fleming yacht in a storm

Tornadoes reported in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio as storm barrels through Midwest

There were at least nine reported tornadoes across Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.

At least nine tornadoes were reported across Illinois, Michigan and Ohio as a storm barreled through the Midwest overnight.

Wind gusts reached 82 mph near Chicago, and hail was larger than golf balls in DuPage County, Illinois, just outside of Chicago.

On Wednesday morning, the severe thunderstorm threat is ongoing for the Ohio Valley, West Virginia and Kentucky, where a few thunderstorms are possible.

By Wednesday afternoon, the strong thunderstorms and gusty winds will move east, stretching from the Tennessee River Valley to the Northeast.

MORE: 3 life-saving tactics to use if in a car during a flash flood

Up to 3 inches of rain is forecast for West Virginia and New England.

The heaviest rain will reach the Interstate 95 corridor Wednesday evening.

Related Topics

Top stories.

19-year-old killed by flying canister from fiery explosion

• 3 hours ago

Kate Middleton seen for 1st time since abdominal surgery

• Mar 5, 8:12 AM

Meta spokesperson acknowledges reports of outages: 'We resolved the issue'

• 2 hours ago

Dad and daughter surprise wedding guests with synchronized dance

• Mar 4, 3:26 PM

DOJ's '60-day rule' and what role might it play in a Trump trial before the election?

Abc news live.

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

• MarketPlace
• Digital Archives
• Order A Copy

Storm tactics for small yachts

I chuckle every time I hear someone say, “You sailed around the world on that?” “That” is a 1966 Cal 30 sloop, which Bill Lapworth designed for coastal cruising and racing, not offshore passagemaking. However, her diminutive size, relatively short rig, and strongly constructed hull and deck structure have survived sustained gales, repeated groundings and a full knockdown, always emerging victorious against the elements.

To be sure, crossing oceans on a larger yacht offers certain obvious advantages. For starters, a larger craft is more stable in a seaway, cutting through swells smoothly rather than bouncing over their crests, and offering a smoother ride for her crew. This vessel is also easier to steer and control on open water and has higher freeboard, offering more protection from the seas during stormy conditions.

Smaller vessels, measuring 32 feet LOA or less, are more exposed to the ravages of storms, presenting certain greater challenges to crew. Contrary to what you might think, however, they also have some advantages. Who would think that slower sailing can actually, at times, be safer? As long as you have a strong, well-designed craft, understanding your small vessel’s abilities and limitations in rough weather will permit you to make the same ocean crossings as the largest, most lavish mega yachts.

Weather window The first and most obvious way to ensure a safe passage within 200 nautical miles of a major land mass is to check the five-day weather forecast. Now, when the skipper of an Oyster 60 says it’s time to sail, you should know instinctively that his weather window and yours are not the same. His vessel has a theoretical hull speed of 10.8 knots, which increases as the vessel heels under sail. A typical 30-footer has a hull speed of roughly 7.5 knots, giving the 60-footer an advantage of roughly 80 miles per day.

So, if you are sailing the 600 miles from Gibraltar to Lanzarote in the Canaries, making only 100 miles per day of progress in a light breeze along the coast of Morocco, you can expect a six-day sail. A five-day forecast leaves that sixth day of sailing up to a roll of the dice. I discovered this the hard way when a brutal southwesterly gale picked up, forcing me to motor-bash into heavy oncoming seas for 20 hours. Saltaire arrived, eventually, but her skipper was one nervous wreck when he took refuge at La Graciosa’s wind-swept, open roadstead anchorage at 0100 and rode out the storm for five days before continuing on to Puerto de Arrecife.

Sailing within 200 nautical miles of any coast requires ample local knowledge, and sailing on a small vessel brings this to bear with greater immediacy. On offshore voyages, though, there are actually advantages to being on a smaller boat.

Downwind sailing   Running before the wind, particularly on long Pacific passages, is quite literally “a breeze.” As long as you control how much sail you hoist, the voyage from Panama to Tahiti is pretty hard to screw up. Just pole out the genoa, set your self-steering system, pour yourself a glass of inspiration, and enjoy the tuna fishing and golden sunsets.

A winter crossing of the Atlantic, however, is quite another matter. Sailing guru Jimmy Cornell, who organizes the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), says in his book, World Cruising Routes , “You can cross the Atlantic any time of the year, except January.” So, naturally, yours truly crossed in January.

