Sailing out of Key West in 20-25 knots and big swells for a small sailboat. Follow us here: / adventuresinparadisefl / adventuresinparadisefl / adventuresinparadisefl Thank you for your support!
You two show a lot of courage. Not only by making this trip, but by posting your videos and opening yourselves to a lot of criticism. No one is born a sailor, we all have to go through a learning curve. You both didn’t just “learn”, you “experienced”. And always keep in mind that no matter how much you know, the sea and life in general will throw something at you that you won’t expect! Congratulations!!!!
One of the coolest things I have ever experienced was being on watch one night and getting this feeling that the boat was going down and down to the point it seemed to long to be a wave and then a long upward climb that lasted forever. I stayed on watch until daylight to see the most beautiful huge long period benign swells .I could only imagine that they were from a far away storm sent to me to give me perspective on waves
I really enjoy your channel. You and your wife should be proud....weathering boisterous offshore seas that most coastal sailors will never encounter. Your little O'Day 28 and her likeable crew deserve a toast! I look forward to many more videos. CHEERS!
Oh my. I have sailed my boats tens of thousands of ocean miles. These conditions are just what we look for. However. We are 46’ 34,000# ocean cruiser. Believe me, I felt your fear (well founded). On an O,Day 28, in those conditions for the first time, yeah I remember that too! On my 26’ S & S sloop with an OB motor! I have sailed the O Day 28’s. Nice boat but unlike one of the comments here that it could take anything. Ha ha. OK. If you say so. But none the less, as you have proven, it can take a lot. Those were steep seas. Having been in your situation on a small costal boat, especially when new at it. Hell yeah that’s scary. Great and truthful documentation there too. Well done! And what a great experience! Experience is soooo important and you are getting it! One thing that I might have done is taken the main down and gone on reefed jib. As you were well off the wind, that would have put the center of effort further forward and made the boat much better handling.
I was thinking the same. My Ericson 28 is very similar to the Oday little heavier built but still a slow rolly turd in those conditions. I have dropped the main and run under jib many times. Definitely helps settle the boat down and in those conditions your still running hull speed of 7ish knots.
@@TrentWatkins-xr2vf I have sailed several Ericsson’s. The 28.30,35 and 38. Very nice boats. The 30 has crossed oceans. And most of my experiences with the Ericson’s were in windy rough San Francisco Bay and offshore Pacific, outside the Golden Gate. One time when I was sailing from Monterey to Santa Cruz, we had 3 boats. A Hunter 410, a Calibur 40LRC and me sailing the Ericsson 38. It was about a 20 mile bash to windward on one tack, with at least 25 kts wind and 6 foot seas. And it turned into an informal race. You guessed it. We won! The Ericsson 38 out did both modern 40 footers. ( we were all modern designs at the time. My choice for ocean cruising would be the Caliber 40 LRC. A really nice long range cruiser. This was a class for offshore sailing US Sailing costal certification. So all 3 boats had similar crew and an instructor in charge. Me, on the Ericson. So all was pretty equal that way.
I was surprised that they were using their main downwind instead of rolling out a little jib-would have given them more control over speed and like you say, move the center of effort forward making the boat want to stay pointing downwind and not be turned so hard surfing down waves. Could probably have used the auto helm that way.
Dude, you gotta close the companionway hatch. In bad weather, sinkings happen when hatches are open and lazarettes are not clipped shut in a knock down. You’re lucky not to have sunk.
The companionway was closed much of the time when it was really bad. Unfortunately, we could not record during the worst of it, or at night and when it was closed, the camera was inside so you don't see that at all.
I had a very similar experience on a reach from San Salvador to Mayaguana about a month or two ago. Ended up having to fall off and run downwind toward Crooked Island. Surfing 14kts in my 32ft Ericson. Eventually, I stopped looking behind me--just aim the bow perpendicular to the previous wave. Fortunately, you and I both had a destination directly downwind. 25+knts offshore in a small coastal boat is not fun at best and dangerous at worst. It's very easy to run out of good options out there. Always add 10knts to the forecast and if that scares you, don't go offshore.
