Bepi
E27 Roxanne
This may be of value to newer sailors.
Returning from Two Harbors to the Port of Los Angeles this past weekend was a great sail with 13-15 kts on my beam. My goal was to hit the breakwater entrance dead center instead of motor sailing from Palos Verdes as punishment for misjudging the long shore current. As I approached nearer shore "Hurricane Gulch" lived up to its name. If Point Conception can be called "Little Cape Horn" then Point Fermin can be called "Little Conception" because the unfamiliar certainly have little conception of what the winds can do here. I have no wind meter but based on sea conditions I would put the wind speed at force 6 (22-27Kts) though there were some characteristics of a 7. With the wind on my beam and occasionally going down wind to compensate for the current I hit the entrance dead center, sailed a safe distance inside, then turned into the wind so I could sail west toward the main channel and past the point where the Coast Guard station is. That is when things changed.
I have often read about the dangers of a lee shore but never understood why you could not just tack out of the situation. Now I know why.
In a moment after turning into the wind the vessel was "on its ear" heeled over further than I had yet to experience and then came the dilemma. Turning into the wind relived the heel but then we would loose way and risk being in irons, bad on a lee shore. But turning away from the wind laid the boat over risking the ability of the keel and rudder to bite which means you can slide sideways instead of forward, also bad on a lee shore. Run forward and put in a reef? It's difficult when you are alone, or when you recognize too late where you have placed yourself.
This situation lasted maybe 15 minutes within the calm waters of the port, I had plenty of room to pass the point veering into and way from the wind trying to balance the heel and the luff to keep way. Once the point was crossed I could sail on the beam again.
So now I understand how someone could be trapped against a lee shore and it was a very cheap lesson.
Returning from Two Harbors to the Port of Los Angeles this past weekend was a great sail with 13-15 kts on my beam. My goal was to hit the breakwater entrance dead center instead of motor sailing from Palos Verdes as punishment for misjudging the long shore current. As I approached nearer shore "Hurricane Gulch" lived up to its name. If Point Conception can be called "Little Cape Horn" then Point Fermin can be called "Little Conception" because the unfamiliar certainly have little conception of what the winds can do here. I have no wind meter but based on sea conditions I would put the wind speed at force 6 (22-27Kts) though there were some characteristics of a 7. With the wind on my beam and occasionally going down wind to compensate for the current I hit the entrance dead center, sailed a safe distance inside, then turned into the wind so I could sail west toward the main channel and past the point where the Coast Guard station is. That is when things changed.
I have often read about the dangers of a lee shore but never understood why you could not just tack out of the situation. Now I know why.
In a moment after turning into the wind the vessel was "on its ear" heeled over further than I had yet to experience and then came the dilemma. Turning into the wind relived the heel but then we would loose way and risk being in irons, bad on a lee shore. But turning away from the wind laid the boat over risking the ability of the keel and rudder to bite which means you can slide sideways instead of forward, also bad on a lee shore. Run forward and put in a reef? It's difficult when you are alone, or when you recognize too late where you have placed yourself.
This situation lasted maybe 15 minutes within the calm waters of the port, I had plenty of room to pass the point veering into and way from the wind trying to balance the heel and the luff to keep way. Once the point was crossed I could sail on the beam again.
So now I understand how someone could be trapped against a lee shore and it was a very cheap lesson.