As I angled my bateau petit onto latitude 15° N and headed out west toward the Caribbean, a winter gale kicked up, throwing steep seas — some over 20 feet high — against Saltaire ’s stern for two weeks. When I saw how closely she was sliding toward the backsides of waves, I started turning the boat roughly 30 degrees off the rhumb line, gybing back and forth every 24 hours. 

By sailing a broad reach, zigzagging my way across the Atlantic to Martinique, Saltaire enjoyed two advantages: She created a longer, flatter swell and, by heeling to one side, produced a longer waterline, which added to her speed and offset the greater sailing distance. If you split a watermelon lengthwise and cut out a piece crosswise, you get a deep “U” shape. If you cut a diagonal piece, it will have the same height but with a much longer curve. On the water, the longer curve effectively flattens the waves, making it far safer to sail. By sailing at a faster speed, alternately beam-reaching between port and starboard across the Atlantic, Saltaire arrived safe and sound after 25 days of sailing. Columbus had the good sense to “discover” America in only 21 days. But then, he left the Canaries in early December. 

Larger vessels, 40 or more feet LOA, are exposed to a major disadvantage on a downwind sail. Their greater waterline length yields greater speed, exposing them to the possibility of pitchpoling, which is the capsizing of a boat stern over bow — the worst cases of which can result in the sinking of the vessel.

Heaving-to Bashing to weather on a small boat in huge seas can be extremely difficult, if not totally untenable. Generally speaking, areas prone to such conditions are well known to sailors, so we plan our voyages to avoid beating to windward in those corners of the world. Imagine crossing from Martinique to the Canaries along latitude 15° N any time of year — virtually impossible. 

But sailing headlong into oncoming seas can occur, such as on a sail from Kochi, India, to Oman, which I eventually altered, favoring a smoother crossing to Port Aden. Well, it was smooth, until Saltaire was boarded by the Somali Bureau of Aquatic Tourism, but that’s another story. Except for that little setback, it was a pleasant sail all the way to Port Aden.

In the northern Red Sea, about 60 miles south of Hurghada, Egypt, I was forced to heave-to under trysail for several hours, ultimately suffering a knockdown before high-tailing it back to Hurghada, where poor Saltaire could lick her wounds.    The ability to smash headlong into oncoming seas and still maintain a respectable speed over ground is obviously one major advantage of a large, heavy-displacement vessel. A deep-keel craft weighing 10 tons or more has the capacity to build up enough momentum to cleave oncoming seas and maintain speed in a light gale. We on the little boats generally heave-to in headwinds exceeding 30 knots, depending on the weight and design of the vessel and the crew’s level of experience. 

Servo-pendulum self-steering One sure way to keep your vessel “in the groove” in storm conditions is to install a servo-pendulum self-steering system on your boat’s transom. There are numerous other dependable types of self-steering systems available, but a servo-pendulum system — such as one of the models offered by Aries, Fleming, Monitor or Sailomat — provides a high degree of stability when surfing down high seas in storm conditions.

Just to review quickly, a servo-pendulum system functions by employing a tilting wind vane to transmit changes in wind direction to a submerged servo blade via a push rod and a pair of bevel gears. As the boat veers off course, the vane tilts, slightly turning the servo blade, which pulls the tiller or wheel steering until the boat is back on course. As the velocity of both wind and vessel increase, the servo system operates faster and with greater force.

The servo-pendulum’s capability of increasing force and precision with greater wind speed makes this device particularly effective in keeping the vessel on track when sliding down mountainous seas. At the moment the vessel turns ever so slightly to one side, the servo blade immediately signals the helm to turn in the opposite direction, keeping your vessel surfing “on rails.” It is rather entertaining, though sometimes scary, to look up at the wave behind you and witness the perfect trough of foam you have left starting from the top of the hill — quite exhilarating! 

Again, even with the servo-pendulum you should be sailing on a broad reach, not a run, when surfing down steep seas. The servo system keeps your boat on track, but obviously it cannot override the vessel’s innate limitations, which include exposure to pitchpole when running before the wind. 

Drogues When the wind and seas build to a level well beyond the navigable range but you still want to make headway downwind, consider deploying a drogue off the stern to keep the boat making headway, however slowly. Drogues come in many interesting designs, the simplest of which is two or three car tires bound together with chain and tethered off the stern with three-strand nylon anchor line. Storing a stack of tires aboard your yacht may be an imposition, but at least you will have that last-ditch option. Check out YouTube to see some of the zany sea anchors some die-hard sailors are using out there, but bear in mind there are more workable solutions available.

