally, or see what you want to see, and then return  possibly 100’s of nm to check out. Ndendo was the last option but we weren’t sure if we would go that way, so if we didn’t checkout at Honiara, we are then forced to go to Ndendo (100nm East) because you cant actually check-in to another country (Vanuatu)unless you can prove you’ve checked out!

Then there was the timing of this crossing from Santa Ana (Southern point of Sol’s) to somewhere, yet to be decided. This was pretty much driven by the weather, and what we call a weather window, where conditions are expect to be favourable during that time of passage. I had  been watching this forecasted window appear and planning our last few days heading south to coincide with the weather window.

Then the water maker, which was very important to us just  failed and would likely need parts that would never turn-up in Solomon’s quickly.

Finally diesel which we use nearly every day, in some measure was being consumed and reduced our available diesel  for the crossing with every day. We had consumed a lot more recently due to the lagoon work, and motor sailing to get from a to b before dark.

So with our weather window looking pretty good we were up and off at 4:00am. In the picture below I had weather map number 1 (top left) when we left, and 7 pages (not shown) for each day going forward behind map number 1. I never had the map 2,3 & 4 .

What is shown in map 1 is the first days forecast (out of 7 days), for that day Ignore  the boat icon that is where we are at the time of writing. So basically 5-10 knots ENE, or E but a good wind and direction, ideal conditions for Screensaver, especially given we are going into the trades

The following days of the number 1 forecast showed nothing over 20 knots, and the slightly higher wind was at the end

That day the weather built slightly, but in all not a bad night we had motored a fair bit in order to point up, and we were able to hold our direct line, which was all part of the plan.

The next morning   we received the number 2 forecast in which the high wind  had appeared from no where. However there was no sign of it on the following days and it was some 200nm from the boats nearest point. Typically only a big cyclone covers 400nm plus area. Where we would be should be 0-5 knots and I expected we would motor through it. Also weather that builds quickly tends to go quickly, so this explained why it wasn’t in the other forecasted days.

We have I’m sure all watched the weather maps on TV, and if you look at the animated ones where it all moves across the screen, you might note that these are in fact still images every 2-4 hours played in quick succession. So what happens in say hour 3 you don’t really know but it doesn’t mater there wont be a big change in the gap, but what if the gap is bigger, and if there is a big change ? It could matter and you wouldn’t know. So typically my images are every 6 hours, mainly due to bandwidth to get this information, its equivalent to 28 picture download  (4/day for 7days) over less than the old dialup modem when using HF.

Late that afternoon I called for Crash, Can you come on deck shut all windows and hatches, you should put you life Jacket on, there is nothing to worry about, its just a sensible precaution. How silly would it  be to be lost  at sea just because we didn’t ware our life jackets (mine was already on). However in almost a mirror reflection of DR Smiths… are we ok, what is wrong, what’s going on, what will the boat do etc … you could see it written all over Crashes face as she poked her head out.

It is an interesting topic and challenging decision for those that need to make such a decision as to how much information you provide people. There are many movies now days where the world is in peril and no one is told for fear of making something they cant control worse, and a few fight to get the information to the people because it is said they have right to know. Crash and I had, had this discussion not by fluke or by foresight of such and event, but primarily in my mind to cover minor events where crash became concerned. Most people say they want to know everything as did Crash.  One way or another many of  us have had some direct responsibility for others lives at some point and make these decisions (typically on a small scale of course) So post your view as a comment (when you’ve finished reading this), Do you tell the people everything, and risk making it worse, but perhaps allow them to prepare, or tell them nothing more than what you believe will actually be constructively & useful.

Anyway this wasn’t in that league the wind was up around 30+ knot mark and the seas had for some reason got to 4m  or may be 5m high. It was the worst that Crash had been exposed to, and we reduced sail. As the afternoon progressed, the wind was whistling through everything and occasionally reaching Gail force strength. I don’t want to be in this shit all night, I will need to stay at helm,bloody hell this not fun at all, where did all this shit come from, why are the seas getting bigger, I have been in much bigger wind, with sea’s half this size.

