Second Guessing Myself..

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Prospective

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I have learned a lot from posts where other people had boating "moments" that could have turned into emergencies but didn't. There's a lot of second guessing of decisions and I find most of it helpful. I try to think about what I might have done and learn from other suggestions.

I had a similar moment during my recent cruise and would welcome any constructive feedback.

We (wife and 4 kids ranging from 3-10) were in the middle of our week long cruise. The leg was from Mystic to Block Island. We are traveling as part of a club cruise with 7 other boats. We depart Mystic at 8:30am with about a 20 minute no wake ride to open water. Along the way we stop for fuel. Prior to departure weather is overcast with no rain. There is a chance of t-storms in forecast as there had been all week but nothing on weather radar.

By the time we have reached the open water of Fishers Island sound at about 9:15am a massive thunder head has built up to our SW. Block is about 1hr to our SE at normal cruise of 22-25kts.

I chose to go full speed to block in an attempt to cross the storm and let it pass behind us. I knew that these cells were generally moving to the NE and we would likely criss cross it rather than it running over us. Seas were 2-4 with 18knt winds in front of the storm kicking up a chop. We just caught a few leading edge showers as we passed in front of it. Seas were rough but not the worst we've ever been in. We made it to block and the storm did pass behind us. We were able to anchor and eat lunch before another heavy t-storm blew thru dumping significant rain along with heavy 25knt+ winds. But we were all safe at this point.

My own second guessing came in about midway to block as I was trying to gauge if I would clear this storm. I recognized that if I had engine trouble the storm would roll over me and I would not be able to manuver. Sailboats in our cruise behind us who did get caught reported Heavy rain and wind gusts to 40knts. With an inablility to head into the swell/wind we could have been in real danger. Fortunatly we made it without trouble.

Other options I considered: I could have slowed and stuck with our fleet of sailboats. But my feeling was they are much better equiped to ride out rain and high seas at slow speeds. My boat at 6knts bobs around, it would have prolonged the trip and ensured we got hit by the storm.

I could have ducked into watch hill and grabbed a mooring. I briefly considered this but decided on the first course instead. Had we done it, we would have never made block because the rest of the day turned out to be constant storms. One boat in our fleet who was behind us, did go to Watch Hill and never made it to block. That's not the best reason and if I really believed we wouldn't make it I would have ducked in regardless of my ability to make block.

It was a judgement call and others may have decided differently. I might have done something different given slightly different circumstances. If we had lost power (engines were running fine) I would have notified the CG as well as our fleet and then tried to rig some kind of sea anchor with some empty duffle bags or life jackets on the end of my anchor rode. Anything to keep the boat to weather. We all had life jackets on for the whole trip. I will definitly be purchasing an emergency sea anchor for future trips.
 
Well, being local and very familiar with the waters and the weather here, I offer the following observations

1) You had a small weather window and you took it. I too would have made the run for it to BI.

2) If I were in a sailboat, HECK no I would not have gone for it. The window was way too small to consider that run in a sail boat, IMO

3) If you had stayed with the sailboaters you would have been in a worst spot than running for it, you need to put your boat and crew first.
 
If we all lived for the "What if" we wouldnt get out of bed each morning. You have to make a quick calculation of the risks of each option and then act upon it. Dont second guess a decision made. Learn how to read the condions and options so that the next time you make a decision that safely gets your back home at the end of the trip, be it a one week trip or a 1 hour run. You can say what if the engine quit while trying to out run... what is it quit while in the middle of a pack of blowboaters? What if it quit while trying to turn around and run home...

Look at each case thru experienced glasses and you will make the right choice.
 
WOW. WOW. WOW.

4 kids under 10 years old, and you took a chance like that??? Holy smokes. From what everyone has told ME about the way the seas and the weather act in that area, I am very surprised that you would risk the lives of your family. I'm sure you've followed the "Bob to Block Island" threads, and it floors me that you would still consider trying that trip with your crew and the weather as nasty as you described.

WOW.
 
Yep you made the right call. There are no guarantees in boating.
 
quote:
Originally posted by blouderback

WOW. WOW. WOW.

4 kids under 10 years old, and you took a chance like that??? Holy smokes. From what everyone has told ME about the way the seas and the weather act in that area, I am very surprised that you would risk the lives of your family. I'm sure you've followed the "Bob to Block Island" threads, and it floors me that you would still consider trying that trip with your crew and the weather as nasty as you described.

WOW.

Click to expand...


Bob, there is a huge difference in what he did and what you were proposing. First off, comparing the two boats involved is Apples to cocunuts. Second, he is local and familiar with the area and waters. Would you have known where to seek refuge at the half way point? What is not mentioned here is the dense fog we have also been experiencing with our unsettled weather. Are you equipped to run in pea soup fog? Do you know where to get the best local weather forecasts, real tiem info, and offshore sea states?

