Skip to main content

Challenging Seas and a Strategic Stop on the Granocean W60

Expert Seamanship and a Strategic Stop on the Granocean W60!

By Gary, Delivery Skipper at Yacht Delivery Solutions


Yesterday and into this morning, we faced some truly challenging conditions on the final approach to our temporary stop. While the goal is always a smooth passage, the reality of yacht delivery often includes navigating dynamic and sometimes unforgiving seas. Catamarans, like our Granocean W60, are renowned for their stability and comfort, but when heading directly into short, sharp waves – a phenomenon known as "hobby horsing," which I've described in previous posts – the motion can be particularly pronounced. The conditions we encountered, with those relentless short, sharp waves reaching up to 2 meters directly on the nose and very little gap between them, were exactly what we prefer to avoid. At times, we deliberately reduced our speed to under 4 knots to mitigate the impact of the slamming.

The final hour before we reached the marina this morning was a testament to focused seamanship. I operated the throttles manually, constantly adjusting our speed – accelerating when an opportunity presented itself, then slowing down as the nastier waves approached.

The wake of a granoceanW60 in calm water on a yacht delivery with the skipper the water is flat and the sky is blue
Calmer Days on The Granocean


This rhythmic dance of "speed up, slow down, speed up, slow down" continued until we were safely within the marina's protective embrace. While tiring, this manual intervention was crucial, allowing us to maintain a significantly better average speed and get out of the challenging weather more quickly. Though we've certainly encountered more wind and larger seas on this trip, these particular conditions, with their short, steep nature directly on the bow, were arguably the most uncomfortable we've experienced on the entire delivery. The Granocean W60 once again proved its mettle, demonstrating its robust build and ability to power through even these demanding circumstances.

Later in the afternoon, after we were securely tied up, the weather outside became truly remarkable. Torrential rain combined with howling winds that seemed to almost bend the trees, creating near-zero visibility during the heaviest downpours – it was like driving through thick fog. The sheer force of the wind was astounding! All I can say is that I am immensely pleased with our decision to divert and seek safe harbor. Prioritizing the safety of the vessel and crew is paramount for any yacht delivery skipper, and knowing when to wait out adverse conditions ashore is a key part of our expertise.

The question now, of course, is when we will get a favorable weather window to resume our journey to Sydney. Unfortunately, the current forecast isn't offering the immediate answer we'd hoped for. We'll be closely monitoring the patterns and will set sail as soon as conditions allow.

Watch this space for updates.



Yacht Delivery Solutions provides expert yacht delivery skipper services, making strategic decisions to prioritize safety and vessel integrity when navigating challenging weather.


Our experience with Granocean models and other catamaran delivery projects across Southeast Asia to New Zealand and Australia ensures your vessel arrives securely. Contact us to learn more about our professional approach to yacht transport.


Labels:
Location: Brisbane QLD, Australia

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In Hong Kong commissioning "Pikorua"

Date: Saturday, November 23, 2024 Location: Hong Kong The Intricacies of Commissioning in Hong Kong Greetings from a bustling Hong Kong ! It's Saturday, November 23rd. The Yacht Delivery Solutions team has been immersed for over two weeks in the detailed process of commissioning "Pikorua," a stunning new 2024 Granocean W60 destined for Sydney. Our temporary home is a barge in the Kwun Tong typhoon shelter, a far cry from a typical marina – no shore power, no water hookups, and the constant rhythm of nearby construction. Even simple trips ashore require hailing a local sampan to avoid the barnacle-encrusted seawalls. Commissioning: More Than Just Checks Commissioning a brand-new yacht, especially one of this complexity, goes far beyond simple pre-departure checks. It's a meticulous process managed by Yacht Delivery Solutions, involving activating, testing, and calibrating every system onboard – from engines and generators to navigation electronics, plumbing, and sa...
1 comment
Read more

Tuesday 3rd day 4

The mystery of slightly higher fuel consumption and a subtle vibration has unfortunately been solved. The fouled prop The picture shows the starboard propeller and rudder – entangled with the remnants of a Chinese fishing net that decided to hitch a ride. Around lunchtime today, sea conditions moderated just enough for us to safely stop the vessel. Using an underwater camera on a 3-meter pole from the swim platform (duckboard), we were able to inspect the running gear. The footage confirmed our suspicions: we are trailing fishing net debris. No real surprise given the waters we passed through initially. However, the sea state (1-2m swell) is still not safe enough to attempt diving under a 30+ tonne yacht that's constantly moving. Clearing the propeller will have to wait for calmer conditions. In the meantime, the YDS crew has adapted: we are now running primarily on the port engine at 1800 RPM (consuming 30 lph), with the starboard engine just in gear at low RPM (600) to lubricate ...
1 comment
Read more

Saturday 30th Nav - Departure day!

Finally! Departure day arrived. After the  Yacht Delivery Solutions  crew ran through all the final pre-departure checks – engines, nav gear, steering, the works – making sure everything was spot-on for the trip, we tossed the lines off just after 10 AM this morning, Saturday, November 30th. Getting out of the Kwun Tong anchorage required a bit of careful maneuvering, but Pikorua handled beautifully, showing how nimble this  Granocean 60  can be even in tight spots. As soon as we left the shelter, we were greeted by the usual Hong Kong harbour chaos! It took some careful timing and a sharp lookout to weave our way through the traffic – plenty of big container ships and fast ferries zipping about. Thankfully, the view from the helm station is great, which was a huge help. Pikorua took the wakes from passing boats in her stride, feeling really stable right from the get-go, which was reassuring. Once clear of the main shipping channels, the next game was dodging the loc...
Post a Comment
Read more