Customer Reviews

Sailing in Heavy Weather

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This title comes pretty close to the category "interesting" and "almost fun to watch" sailing video. The footage of historical offshore races is awesome, interviews with the likes of Warren Luhrs, Olaf Harken et al. are appealing, the many references to Whitbread are both sad and amusing. Above all, the advice given is to the point, well illustrated and useful.

At some point when the narrator explains the dangers of broaching they actually roll a coast guard video of a fishing vessel veering broadside to the waves and then simply disappearing after being hit by the next wave. Truly, better to see once than to hear hundred times.


On the cons side, the DVD is skippy and grainy at times, I think video to DVD transfer process is to blame (original was shot and released in early 90's I believe)

Overall, this production clearly stands out from the long line of boring sailing DVDs that I watch when I can't be on the water.

I agree with the other reviewer who says this does not have enough about using the gear cruising sailors are most likely to need. The coast guard footage of a fish boat being rolled is impressive but the narrators don't take the chance to state that a sailboat that is running and gets a bit out of control can end up beam on and doing the same. That's why I preferred the Storm Tactics DVD done by Larry Pardey. Better quality repro on that - I think they did it a lot more recently.

If you have never been sailing in winds above 25 knots, then this book might help you. But if you are looking for something for really extreme conditions, this is a disappointment. Most of the footage is taken in relatively moderate conditions, and they really do not go into detail about setting drogues and para anchors.

The Maine Hunter Sailing Association used this video for our spring member training seminar. Everyone gave the video high marks on our evaluation. Good general things to think about and practice ahead of time and some helpful specific things to do to be prepared, e.g. pre-mark your halyards for reefing. Folks wanted to stop the video and make notes. It merits seeing over and over. We want to know what happened to the crew man who is repeatedly shown falling overboard!!

This is more or less a technical video and worth a look on that premise. Some of the footage is interesting and the instruction seems solid. The quality is not the best - hard to hear the speaker at times.

For what it is, I think it's worth having in your sailing video collection.