The Storm Trysail ~ Ed Zacko Good Old Boat
Issue 106 January/February 2016
Every sailor has had an experience where they were running downwind with a full mainsail that needed a reef or three to gain control back. Any boat in these conditions is guaranteed to be rolling and picking up speed, surfing down the waves. Mystic has only two reefs in the main. At 16 feet, the boom is very long for a 35 foot boat. In fact, it is almost half the length of our boat reaching to the back of the cockpit. This gives us leverage and more control of the boom, but can be awkward in extreme conditions. We experienced just how awkward this could be while running down wind in heavy wind conditions on the trip to deliver Mystic to Knife River back in 2013. We were cruising down the Michigan channel between the beautiful Picture Rocks and Grand Isle.
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| Picture Rocks, Michigan |
As we made our way, the wind began to increase and we found ourselves in rolling 5-6 foot seas. To make matters worse, the channel was narrowing and we had to make our way around a sand bar. To say things were intense would be an understatement. Suddenly, the boom snapped to center line, causing the main sheet to catch us off guard. We didn’t have the boom preventer on yet, (our mistake). I was slammed to the deck, pinned underneath the extremely taught sheet line and halfway on top of Dave, pinning him in place as well. Dave couldn't do much to help because he was manning the helm and in his own battle with the tiller. I didn't have the strength to release myself from under the boom sheet. We were in a whole lot of trouble for a few seconds but the boom whipped back to the port side and we were able to extricate ourselves from the predicament. Dave immediately added the boom preventer and pulled the second reef into the main. It happened so quickly and scared the crap out of us but we learned where NOT to be while Mystic is running down wind; and, we renewed our respect for the power of wind and sail. Since then we have talked at length about ways to avoid this type of predicament ever again.
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| Jumbled, rolling seas - Picture Rocks, Michigan |
The Good Old Boat article applies directly to this incident and adding it to our sail inventory made sense to Dave, especially since our Alberg 35 is not set up for a third reef. Dave was going to add a third reef after our mishap but it is expensive. In addition, the reefing lines run inside the boom and the boom is set up for only two reef lines. It would not be an easy addition. Using the Storm trysail as an alternative would actually be cheaper and easier to use. Mystic already has an additional track running up the mast. The storm trysail will be permanently rigged on that track so it can be raised quickly. By wrapping up and storing the main and locking the boom down during high wind situations we would take the danger of using the boom out of the equation. Since the Storm Trysail is permanently attached, we can use it instead of the main in any conditions where we need a little less sail.
Each time we solve an issue or make an improvement our excitement for our journey grows. The next thing to tackle is a new main halyard winch. It is original from 1966 and aging on the same timeline as we are!
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| We flew past this beauty on a down wind run! East Channel Light, Grand Isle, MI |
