Microburst

So, I had this interesting phenomenon happen August 2013 and when I spoke about it people thought I was joking.So I put it away in the back of my mind and forgot about it.Well that was until I heard an interview on 59 North Podcast by Andy Schell with his interview with Yan Miles, Yan spoke of a Microburst and it got me thinking if thats what I had experienced.

So I was out for a nice sail

Sailing between Dun Laoghaire and around Lambay Island en rout back to Dun Laoghaire.

Wind was steady around 20kts so I had one reef in (my reef's take out 2Mtrs of main each).

Then the an interesting pattern came into play in the sky!

The sky was bright round the weather system but really nasty under it.

I saw what looked like small rain storms, and oh yes they were headed my way!!!

Still bright and maybe a small look of apprehension on my face !!

Maybe 3-4 mins before it hit me.

I rolled up 2/3rds of the jib and held onto the jib sheet.

As the squall hit the wind changed direction, vilantly by around 60 degrees which caused me to tack, fortunately I was holding the jib sheet so I just let it go.

Just look at the windspeed!

Up it goes

Still going up

Not sure the instrument goes any higher.

And back down again. Thank the lord.

A short clip.

So what happened.

Now I think it may have been a Microburst,
Wikipedia definition

This is a clip from someone who had replied to the podcast.
Tucson Wet Microburst | August 8th, 2015

From my side:

• I learned to prepare for squalls. I could see it for miles and it lasted only 3-4 mins in total.
• To roll up the jib prior to it hitting as jib as the whole of the sacrificial strip sticking was blown out and needed re stitching.
• One of the wind speed cups broke off during the squall.
• The VHF whip disappeared.

I think holding the jib sheet saved me from a sure knock down, but rolling the jib would have saved the jib!!

After all that there was only just enough wind to sail home!!!!

We live and learn

Cockpit Tour

Uploaded video of showing Nimrod's cockpit
Cockpit Tour

Great Irish June Bank Holiday 2014

Evening Sun - Howth

It started out last week with great hopes of a high drifting up from the Azores to sit over the British Isles for the week.
Hopes continued to rise until Thursday when the great low decided to haunt our weekend with forecasts of torrential rains and a nasty low infested week to come.
So plans rescheduled we had a great Saturday sail North to Howth mooring off the breakwater in glassy seas and calm skys.

The windlass had its first test and performed to perfection.
The dimmer fitted to the new fuse panel came into its own and was needed for night time.
The aroma coming from the restaurants from Howth were amazing.

But the setting sun was beautiful.

Islands Eye

Howth Breakwater 

Stunning

Islands Eye

New Switch Panel

Please click on any of the pictures to get a full size image

The fuse panel of most older yachts seems to be a bit of a bug bear.

This is my original fuse panel. 12 switches and fuses.

During the last few years I have been running new "tinned" AWG 12 cable round Nimrod with an eye on getting a new panel.

You add a stereo / chargers / GPS / cockpit lighting / fridge..... and on and on and on.....

As you keep doing this you find that you have multiple electrical items wired to the same switch and that 5AMP fuse is now 15 or 20AMPS. I ended up with more and more cables coming to a really small panel.

The tipping point came when I when to install the new windlass (details of which can be found at (windlass-replacement-2013-2014).

You can see the new power cables for the windlass (LHS).

So where do you find a new switch panel.

What you end up with is more of the 6 way fuse panels or custom made panels.

Or you do it yourself.....

I fabricated a wooden frame for the panel.

Wood, Oak from my wives uncle's kitchen he was replacing.

Purchased my toggle switches / LED's and fuse holders (The fuse holders are mounted on the rear of the panel and are standard car style spade fuses rather than glass round fuses costing $$$ each.

With the help from my friends at a local print shop we mapped out a graphic using all the available space on the panel.

Several careful hours of drilling and soldering later and we have a brand new custom switch panel designed specifically for my needs.

New switch panel up and running.

The graphic at the bottom with the holes in will have red/green/white LED's depicting the Nav lights in use.

This pic shows the brightness control for the LED's and the Windlass thermal fuse.

The brigtness of the LED's can be tuned down or off as required.

Windlass installation complete

Finally, Hector is installed.

The full story can be found at windlass-replacement-2013-2014

Copper Coat 2 Years On

Short video of Nimrod's latest lift, 2 years on from her copper coat.


Copper Coat 2 years on