Going out to sea with your own boat is of course a fantastic experience. It is also a huge challenge, because nowhere are your skills as a captain so much required as on the open sea where waves have free rein. How do you control the heavy waves at sea? Here are a few tips.
More price stability
Matteo Bonci has researched the behaviour of fast ships in large waves. When these waves come from behind, they are a real threat to any boat. They can make a ship unmanageable, causing you to drift considerably off course or, worse, capsize your boat.
Bonci wondered whether boats that sail in high waves are sufficiently equipped for this. According to the Italian researcher, the maneuverability of ships is mainly optimized for flat water. After his research, Bonci concluded that if you increase the fins and the rudder surface of a fast ship by about 25 percent, this generates much more course stability.
CE Certificate
Despite Bonci's recommendations, you will still have to make do with the boat you have purchased. As long as this is a seaworthy boat, you can play with the waves with sufficient experience. Whether the boat is seaworthy, you can see on the CE certificate.
Category A and B for at sea
For a sea voyage where a boat can handle waves of up to 4 metres high and a wind force of 8 on the Beaufort scale, you need at least category B. Do you also want to sail the oceans? That is only possible with a boat from category A. These boats are also suitable for sailing in a wind force above 8. In addition, many sailing boats from this category are self-righting. If you still want to get a taste of the sea, you can go to coastal waters and bays with a boat from category C to brave waves of up to 2 metres high.
Good preparation is half the job
Anyone who wants to sail at sea must prepare well. You have to deal with different circumstances than when you sail on a lake or pond. Especially when you sail away from the coast and the land is out of reach, you are at the mercy of the whims of the sea and you must be able to trust your own abilities as a seafarer.
If you don't want to be surprised, checking the weather reports extensively beforehand is the least you should do before you go out to conquer the waves. Of course, you also keep an eye on the weather and wind forecasts while sailing with modern tools such as the Windfinder app.
There are more basic requirements. For example, is there sufficient fuel and provisions on board in case the journey takes longer than expected? Do you have a maritime telephone (mariphone) at hand with which you can contact the coastguard in case of emergency? Also ensure adequate navigation equipment that you or at least one person on board can actually use. In addition, good anchoring gear that is equipped with sufficient chain and line is not an unnecessary luxury to have on your boat.
Don't underestimate the dangers
Sailing in high waves may be spectacular, but it is not without danger. High waves bring with them enormous amounts of water that can crash mercilessly onto the deck. So you must have a boat that you can completely close off. That way you prevent water from entering the hold.
If you are going to sail on rough waters, it is absolutely essential that you have sufficient experience. It requires quite a bit of steering skills to manoeuvre a sailboat through the high waves without any damage. If you lack that experience, choose calmer waters with lower waves.
If you unexpectedly end up in a storm, you can use a storm tactic where you run ahead of the storm. You do this by pointing the stern of the ship towards the waves. By using a floating anchor you can also reduce the speed of the boat.