The more common type of drogue takes the form of a heavy canvas or web funnel, which can be folded and stored easily in a small hold belowdecks. The drogue is weighted down with an anchor or some other heavy weight, along with a short length of chain, and then tossed over the stern where it slows the vessel down to navigable speed, preventing pitchpoling or broaching and capsizing.

Saltaire carried a canvas drogue during her five-year circumnavigation, but thankfully it never saw service. Theoretically I could have used it in that storm in the northern Red Sea, but with all the ship traffic I needed the option of steering away quickly from cargo ships to avoid getting run over. On open water in inclement conditions, where the sea state rules out heaving-to or lying-to, a drogue can prevent capsizing or pitchpoling, allowing you to maintain headway.

There are a number of drogue designs, given your preferences and the length and displacement of your vessel. The Galerider (no longer made but possibly available used online) offered several sizes of web cones, for example, that allowed water to disperse through the entire length of the drogue. Fiorentino of Newport Beach, Calif., offers an array of offshore safety equipment, including a heavy canvas drogue design, which is paired with a beefy coupling system designed to weather the worst of storm conditions.

If there is one major concern regarding drogues, it is the danger in deploying such a device manually while sailing at high speeds in stormy waters. It is too easy to lose a finger — or even a hand — while paying out line and then securing it to a deck cleat. Even when controlling the towline with a deck winch, the stress can be overpowering. It is best to practice this procedure in settled conditions before attempting this in a full gale.

Sea anchors   A safer and easier way to ride out sustained gale conditions is with a parachute sea anchor, which you deploy off the bow in much the same way as a regular anchor. A typical sea anchor comes equipped with a heavy steel harness, swivel and retrieval line. Fiorentino has been building tough, dependable sea anchors for over 60 years and has garnered quite a following for its high-quality safety systems.

Fiorentino offers its Para-Anchor for both commercial vessels and yachts, designing its products to fit the demands of different sizes and applications of inshore and offshore vessels. The Offshore Para-Anchor, which has been awarded 14 international patents, uses a steel ring and a patented heavy tackle system to keep a large parachute submerged during deployment. The Para-Anchor’s retrieval system encompasses a trip line and an exclusive Fast-Pak design, which allows the whole parachute anchor system to be rolled up “in two minutes or less.” Fiorentino offers 10 sizes of parachutes, the largest having a diameter of 40 feet for vessels more than 65 feet in length; custom chutes can be made for larger vessels.

Less expensive parachute anchors are available from other retailers, some for under $200, but most appear to be better suited to coastal use where the Coast Guard is only a VHF call away. A sea anchor, or drogue if you prefer, is a must on all offshore vessels, both motor and sail. Find which works best for your vessel, and remember to practice use of the device before attempting this while offshore in storm conditions.

Surviving storms offshore can be just as safe, if not safer, for the small yacht as for the gin palace. Knowing how to adjust to a changing sea state and deteriorating conditions with the right skills and techniques is your key to a successful ocean crossing.

Circumnavigator-author Bill Morris believes the best strategy for succeeding as an offshore voyager is to keep systems simple. Bill’s most recent book is The Captain’s Guide to Alternative Energy Afloat (Seaworthy Publications, 2019). 

By Ocean Navigator

1997 Fleming 55 Pilothouse

$899,000.

WHALE TALE is a showpiece of her owners attention and care! We welcome you to tour this stunning example of a 1997 Fleming Yacht. With numerous updates including electronic controls for her reliable and economical CAT engines, new generator, new electronics and soft goods, this yacht will not disappoint! Easy to see by appointment in Seattle. LLC titled.

Specifications

Additional info, basic boat info, engines / speed.

• Make: Caterpillar
• Model: 3208
• Fuel: Diesel
• Engine Power: 435hp
• Type: Inboard
• Engine Hours: 3,900

Enter salon from double doors via the cockpit. Standard Fleming layout with U-shaped galley facing the salon and aft deck. Salon features a Pompanette hi-low table which opens  up for dining. A wet bar with storage and icemaker. Custom window coverings, teak cabinetry, teak & holly floors.

A couple of steps up from the galley is the pilothouse with an L-shaped settee. Sliding doors port and starboard, and a wet locker. Steps down from the galley lead you to the master stateroom and the two guest staterooms.