I liked the "add 10 knots" thing, that's good. Even if that didn't scare me, I still don't want to do it. Like you said, at best it's not fun. I leave it for the people who have to do it.
Wow, that looked very scary. When I go sailing, I am white knuckling it all the way and then I watch my footage and it looks so calm and easy. Knowing this, you two had a wild ride, for sure! Rename the channel to Survival in Paradise!! Haha.
Been there, done that, although my boat is 46 feet. One thing I learned a long time ago, NEVER let your schedule dictate your departure time! Better to wait for a better weather window!
Not rookies anymore. You did great. Love O’days. I own and live on the ‘86 28ft myself for 3 years now. I have nothing negative to say about them. You’ll give up long before that boat will. Keep making those vids!
Thanks for video. Nice downwind sailing conditions to push your comfort level. Maybe not the perfect boat for that passage. I may have gone to bare poles/storm jib only-companion way closed tight and make sure your cockpit has drains that can clear it in under 45 seconds (I know arm chair QBing!) my previous Cape Dory 22 would have been right at.home in those seas. A Jordan-Series drogue is a godsend when your feeling out of control or just need to rest up a bit. It is magical to feel the gentle tug of the cones pulling your vessel under control.
Ive got a similar size boat and I remember how scary just a five foot wave felt. Cant imagine being in that for hour after hour. Thanks for filming your adventure!
Are you guys still married? You guys did awesome. I’ve done the same trip twice, once solo in conditions just a bit better than yours but not much. It’s a great thing when you make the mental change to trust the boat. I loved seeing all the prep you guys did. I’ve learned (like you) stow the cabin before departure. Things banging around just adds to the stress level. Truly proud of you two!!!
Something about a dangerous stressful situation makes you all the more alert and sensitive to everything around you. In a way sailing like that is a fantastic experience, maybe just ounce one a lifetime. You both handled it well. You are both safe now . Look , You even filmed it . My home is St Pete .. Welcome home!
Death defying episode, sailing aboard an ODAY 28 in the Gulf of Mexico under reefed main, Force 6 weather conditions. A must see adventure of to relatively novice sails taking on the thrill of a lifetime. Thankyou so much for sharing, we hope your Insurance may help with the loss.
Lessons learned but I am proud to see the maturity in your fear. I have lived with the idea that failure is never an option. You two did well and will talk about this sail that no one will ever understand the reality of your situation.
Can’t wait to see the end! I am researching all of this and your experience as shown is one of the most thorough I’ve seen. Made a fan out of me. I hoping I can be sailing within the year enjoying the toils and rewards like you guys are. Loving it.
Thanks for sharing. I think we need a lot more stories like this. One thing I learned getting wabes broadside is that sometimes it is best to alter course take the penalty on time but sail facing the waves a bit more. Gives you a bit better ride and reduces the chance of a knockdown. But again good job keeping it together mentally and thanks for sharind !. Many would have kept it to themselves :)
You were smokin. Full keel ketch 35 ft . Did 10 knots for ten miles. Love your video of that was the fastest we did in 6 months going south brought back memories. Thanks...
You both did amazing, crying is definitely ok! I have a Paceship26 very similar. Wanderingstar has a windvane self steering, (I haven’t steered in years).She also has a new 4 man offshore life raft, Epirb, and the best harness/ life vest, and tether money can buy. The main wants to round the boat up in those conditions. A little jib poled out will help balance, or just the jib and no main. Rigging the pole before should be as easy as putting in a reef. Sail to the waves not the destination. Good luck in the future I really felt for you.
I remember sailing from Catalina Island to north San Diego in 20 knot winds with gusts up to 30 and 12-15' seas (about 40 nautical miles). We were on a 38 sailboat and had a wave come over the stern and completely soak the two of us who were in the cockpit. Going down below you had to hold on with two hands. We never got knocked down though, we were in a full keel Downeaster 38, a heavy offshore capable boat. Even though we got soaked we never felt like conditions were anything the boat couldn't handle and after beating into that for a few hours the winds calmed down a bit and we put the jib up and enjoyed some very spirited sailing. Growing up my mom had a 27' O'Day that we sailed on Sacandaga Lake in upstate NY. Never in conditions like you faced. Can't imagine taking a boat that size in the open ocean in conditions like that.
