Posted by Bill Wallace-King on March 06, 2007 at 20:51:27 from 86.137.134.191 user Bill_Wallace.
In Reply to: Re: Journey back from Secret Water posted by Peter Hyland on March 06, 2007 at 17:33:48:
Also - if you're rowing the 'tugboat', tie a weight on the rope, or tie on via the mud-weight - that will avoid jerking and possibly snapping the rope. (Like Peter R, I am referring to calm water towing)
Exactly the same principle applies towing at sea in any kind of weather. When towing a boat at sea, the waves can give rise to massive shock loads. A very long towrope with a weight, maybe an anchor and/or chain in the middle is essential. There are whole chapters in books about towing at sea, but that, and the priciple of creating a bridle/harness around the boat to spread the load, tightening it up with the main winches, are the key techniques.
I have experience of a 16mm towrope breaking - it was fairly dramatic and I'm glad I wasn't in its way. I have since purchased a much larger towrope which fortunately has not yet been used.
Another interesting towing fact, relevant because the boat in question was the Nancy Blackett: In 2003 Nancy was towed a good number of miles at sea by the Harwich lifeboat. I was not aboard, but I understand the RNLI towed at quite high speeds (up to 9 or 10kts). The loading on the tiller when being towed at such high speed was apparently very high, and it was jolly hard work. Nancy's normal maximum speed would be 6 to 6.5kts.