So after the event I found that what you see in weather Map 2 (top right picture) was actually a snap shot of something originally worse after it had passed over and dropped right down in all the space of my 6 hour window, it developed ran over us, and carried on.

Over next hour it continued to build as I grapple for why, what next, which is the best direction, if it gets a lot bigger what extra should I now be doing. Thankfully Dr Smith must have had 2 valium and a whole bunch other drugs (figuratively of course) to shut him up so I was able to think. He just wanted to know where the grab bags,  and I told him to f… off. 

If you have added a comment to the post already consider this. You  have walked your Crew through all the safety features day 1,  do you now remind them all again distracting yourself perhaps heightening  their anxiety, or fears, making them more real, perhaps rendering them less capable of helping because of this , and  more taxing on you trying to maintain calm. But then perhaps this reminder saves there life, or in fact helps them.  Crash has safety awareness and new the value of this equipment. Ponder what you were going to write in your comment.

By now the Gail alarm is stuck hard on beep beep beep !!!!! constantly, and I could not remember how to shut it off, but it means the wind  never dropped below 34 knots, and peak winds were 44 –50  knots. To date  54 is the biggest I have seen in New Cal. The sea’s are now huge, as Screensaver climbs up these almighty waves I struggled to think of cases or what to do should she slide backwards and not reach the top, is that even  possible. We had only about 1m of main out to stop rolling, no Jib and engine was running at what would normally give us 7-8 knots, but was in fact giving us about 2.5 SOG. As I looked at us climbing up pointing higher and higher into the sky I realized that we were climbing at about 45-50 degrees, and the wave length while climbing up was 3-4 meters longer than the boat, so about 18m.  I resolved in mind even if we slid back 3 or 4 m it would not be a problem, but what if they got bigger…. f.,…. no…. move on.

As we fell of the top, Screensaver dropped that fast that the anchor with all its weight was thrown up lifting off its bow roller, and Screensaver dropped under it. Another first, and not of concern because the anchor hooks back under the bow roller, so longs as it stays there of course. When we fall off the top, the back flicks up and your feet literally come off the cockpit floor, almost a reverse of the anchor, and we are leaning back at 45 degrees to maintain some sort of standing. The waves are now at least 7m high, with blue water breaking, and continuous foam roaring across the lot.

Storm and sea descriptions for various levels are fairly standard, and once it all starts turning to white water/foam streaks on the surface, and blue water is curling into breakers you know you are in it big time.

A fairly classic mistake is surfing down these big waves digging your nose in and the whole boat goes end for end, and flips over as the nose digs in at the bottom. Fortunately in my mind while they were now reaching at least 7m high and very steep, the 18m or so down the slope and 14m boat we weren’t surfing, yet !!!!! So do I give Crash the end for end information, how will that help her either practically or emotionally, she only found out this was possible a week or so later and was horrified ?

As we went down the down side, Screensaver buried its noise about 1m under into the on coming wave which was also trying to lift the anchor off, but eventually lifting a few hundred litres of water up on deck and tossing it around like like the fire fighting helicopters just unloaded on top of us.  Screensaver is all buttoned up, and I hope like hell the engine doesn’t have some issue and get a gut full of water with the exhaust being probably 2-3m above  the engine, I doubt the S bend would stop water, if the engine stoped, it would  fill with water as it dives down the wave. Infact the Engine has been very reliable except of oil pressure sender unit.

We get to the bottom of the wave and there is no water of any significance under the centre of Screensaver, she is in the trough supported at the bow lifting up the upside of the next wave, taking hundreds of litres with her, and supported at the stern still going down the one we just fell of off.

But now water is coming at us from behind, how is this possible ??, The cockpit is taking water coming back at us. Because the waves were so steep and Screensaver was only supported front and back, both sat lower in the water, and as Screensaver dug her arse in, something had to back fill the gap, more water, right back at ya.