If you can not see the difference between a local boater taking a calculated risk to run to BI in a short weather window, against someone trailering into town and running their 20' Bow Rider in unfamilair waters 13 miles to BI - then no explanation is possible.

Here is a picture to show you what it can look like out there.

biferry.jpg
 
ITK, thank you for pointing out how quickly the weather and seas can change in that area! Just to get it straight in my head - the above picture is the same area that Prospective took his wife and 4 small children into while the weather report was snotty?
 
Not exactly. He would have been coming out of Fisher's Island Sound. That picture was taken on the NorthEaterly side of the island between BI and Pt. Judith.

BTW, about these questions:

Would you have known where to seek refuge at the half way point? What is not mentioned here is the dense fog we have also been experiencing with our unsettled weather. Are you equipped to run in pea soup fog? Do you know where to get the best local weather forecasts, real tiem info, and offshore sea states?
 
ITK, Let me answer your questions:

NO.
NO.
NO.

My point is, Prospective knew all these things and STILL decided to put his family in peril! I can't believe all you guys are supporting his decision.
 
Bob, this was an experienced boater in a 28' twin screw boat with local knowledge of the area. He made the decision and it worked out OK. He looked at all the options and chose the one he thought best. In your case you were planning the trip in a bow rider, single engine, limited experience and no local knowledge. A big difference, yuo have come a long way since then. You mentioned the forecast was "snotty", not so, the forecast mentioned "chance of thunderstorms", which is a normal summer forecast. A 28' boat can easily handle a thunderstorm, it won't be comfortable, but with an experienced Capt. if will be safe!!
 
quote:
Originally posted by blouderback

ITK, Let me answer your questions:

NO.
NO.
NO.

My point is, Prospective knew all these things and STILL decided to put his family in peril! I can't believe all you guys are supporting his decision.

Click to expand...


You are missing the point entirely. These are his local waters, he took a calculated risk as opposed to going "all in". Let me put it this way to you - these are my local waters as well. Same situation, same circumstances, I too am making that run to beat out the storm.

Now, same circumstances, but lets say I am moored somewhere in the Outer Banks - no way, no how I am making the run to this hypothetical island because I do not have local knowledge nor do I have as much resource knowledge on local weather conditions and patterns. I will wait that one out and travel another day.

Do you see the difference Bob?
 
NOPE. I do not see the difference. I do not understand anyone placing the lives of their family at risk, whether it's at their local lake or back yard.
 
Bob, this is a degree of risk issue. You put your family at risk the second they step foot in the boat regardless of conditions. It's an unecessary activity full of risk. Driving 56 in a 55 on the highway increases risk. Sounds to me as if vessel, knowledge, experience and distance were all completely qualified.
 
Thanks to those who have commented so far..

Bob, I did follow the "bob to block" saga. And for the record, I don't entirely disagree with you. For that matter, I do think you could take a bow rider to block. I've seen people do it in Jet Skis. That doesn't mean I think it's a good idea. But to some extent we put our lives and the lives of our family at risk if we do anything with them.. car ride, fire in fireplace, hike in woods. The issue is prudence and that's what's up for debate. It you don't think what I did was prudent, I'm cool with that. That's why I posted.
 
Fair enough. I'm glad it all worked out for you and everyone was safe.
 
quote:
Originally posted by blouderback

NOPE. I do not see the difference. I do not understand anyone placing the lives of their family at risk, whether it's at their local lake or back yard.

Click to expand...


Bob, you have to consider he element of risk and how managable it is. We take risks every day .. you pull your kids on a tube and you are taking a risk, but you manage that risk!! If we are not willing to accept some degree of risk, we may as well stay at home.
 
Bob has obviously learned absolutely nothing about safety and travelling in unfamiliar waters.
 
Prospective, the true test of this situation is to ask yourself if you had it to do over again, knowing what you know now, would you do the same thing?

Our own hind sight is often our very best teacher. If your answer to yourself is a resounding "Yes", OK. If it is a hesitant "Yes" or a "Maybe not" then you will have gained valuable knowledge to draw on next time.

Either way, glad you made it and had a good trip.

Bob
 
I am actually unqualified to make a judgment, as in this case, local knowledge is important. I do not have local knowledge, in particular, of local weather patterns and how it affects the local seas.

It is entirely likely that I have had wonderful, successful, happy trips ( and will continue to have ) in weather conditions ( in my local area ) that would seriously bother many here from other areas of the world. But, with the correct knowledge, these trips have not been particularly hazardous. I suspect that this is true in the case stated in the OP. But without having that all important local knowledge, I just plain and simple, don't know.

--

Bob, the whole point of the "Bob to Block" thread was that operator knowledge and skill together with the right equipment, determine whether a particular trip is a responsible choice. In your case, at that time, and with that equipment, such a trip would have been irresponsible.
 
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