Survive a Force 11 storm with a serial drug

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Small cruise ships are not fast enough to navigate sheltered from the elements. Tony Curphey explains how vital a serial drug was when sailing the Southern Ocean in a Nicholson 32

Survive a Force 11 storm with a serial drug

There is no procedural manual to follow when in a small boat you are faced with seas and winds that threaten your survival and that of your boat.

Every storm is different, just like every boat and every circumstance.

I am writing from my own experience sailing the Southern Ocean and about 16 deployments of my Jordan Series Drugs, including four on my last trip as a 2018 Long Route participant (which, like the Golden Globe Race 2018, took place on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the event).

My boats in the Southern Ocean have been 27 feet, 32 feet, and 41 feet overall in length over the past 17 years.

It is good practice to set off by any means for your boat to do so, even if only to take a rest from high winds.

The Tony’s Nicholson 32 has proven to be a sturdy seagoing boat, even in the Southern Ocean. Credit: Tony Curphey

It’s a huge relief to have the sudden calm.

If the weather conditions deteriorate, some sailors recommend going through the hull, which usually means letting the boat take its own position in the sea without the sail raised and having the helm attached to leeward to try to keep the bow a little to the south. wind.

Both of these tactics are fine in moderate or even severe gale conditions, but as the wind and sea rise beyond the force of the gale it is necessary to change tactics as the boat will be overturned. and this is a prelude to being rolled, in which case the mast will likely be lost.

I could mention that there is evidence that the longer the vessel, the less likely it is to be rolled. However, most boats will be rolled, regardless of their length, if caught sideways in the trough of a wave.

My current boat, Nicky, a beautiful Nicholson 32 Mk X, will sail downwind under control with the direction of Aries (or other weather vane), with or without sail up to Force 10 or even 11.

Around the world solo Tony Curphey shows his itineraries around the world

Tony Curphey completed four solo round-the-world trips in small boats and deployed a sea anchor 16 times in true survival conditions. Credit: Tony Curphey

Under these conditions, if I have a little sail, I use a 54sq ft (5m2) spitfire jib.

You cannot go straight downwind as the sail will fold up and fill with tremendous force and soon destroy itself.

It is better in these conditions not to have the veil raised. If Aries can no longer take it, the boat will approach and risk being rolled.

If the hull is dirty, such as Nickywas in the Southern Ocean on my last trip, it will get out of hand sooner.

Then it’s time to start thinking about survival.

Using the drug

In my case, I use the Jordan Series Drugs that I made on my own about 17 years ago.

If the direction you want to go is against the wind, you’ll probably be thinking about putting out a drug, or something to slow yourself down, much sooner.

A man or a woman can only lead by hand for so long in these violent conditions. And I mean violent!

But generally in the Southern Ocean the systems are moving west to east, so with a drug out you will be about 2 knots in the right direction or more likely northeast or southeast.

It is a better idea to deploy the sea anchor from the inside end, closest to the boat, in the water first.

Tony Curphey drug rear chain locks

Specially designed chain plates are required to support the load of the brake flange on each quarter. Credit: Tony Curphey

It comes out under more control and is less likely to snag cones or anything.

Make sure the sea anchor does not clog the vane servo paddle if you still have one down.

Finally, lower the 25-pound weight and make sure it is clear of the bridle.

At Nicky my drugs came out under the lower railing on the port side.

If you are deploying under the rail directly at the back, drop the weighted end first, but be careful as it will meander quickly and a lot of weight will be applied to it when the cones start their work.

Once deployed, the drug will quickly pull the stern into the seas.

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In a confused sea, a breaking wave can hit the quarter, but the drugs will pull the stern out to sea within two seconds.

I have experienced this several times.

There is tremendous force on the fittings where the sea anchor is attached, so it is essential that these fittings are constructed accordingly.

However, there are no shock loads on the boat or the accessories due to the elasticity of the sea anchor.

It’s like being on a huge bungee, unlike a single element cone or stabilizer parachute whether on the bow or stern.

The standard drug is always deployed from the stern on a monohull.

Remove the servo vane from the vane if possible.

Tony Curphey drugs fitted out in shipyard

Thicker and stronger rope the closer you get to the boat where the loads are greatest. CreditL Tony Curphey

Fold down and secure the convertible top and anything that could be damaged or washed away.

The gantries of solar panels are vulnerable. I have one and suffered damage to it.