By now the Valium had warn off Dr Smith and nothing was going to shut him up. Dr Smith:… what if t gets bigger, what next captain, how will you protect us, will Screensaver survive this 20 od tone fall into water and the constant pounding, what if it goes on for hours , where can we run too, how will you heave too, where is your drogue, what’s happening downstairs, where is the 5 knots of wind, if you don’t send a position report tonight people at home will panic

We were in a serious storm here, and if anything  went wrong we would be in serious trouble. Another huge wave towers over us, Crash yells Captainnnnnn, with the belief on her face and in her voice that this was it, her number is up, as Screensaver climbs her way up, I grab her arm and tell her it will be fine, your doing well, this will be something to tell ya kids one day. As well as trying to keep Crash calm, and I must say she did very well, I was trying to think what next if this gets worse, what should I now being doing for that event, and a million things raced through my mind.  Crash was starting in break under the pressure which I think most people would have been losing the plot by now. We were to far away from anything to run and hide behind, I would need to deal with the situation here.

At this point the horror stores of others misfortunes are running through my head and I fight to maintain the relevance of these thoughts as to preparation and I glance at the wind speed now reading 50 knots. A couple early Hunters had rudder trouble, and I ponder the ramifications, which would clearly have resulted in us being knocked  down, in that event, and emergency tiller would not have helped them, as the rudder turned on the shaft.

As we crash of another one I take solace in a couple of comments from wholes drilled in Screensavers hull, where one guy lined up all whole cuttings from other popular name brand boats and Screensaver  and said wooo, look at this. Screensavers hull was the thickest in some cases nearly double that of other name brands. I wonder what good the Kevlar up the bow.

I attempted a change of course that didn’t help, and currently the best course was 20 degrees of the nose. I was steering solely based on conditions and waves, as night approached I would not be able to continue this approach because  I wouldn’t be able see. To run with it would have us pointing at Darwin, but I decided, if it did get worse this would be a better approach.

Screensaver was doing fine, and the biggest risk I could come with was some unexpected failure, which I couldn’t prepare for. I was  very concerned with how hard Screensaver was falling off the top these monsters and I had always tried to be gentle and not pound the waves. It was a bit like a speed boat screaming across surf, bouncing from the top of one wave to the top of another, only in our case it was when we fell off the top going from 40 odd degrees up to 40 odd degrees down , and my current course was the best compromises.

As we fell of the top of another wave I had a death grip on the Helm, my feet were barely on the floor, and I thought I wont be able to keep this up for hours and hours and I wont be able to see shortly,  I need to relax and get the autopilot to do a bit, so I cranked up all its gain, and movement. It seemed it would manage as a secondary means if need be but there was a risk broaching or being knocked down, as we didn’t have boat speed to get good steering quick response.

The Bimini canvas work, solar panels and davits are getting a pounding also, as the tender is cantilevered upwards I resolved that should the davits fail, I would cut the tender lose rather than risk trying to retain it. The Davits are a week point.

I was not worried about the rig as there was minimal sail up, and I resolved that even in the 50 knots or more this load would not have equated to full sail in 20 knots.

Some time during this process and over the next 3 to 4 hours we managed to turn of the Gail alarm and didn’t notice the wind was slowly dropping, and the sea’s now seemed to peak at around 6m. Conditions were slowly easing. It wasn’t that long after that 4m sea’s looked small, and then by 3:00am Crashes shift things were down far enough she felt comfortable do her watch.

Screensaver Captain and Crew did well and we came through with no damage and no breakages which says something for all concerned

Im not sure what I would have done had it got worse. It was my intention to try going with it. I have done this once before and without a sea anchor I ended up leaving the motor idling in reverse, to keep the speed under around 7 knots. I also believe the fact that the depth went from 6000m (yep not a typo) to 2000m this contributed significantly to why the sea’s were so steep. Has it put me off, no, I never liked more than 1 day passages, so I like it even less now, but I have more faith now in both myself and Screensaver.

PS My decision not to go through the safety items again was  to some extent vindicated as when I quizzed  Crash as soon as things were calm again she had indeed remembered what she had been shown regarding AIS, DSC, VHF,HF, Life raft Epirb, spare life jackets, flares, seacocks, fire extinguishers etc.