I'd love to feel the security of a heavy blue water boat like that. Even if the boat can take it, it's no fun bouncing around like a cork out there. Thanks for sharing the story!
Hell yeah, you guys finally did some goddamn sailing! Welcome to the wet spreader club. So what trawlers are you guys going to be looking at in the next episode? 😀
Wow you guys are impressive...I had a Compass 29 and found it to small for my liking in a big sea and I did not even get knocked down....so I feel for your 'dis comfort'.. Great video
The wave washed everything out of the cockpit except the two coffee mugs and the bottle of water... If you put it in gear, the prop will stop spinning. Cool footage, awesome trip, thank you:)
yep, our cups in the cup holder stayed put. Our lights, anemometer that we just bought, new VHF radio, and my iphone washed out since they were on the seat. Weird, you'd think they'd just fall onto the floor, but the wave that came in must have been large enough to wash it away... and it all happened so fast we didn't realize anything was gone for like 10 minutes.
yea, and all boats look bigger in the yard, in the slip, but when out there in the wide open sea, I'm not sure anything less than 50' would seem big enough. Our friend has a 38' bluewater boat and the thing is a tank compared to Envision. Knocking on the side is like knocking on cement, where are these coastal cruiser boats seem thin. I would not have realized that without having been on blue water boats. I don't want one, that's not the right boat for what we typically do, but I'm just saying! I appreciate that we can sail nicely in 5-8 knots and the boat is light, but I'm not taking it in those conditions ever again!
great informative and honest video guys. Thank you. With the engine off while under sail, put her in reverse gear as it will stop the prop turning and also cause less drag.
Locking the prop by placing the transmission in reverse is better than tearing through a tyranny. Will create some drag though, small price to pay. Good luck!!!
I've never sailed, but I had it in my head knockdowns were just something that happens to sailboats sometimes. I bet that was scary when it happened though. Nice job bringing her home.
Prop noise could be excessive play in the cutlass bearing> I put my transmission in rev and its quiet. So did previous owner so no problem in 14 years. I need to replace bearing next bottom job. Watching your boat handle those big waves helps assure me my 28 can handle the little lake I'm on!
It Soucks to get knocked down by a wave. It will happen a lot though and it looks like you can deal with it pretty well. My Catalina 30 has a really wide companionway so if it gets a wave it fills fast. Pretty much too fast to stop. So we run with the hatch boards in if we can....at least one or two boards. You obviously know to just close it up even if it is a little hot during rough weather, and you are tethered in which is a good safety thing. I put a recessing D-ring with a backing plate on the side of my locker as a tether point. You really want an inboard tether and inboard down the centerline jack lines. Otherwise you run the risk of falling over and being dragged. I've also put a waterproof usb jack on the pedestal. Our radios also have those coiled wire things that tether objects attached to the pedestal and tablets. We keep three tablets up all with different mapping technologies, and at least two different zoom levels. One close and one farther off. Usually something the same on the last one. You see the issue is on the maps is that one company might know something another doesn't. A good example is obstructions. Also the zoom level can be a killer, as you can't see issues because they don't appear at certain zoom levels. You can buy tablets that will do the job with waterproof cases for as low as $50. The tablets are typically much more handy than a chartplotter especially if they can integrate with an autopilot for instance. Usually they can't but, you get the picture. It sounds like you have a Raymarine autopilot as it sounds like mine, or at least a similar brand.
Awesome Job. I have the same boat! I was stuck in some 10 footers two days ago for only about 2 hours couldn't imagine through the night. I was lucky the weather causing the surf was much further off shore and so I only had 15kt winds. You guys did great.
The classic on this stuff is “Heavy Weather Sailing “ by Adlard Coles , written the 30 s the experiences , tactics and methods proven arose from the extensive ocean racing ,deliveries etc of his boat Coho .
