Sailboats, whatever they are, are built according to standards to guarantee their stability. These take into account the weather to ensure the safety of the yachtsman. It is good to never forget it.
Know how to read the CE plate
The design criteria for pleasure boats according to the ISO standards, the most generally used, impose to define the stability of the vessel according to the load on board, taking into account the number of crew members and their luggage, but also the weather. Not all boats are built to withstand the biggest storms. This results in 4 design categories, defining the acceptable sea and wind conditions for the boat in a specific loading case:
- A: Wind up to force 9 âeuros Sea up to 10 mètres ridge to trough and over 4 mètres significant height.
- B: Wind up to force 8 âeuros Sea up to 8 mètres peak to trough or 4 mètres significant height
- C: Wind up to force 6 âeuros Sea up to 4 mètres ridge to trough or 2 mètres significant height
- D: Wind up to force 4 âeuros Sea up to 0.5 mètres peak to trough and 0.3 mètres significant height.
The builder is obliged to indicate on board, in a visible way, the possibility of carrying the boat for each category that it satisfies.
Our Pogo 36 can theoretically carry 10 people up to force 6 and 4 meters of water, 8 people by force 8 and 8 meters, and 6 people up to force 9 and 10 meters of water. The marine sense will nevertheless invite to avoid certain extreme conditions.
The Beaufort scale
To interpret the question correctly, it will also be necessary to understand the term "severe weather" which refers to the Beaufort scale. This one classifies the wind forces, with numbers, but also with names. The Grand Frais is a force 7, so you need a B design category to venture into it.
With my 8 crew members, we are 9 on board, which is too many for the weather conditions. So I have to return to port. I then adapt my choice to cast off again to the crew, but respecting the maximum number of 8 crew members on board. Answers B and C are valid, even if the last one is questionable in terms of seamanship!
