[PUP] Diesel Duck reports

[peter at seaskills.com]

A few items from reading the blogs of both boats about their 3-1/2 day
crossing of the South China Sea:
 
1. The storm was not a surprise, but was indeed forecast. However it veered in
a somewhat unexpected fashion which isn't unusual in the area. This veering
was undetected until late  because the lead boat, at least, was unable to
complete a scheduled sat phone/radio call that would have given them more
notice (also not terribly unusual). There were very experienced mariners
onboard the lead boat, sometimes *%$# happens. Two small issues (storm veer
and missed comm's contact) led to a bigger problem.
 
2. The lead boat (the one with the bodacious sail rig) was safely anchored
when the storm hit, and reported a night of 30-40 knot winds.
 
3. The trailing boat (8 hours behind) was caught at sea and reported 50-knot
winds and being knocked down several times.
 
4.  I didn't see any indication of sustained 9-knot speeds, and tracking their
progress against their ETA, both boats seemed to be running late, so there I
couldn't divine anything that indicated elevated speeds to the standard 7-knot
cruising speed for a DD462. As an aside, I wouldn't be surprised that a DD in
those conditions would hit 10-knots in between hitting 2 knots. I would be
very surprised to learn of sustained 9-knot travel in any direction. In heavy
seas, even if you don't slow down for prudence sake, a boat cork-screws wildly
and doesn't make great progress, even down wind. But that's just my thinking.

 
In my mind, this is a good reminder that it taking weather for granted is easy
- I'd hate to have the same series of events happen with a storm that packed
winds greater than 50-knots, especially if the fetch is great and the storm
sustained.
 
Peter
Willard 36 Sedan
San Franicso