Beautiful images of the dolphins! Its hard to get rough seas on camera but this really did capture it very well. I imagine it was still 3x as bad as it looks on RU-vid too. Glad the boat righted itself after that dip. You two held uo amazingly
Thanks, and yes, we look at the footage and wondered where the waves went. We now have a higher appreciation for the waves we see others sailing in, knowing the camera just isn't doing them justice.
Great video and glad you’re safe. It was scary to watch! I also want to know how you feel now about sailing and did it take any of the fun out. You seem like cautious people who plan a lot. In hindsight now what would you do differently and what did you fail to anticipate? As a novice sailor I’m hoping to learn from what you went through as I can’t imagine what I’d have done in your shoes. You both kept it together and carried on.
Wow I know the camera don't show what it's really like if they that big on the video they are massive. From my exp those looked 10ft+ rollers. Amazing video. Hope our paths cross soon. You did very awesome keeping your composure.
Lock your gearbox in reverse - stops the prop from spinning and making noise plus it will stop the wear on the gearbox. Added bonus is that a stationary prop caused less drag than a spinning one.
Not true, a spinning prop is half the drag of a stationary prop. If your gearbox manufacturer says it is ok to let it spin then you should! I know on Yanmars they recommend letting the prop spin, locking it is bad for the cone clutch.
A spinning prop creates several orders of magnitude more drag than a stopped prop. There are so many studies on this that it is easy to find. Recommendations from engine manufacturers is about care and operation of the engine. As such, this is not relevant to the question of prop induced drag.
It would be interesting to throw some kind of drogue off the stern to see how it might help hold you on course with the following sea. I've heard that the most dangerous thing on a boat is a Schedule.
Looked fun, wish I was there, sunshine and nice big surfy waves…what’s not to like! Maybe worth trying to use only a well reefed genoa. Or let out a bit of genoa and sheet hard amidships.
The 80’s 28ft family boats don’t drive all that great in those conditions. My 86 Ericson 28 is very similar bit heavier but drives much the same way. These conditions are definitely not enjoyable in that boat. Vs the racing boats I’ve been on going faster with far less negative wave action making for more comfortable conditions. In those conditions we have hatch board in which should always have a leash on it for open ocean crossings. We keep all loose cockpit gear stashed in mesh bulkhead bags to avoid the inevitable cockpit wash. Those following waves we had similar conditions during a race on an Olson 34 and we had a random breaker drop in the cockpit with so much force it cracked two instrument screens in the cabin bulkhead. That boat had done about 9 trips/races to Oahu from SF. I did one race. My 28 is definitely not a big water rig. Too slow and challenging to helm in those conditions. The Olson 34 and Express 27, Synergy 1000 ocean sailing we are typically in the 7-15 knot range. The Synergy and express off the wind with a #3 poled out or kite up 20+ knots is very common which dramatically changes the wave effect making the driving more of a slalom/ surfing contest very fun and enjoyable vs my Ericson 28 wallowing through like what you guys were experiencing. I lock my transmission in reverse to keep the prop from spinning. Bildge Water could have been from the shaft and the prop spinning.
What speed is the wind ? No spindrift yet. Can you luff up into those big waves hit them slow.? Differant boats have differant ways. But i guess when your running things are pretty hectic. I burrowed some great books on storms from the library once, described the fastnet race disaster One boat that actualy completed the race was a 28 ft contessa ,if i remember right.
After owning a O'Day 272 and O'Day 28 I'll would take my bristol 27 in those sailing conditions anyday but I shore like to have that interior back lol my O'Day wouldn't leak till it flexed in sea similar
Please ask any questions about the trip here in the comments and we will answer them in our next video! If you would like to submit the question as a video of yourself asking, I will show your video in our next video, just send the video to adventuresinparadiseFL@gmail.com. Thank you!
Glad yall made it back safe. Just curious if this trip has taken the fun out of the long-distance trips or will you choc this up to experience and do it again? Love the vids!
Sorry to hear about your phone and radio. Any chance insurance can help with the replacement cost since you "lost" your it? Glad to know you make it safe back home. That will be an adventure story for the books.
