tophatyachts.com

Has anyone thought what they will do if the shit really hits the fan???? Jordan designed the series drogue after the fatal 1979 fast net storm, the more i read up on the Jordan series droug the more convinced i am that i wouldnt go to sea without one... when you read through this site there is a link to the official Jordan site which has lots of information on the side bar .... here is the link http://blog.dankim.com/2009/04/19/don-j ... es-drogue/

I have read about them too and had them recomended by experienced off shore people. The chap in Melbourne who makes them quoted me about $800 for one suitable for a Top Hat and I think it would be very cheap insurance.
Of course one would need to have the rest of the boat up to scratch too. Drogue anchor points sufficient stength and designed so chafe could not happen. Storm boards strong enough to take a battering from the stern etc.
The part that impressed me was the fact that the system was properly researched, designed and tested.
It does not suffer the deficiencies of the parachute drogue on which so many pin there hopes of salvation.
Even if one does not intend being in those circumstances it is a good read if only to understand the mechanism of the breaking wave and the handling behavior of our type of vessels.
Tom

Hi All,

I'm going to play Devil's advocate here

As a singlehanded sailor I'm thinking that putting out all this gear is just beyond one person!

At the most I am thinking of a large fisherman's sea anchor, my storm sails and being hove too.

I might not even deploy the fishermans anchor.

The East Coast of Austalia is a lee shore in most weather, so planning, running for shelter,
keeping a good eye on the weather forecast might be a better investment than buying a commercial drogue
or parachute!

Remember that article posted just a while ago by that Top Hat that raced to New Zealand, he said that he had numerous
knock downs and the old Mark 1 came back up each time.

Not convinced that this is a good investment.

Phillip
SEAKA

All good points for sure!
It was Nick Creech however who suggested the Jordan Series Drogue to me - guess he learned a few things on that trip (and subsequent ones)!
Cheers,
Tom

Tom,

It was Nick I was thinking of, brave man!

Just one point,

Have any readers actually used a drogue of any sort, hove too using sails, in a blow, from a Top Hat?

What was the result and did it work?

Phillip
SEAKA
PS May have to change my mind here!

Hi Guys,

Ian Keirnan sailed his Tasman Seabird 'Maris' around the World single handed and survived the '98 Hobart. He trialed an anchor warp loop behind the boat when things got too out of control. From memory he set up some sort of saddle arrangement using his winches. Ian talks about it in Rob Mundle's book about the 98 Hobart (Fatal Storm). Could be a cheaper alternative for the serious Tophatter?

Does anyone know how Jamie Michell coped with big seas on Possibilities? On that point, I wonder if we could get Jamie give a talk on how he set up and handled his boat during his voyage? I am sure one of our Sydney members could organise a venue. I for one wouldn't mind throwing in a few dollars to cover Jamie's costs.

Cheers,
Mark
'Storm Petrel'

Morning All,

Why don't we get Jamie over to the Sydney Sailaway with POSSIBILITIES and then we get a days worth of info?

We could ply him with home cooking!

Phillip
SEAKA

Hi All,

Only problem is that some of us can not make the New Year get together. That is why I thought another evening might be better.

Cheers,
Mark

Hi All

Unfortunately there's no chance of getting Jamie to attend the New Year Sailaway because a few weeks ago, when I mentioned the Broken Bay Sailaway, he said that he was flying to the USA on Nov 13 to pick up a boat. So unless his plans changed he was gone yesterday and it will be some time before he makes it back here.

Cheers
Keith
SWIFT

Probably good, I'd be terminally embarrassed if I dropped another set of tongs in the drink!

Perhaps we could ask Jamie to put up a set of key points he remembers for safety at sea in our type of boat? If he's sailing from the US he may have some time to jot some stuff down.

Michael