Replying to Tom House comments:
I received this from long-time Stiletto sailor, Don Carlson, and thought others might find his added information interesting:
Tom ... Remember when people talk about wave sizes it is a lot like the size of a fish.
When your boat is being tossed around it can appear that the wave is as high as your spreader.
I sailed into San Carlos (Mexico) a few days ahead of the hurricane when it went through there last year, and the next morning I took my dingy out to the entrance and the waves were 12 foot and that's as big as I've ever seen sailing.
The day of the hurricane they were 26 foot, but that was after days of building and hurricane winds.
The worst I ever been in was in a Stiletto, probably 5 years ago this coming April. (During that expereince we encountered) recorded (winds of) 70 knots, sailing back from Refusio to Lobos.
The waves might have got over 12 that night but we we're anchored by the time the worst of it hit us... so we were below.
(It was) real noisy and we would get just slammed every 15 minutes or so until after 3 hours of that (we began) dragging our anchor and ended up 7 miles north. (Eventually)our briddle broke and we wound up on the beach.
(The lesson learned is) for a Stiletto, make your bridle out of 1/2", good quality, 3-strand nylon rode... (and) going through braking waves is not something you would or should do by choice. But a Stiletto can take it! Provided you don't get rolled over.
One thing you will come to realize in time is that the shore is the enemy.
We always sailed with a 12-foot diameter Para anchor and still do.
I should have stayed out and put it out off the bow that night; tie the centerboard down on the deck and lift the rudders out of the water; put all but the main away. In that mode, I, personally would prefer being on a Stiletto as well as any boat made. They’re tough and even full of water they float.
If you haven't been through any good storms yet, just remember, they are very, very loud and seem to go on forever.
(In a storm, never leave your boat, in favor of a dingy.)
A great rule of thumb is that you only step up into your dingy. Stay on your boat.
Read all you want about heavy weather sailing and the boats always out last the people unless they hit the rocks.
Get and read DDDB Drag Device Data Base by Victor Shane.
Once you build confidence in your boat and yourself, Sailing in storms is very exhilarating.
I love it!
I have a CD I put in and crank it up.
That's life at it's fullest!
I think I'm heading down next week to do a little maintenance (on a trimaran I bought after I sold my Stiletto) and try out my new prop.
A guy I know told me about a place on the Baja, where, in January, he has seen 4-5 acres of yellowtail on the surface. I've got to check it out, just in case it's true.
Good luck and keep sailing, Don