Attach the tongue or wheel to the middle of the boat and advance underneath with the servo paddle, securing the companionway hatch along the way.

A good shot of the whiskey bottle is now a plan; your serial drug will take care of you.

At Nicky I have a quick-closing hatch that opens or closes from the inside or the outside, with one hand if needed and it slips in like a submarine door.

It is made of 18 mm polycarbonate, is transparent, very resistant and completely waterproof.

Tony Curphey was 74 when he finished the Long Road.  leave and return to Emsworth

Tony Curphey was 74 when he finished the Long Road. leave and return to Emsworth, United Kingdom. Credit: Tony Curphey

A standard companionway hatch with washboards can be strong enough, but it won’t be waterproof.

When a striking wave comes from behind, water will squirt throughout the cabin.

It’s great in the old-fashioned sense of the word to watch the time behind the transparent hatch.

Those moving mountains that sometimes stack on top of each other and seem to fall from the sky when the top shatters and tips over and buries the boat from behind.

The most annoying part is the noise; the cries and howls of the wind.

During the Long Road, Tony Curphey had to deal with all kinds of gear breakdowns including a damaged boom, which he secured, following an accidental jibe.

During the Long Road, Tony Curphey had to deal with all kinds of gear breakdowns including a damaged boom, which he secured, following an accidental jibe. Credit: Tony Curphey

This gives you the first indication that the storm is abating when you suddenly realize that it is not that loud. But not yet.

The barometer is rising, the wind might be at its strongest now and there will be a change in the wind and the sea will get confused.

The serial drug does its job through it all, but it could be a few hours before the confusion of opposing seas allows the movement to relax enough to work safely on deck and bring the drugs.

Recover a drug

There are many stories about how difficult it is to recover serial drugs.

It’s very physical but you have to be patient and just take the slack as it happens and keep a turn on the cockpit winch.

Getting it started is the hardest part.

Some have suggested using a trigger line but don’t be tempted.

It will end up in a huge mess and seriously compromise the effectiveness of the drug.

However, I use a trigger line all the way to the end of the bridle.

Tony Curphey drugs ready to roll out

Tony Curphey prepares the drugs to be deployed. Credit: Tony Curphey

It is buckled just behind the shackles that connect the bridle to the main drug.

If you use a chair chair for this purpose, make sure it is tight and has a few half hooks around the standing part, as even a chair chair will shake itself without weight on it for many hours. .

The other end of this trigger line is attached to the railing on the port side.

This is of great help and there is no chance that it will get tangled with the drug.

It normally takes me 30 to 60 minutes to retrieve the sea anchor then it is carefully chipped behind the small bulkhead with the weight on the bottom to come out last, ready for its next use.

How To Make Your Own Jordan Series Drugs

Many boaters have heard of a serial drug, but very few have used one in anger.

They take a long time to manufacture and expensive to buy.

My drug is made in three lengths all chained together seriously.

The final length, furthest from the boat, is a smaller diameter rope because there is less tension there.

Setting up the Jordan Series Drugs for the Nicholson 32, Nicky

Credit: Maxine Heath

The total length of the sea anchor is 107 m (350 feet) and is attached to the boat by a bridle, in Nickycase, approximately 4.5 m (15 ft) long.

Each arm of the bridle is chained to a dedicated chain plate on each quarter of the hull.

This is by far the best way to tie drugs to the boat.

Mine is permanently chained to the boat and is chipped at the aft end of the cockpit behind a small bulkhead to prevent it from sliding forward, and is held by two quick-release clips so it’s always ready for rapid deployment.

Tony Curphey completed the 2018 Long Road in his Nicholson 32, Nicola Deux, circling the world in 308 days

Tony Curphey completed the 2018 Long Road in his Nicholson 32, Nicolas two (Nicky), going around the world in 308 days. Credit: Tony Curphey

The bridle is connected to the main length of the drug by other shackles which are tightened and carefully moused with grab wire.

At the end of the drug is an 11 kg (25 lb) weight, in my case a length of chain in a canvas bag.

Along the drug are small cones or parachutes.

The number of cones needed depends on the displacement of the boat. In the case of a Nicholson 32 it is 110 cones.

It is important to have the right type of rope, double braided nylon which gives elasticity and resistance, and the elastic effect.

All details are available on www.jordanseriesdrogue.com

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