| Drift rates
Keelboats with a higher wetted surface area will require a larger parachute sea anchor than a multi-hull yacht of the same overall length. However, keelboats of heavy displacement would require an even larger unit than the first yacht. By this we mean that the parachute sea anchor must have greater resistance in the water than the yacht, the boat must answer to the parachute sea anchor not the reverse. If the reverse is to occur the boat is dragging the parachute sea anchor. When you drag a plow or sand anchor the first reaction is the yacht will lay beam on (not the best position). All boats being equal in size, the yacht shown as No 1 would require a smallerparachute sea anchor than No 2, and boat No 3 requires a bigger parachute sea anchor and so on to No 4. For example, an 11m moderate displacement keelboat would most likely require a Tasman 15, while an 11m multi-hull would require Force 10 Para Anchor.
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The real worth.
In general, regardless of the conditions, parachute sea anchors keep the bow to wind, eliminating broaching, capsizing, reducing rolling and generally improving the well being of all on board. In a survival situation it is a certainty that the following conditions will exist: seasickness, cold, hunger, fatigue, tiredness and fear (tiredness and fatigue are two different beasts). With a parachute sea anchor correctly deployed the yacht will settle and become quiet and stable. We can now rest, eat, sleep and make sound decisions and not be driven by fear. How many people have abandoned a boat, maybe perished in the process, and the boat is still afloat days or months later? It can be confidently stated that of the 24 boats that sank in the ill-fated 1979 Fastnet Race tragedy (in which 6 sailors perished) and the 48 boats that were rescued by helicopters and trawlers in the 1998 Sydney Hobart Race, many boats would not have sunk nor as many rescues been necessary, had the boats carried and used parachute sea anchors.
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The New Zealand Bomb - June 1994 .
In the 1994 annual casual cruise/race from Auckland to Noumea, the fleet sailed into an out-of-season cyclone. Of the 34 participants, ten boats were abandoned. Twenty-one sailors, some injured, were plucked from the sea by the RNZ Navy and other ships in the area. Three lives were lost. Of the 10 boats abandoned, 2 were sunk the others were found floating or on reefs up to six months later. One was found 600 nautical miles north of Noumea and then lost. It can be stated without prejudice that when preservation of life comes before winning a race, cruising sailors demonstrate more caution by carrying and using parachute sea anchors.
| Yachtsman Series:- Multihull, Monohull L/disp, H/disp |
| Coastal 9 |
9m. |
8m. |
6.5m. |
| Force 10 |
10.5m. |
10m. |
9m. |
| Tasman 15 |
12m. |
11m. |
10m. |
| Bass Strait 18 |
14m. |
12m. |
11m. |
| Pacific 20 |
15m. |
13m. |
12m. |
| Southern Ocean 24 |
18m. |
17m. |
16m. |
| Indian Ocean 28 |
Refer to Manufacturer. |
Designed and manufactured to resist substantial loads over long & many uses.
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| Fisherman series. |
| Fisherman 4 |
6.5m. |
| Fisherman 7 |
9m. |
| Fisherman 9 |
11m. |
| Fisherman 12 |
12m. |
| Fisherman 15 |
13.5m. |
| Fisherman 18 |
Refer to Manufacturer. |
Designed for light loads long term, high loads short term (survival over 24 Hours)
|
| Professional Fisherman Series |
| PAF 30 |
Overnight camping |
12m. |
| PAF 35 |
Overnight camping |
16m. |
| PAF 40 |
Overnight camping |
19M. |
| PAF 50 |
Overnight camping |
22m. |
| PAF 50 |
Total Holding (Squid Fishing) |
13m. |
| PAF 60 |
Total Holding (Squid Fishing) |
15m. |
| PAF 70 |
Total Holding (Squid Fishing) |
20m. |
| PAF 80 |
Total Holding (Squid Fishing) |
26m. |
| PAF 90 |
Total Holding (Squid Fishing) |
29m. |
| PAF 100 |
Total Holding, (Squid Fishing) |
22m. |
Designed and manufactured for long term substantial loads.
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(1) THIS CHART IS LISTED AS AN APPROXIMATE GUIDE ONLY, VESSEL DETAILS SHOULD BE CONFIRMED WITH MANUFACTURER BEFORE ORDER.
(2) TWO BOATS OF SAME LENGTH, ONE WITH FULL KEEL HEAVY DISPLACEMENT THE OTHER LIGHT DISPLACEMENT WOULD BEHAVE DIFFERENTLY ON THE SAME PARA-ANCHOR. THEREFORE EACH BOAT WOULD REQUIRE A DIFFERENT SIZE PARA-ANCHOR. |
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