L'Eau Commotion Westabout

Yes but for all the wrong reasons. As stated previously the main was doused and the sail held in the lazy jacks with extra lashing, the boom secured from moving side to side and the self steering set for a close reach towards North with just the storm jib set on the inner forestay and the jib furled. As predicted the wind gradually increased by 10 pm local time to be certainly around the 35 knot mark and a restless few hours ensued. Then about 2:30 am a flapping hinted something could be needing attention so on with the full gear and harness. The wind was by now howling and the seas had become very rough and what had happened the furled jib around 2/3 the way up the forestay had ballooned out and was by now flogging mercilessly. What happened next took place over a period of 6 hours with attempts to furl the sail hampered at first by the spinnaker halyard getting caught up in the ballooning which with much difficulty was disentangled and led a port fitting abeam the mast. Various attempts to refurl the sail seemed to work for a few minutes but the by now full gale force winds and breaking seas would find a chink and restart the flogging. On two occasions I was slammed against the safety railing by quite horrendous conditions and frequent breaking seas had L'Eau Commotion heeled over with the windows covered and the cockpit filled. All this time I was mindful of not getting halyards twisted round the roller furling gear or letting them go which required frequent trips back aft for additional snubbing lines. Eventually managed to get the sail flying with the breeze and then let the halyard go. All too quickly down she came and into the drink. By this time it was apparent the sail had been flogged to death and the temptation was to cut it loose but thoughts of getting it caught round the keel, sail-drive rudder or self steering gear meant a difficult haul out was ahead. The sail is quite useless as it is but I eventually got it into the cabin and consoled myself that it could be made into a nice sunshade for the balmy tropics. On the bright side I have two spare jibs but not as good as the one I destroyed and all halyards and lines are secured and untwisted. I was soaking wet for much of this six hour ordeal so two cups of coffee some of Barbies fruit cake and a hot water bottle a dry bunk and dry clothes and looking forward to my next adventure. Just so long as it doesn't involve www. wind water waves.