Gzira Sailing Club

Currents could have brought ‘placid’ shark close to shore, fisherman says

With the right sail-set up and an eye to windward, it’s unlikely, but a sudden squall can be all it takes to throw you into a knock down. Here’s expert sailing instructor and writer Duncan Wells on how to avoid being flattened.

Sometimes a boat running before a sea can be given a shove by a wave – and the wind does the rest. A knock down here will be to 90° or less.

Knock downs caused by waves occur when the boat goes beam on to a big sea because a rogue wave catches the helm out and here the knock down will vary and is likely to be greater than 90°.
n the most extreme situations, you can be pitchpoled – turned end over end – but it’s worth saying, before anyone gets put off, that the average weekend cruising is usually a more placid affair!

How to prevent knock downs?
1 Sail smart – in the correct seasons. Ocean Passages for the World (Admiralty) gives you the percentage chance of storms by month.

2 Concentrate when helming. On the crest of a breaking wave, flow of water over the rudder can be reversed leading to loss of control.

3 Don’t allow the boat to become over-pressed. Reef early.

4 Do not allow the boat to go beam on to a sea.