With all of your preparations, could you have waited for a better weather window? I know vacation time is fleeting with day jobs, but a day or 2 could have made a big difference. At any rate, I always enjoy your videos. Hopefully this little adventure does not deter you from trying any future voyages. I bet you learned a whole lot from this sail. Peace.
We did! We originally had the trip, our work vacations, etc... scheduled once before and the day we wanted to leave it was 30knots, so we cancelled. This was the second try at it, and it wasn't too bad on the way there and a week out it's hard to tell... sailing on a schedule does suck and I can't imagine doing all this once I'm 68 years old and retired.
@@AdventuresInParadise You can do it. You will have the time to choose windows hop port to port. I've had my ass kicked and scared to the point I was ready to give up sailing but always come back to it. Due to my wife's sea sickness I sail alone a lot and she is scared for me and I remind her if I die doing it I will be happy and sometimes wonder if it wouldn't be better ? Retire as soon as you can and have fun and run off the edge of life as fast as you can life is short. As you can tell I'm looking at the short end now
@@sartorst3376 WOW, thanks.. We live full steam ahead, and I don't mean at our 9-5's. We try to take on new adventures and as far as sea sickness, my wife has none if it but I seem to have it on day 1 and then nothing after.
I had the same boat - I would shift my transmission into reverse when sailing to keep it from free wheeling and making noise along with the wear - would hang the ignition key on the shift lever to remember to go to neutral before starting. But great job sailing in those conditions I did use a working jib only for down wind in stronger conditions - but never that big - was wondering if you ever tried that compared to main - interested in how you felt boat handled with just jib. In bigger conditions like you had - could be that main gives better balance?
That does look pretty Nasty, especially at first when the waves were broadside - the second day they seem to be more from the stern. I would have dropped the main altogether and just sailed with the headsail.
If the waves are over taking you on the stern and trying to broach you when you are running down wind you need to speed up un reef your mainsail until your boats speed matches the waves speed or else you will eventually get turned around and broached for sure one day because no amount of steering is going to prevent that because the helm becomes reversed when the speed of the water is flowing backwards over your rudder and the human mind cannot think fast enough long enough to cope with it so either heave to or speed up in these kind of conditions or deploy a line off the stern or a sea anchor that is another option
Thanks, good points. I'm not sure we would have wanted to go any faster, or even could have... we were hitting over 10-11 knots and stayed over 8 when it was the worst. I can't recall but maybe the day the wind wasn't as bad but the waves were building. We tried to turn into it to make an adjustment and it felt unsafe to go on deck as the bow would go under waves. All of this is amplified in a light 28' boat. Can you use a sea anchor on a light coastal cruiser? My thought is that the transom won't take those forces, but that would be my second choice. My first choice is to never be in these conditions again.
@@AdventuresInParadise Yeah most people that intend or plan to go into gale force type weather install the equivalent of chain plates for a sea anchor ahead of time on each corner of their boat while also reinforcing the hull laminate with extra layers of cloth if need be to have the bearing structural strength to handle that from which a sea anchor might deliver to the hull in rough conditions so yes you are right to consider that and also to consider to just try to avoid these conditions all together. It is definitely not just attach it to what is there from the factory and assume that it will hold fast in heavy weather. I don't even have the experience of what you went through under my belt personally but I have seen what causes boats to broach when running inlets and its the waves overtaking the stern and knocking the boat around sideways then it rolls over and capsizes or even worse pitch poles end over end the main cause of this is that the rudder or steer ability is lost due to the water running over the rudder backwards from the boat traveling slower than the wave is going so gun the throttle if you are motoring to go as fast as you can to prevent this at least try to match the waves speed.and run in on the top or the trough of a wave. The line off the stern or the sea anchor helps like the fins on a rocket do to keep the rocket pointing in the right direction this is good when you have days of waves and gale force conditions and not just a few seconds of running a dangerous inlet like the tail of an animal the line or sea anchor just keeps you balanced and pointed in the right direction like the feathers of an arrow
@@AdventuresInParadise I still get a kick out of thinking that we are terrified of speeds in excess of 11 knots or 12.65 MPH it is all relative I guess but I consistently drive 80 MPH on the interstate freeway system