The master stateroom is forward and features an island queen berth, private ensuite head with shower, hanging locker, drawers and storage. Guest stateroom to port has twin berths, plus pull out upper. A guest head is opposite with shower. Second guest stateroom starboard has upper and lower berths, storage drawers and hanging locker. A 220V Asko washer/dryer is in the companionway.

Foredeck has a Portuguese bridge with seating area forward, custom chain locker with hatch on foredeck. Huge aft cockpit with stern controls, sink and storage. Plenty of room to set up for dining al fresco.

• Bar areas aft salon
• Two Fleming Yachts swivel chairs in fabric to coordinate with the salon settees
• Teak wall scones
• Hi-lo- Pompanette-style table opens up to become large dining table
• Blue ultra leathers round ottoman 
• TV in master stateroom
• Two opening hatches with screens plus two opening portlights  
• Double door refrigerator/freezer with icemaker
• Double sink with garbage disposal
• Corian Sandstone color countertops
• Microwave oven
• Electric 3-burner cooktop 
• Dumb waiter to flybridge
• Dishwasher (inop)
• Trash masher (inop)
• Asko washer and dryer units
• 5 Kw Northern Lights generator (starboard) (new 992 hours)
• 15kw Northern Lights generator (port) (5410 hours)
• Magna sine inverter 3000w with Truecharge20 and multi-step battery charge system  
• Iso-boost transformer to protect your yacht from power anomalies
• AC/DC panel and separate gensets remote start 
• ACR searchlight
• Galvanic isolator
• Anchor Fortress Guardian FX 3/8" G4 chain
• Secondary anchor is Ultra anchor
• U-Line 40# stern anchor
• Spare Fortress aluminum storm anchor 
• Lofrans windlass double action electric w/remote & manual drop
• Davit Nautical structures
• Cockpit lights and speakers
• 400’ stern line spool
• Propane BBQ Maytag
• Hot and cold cockpit shower
• Washdown system
• Cockpit sink with new faucetry
• Starboard Hynautic cockpit controls/autopilot controls/bow thruster controls
• Teak varnish raised in very good condition
• Non-skid on foredeck and swim step
• Swim ladder
• Transom door
• 50-Amp power cable for use at either bow or stern inlets
• 4 Rod holders on rail and rod storage in lazarette for 10 rods
• Excellent maintenance records
• Vessel shows near full of fuel
• Fleming yachts systems book, equipment manuals and dedicated storage in desk drawer below PH settee
• Insert cushion creates 6’6” pilot berth in pilothouse
• AB Inflatable 12DLX center console dinghy, VHF equipped, 40hp Yamaha outboard (new 2012)
• Fully adjustable helm seat, white
• Ritchie Compass
• KVH Tracphone
• 2 x Furuno touch screens
• Furuno FCV 5821Color depth fishfinder
• Robertson Autopilot with remote at cockpit and Flybridge
• Start and stop control at all three helm stations
• Cruise Aire heat and air conditioning system throughout - 4 zones
• Sony Digital 900 phone
• Sony Camera 3- way View
• Furuno GPS WAAS GP32- GPS
• Furuno Multifunction displays x 2
• Rudder angle indicator
• Twin Caterpillar 3208's, 3900 hours on mains
• Duel Racor fuel filters (serviced 2023)
• Aquadrive system
• Fiberglass fuel tanks
• Naiad Stabilizers Multisea 2000
• Wesmar bow thrusters at all three stations
• Oil transfer system
• Tank Watch Sentry lll
• Filtration Concepts watermaker
• Trim tabs with indicators
• Glendinning engine synchronizer
• Electronics updates to Furuno and Icom suite
• New Northern Lights generator (992 hours at present)
• Added Electronic controls for engines at all helm stations
• FCI watermaker with remote power and alarm 800 gpd model DM826 ss
• Batteries have been replaced as needed with AGMs
• New matresses throughout – Master new in 2023
• Replaced all upholstery including helmseat, carpets, salon settees and chairs, and flybridge cushions.
• Added Kayak and rail mount  

WHALE TALE is a showpiece of her owners attention and care! We welcome you to tour this stunning example of a 1997 Fleming Yacht. With numerous updates including electronic controls for her reliable and economical CAT engines, new generator, new electronics and soft goods, this yacht will not disappoint! Easy to see by appointment in Seattle. Or Tour at the Seattle Boat Show February 2-11 at Bell Harbor on Seattle Waterfront.

All personal gear; artwork; loose items; galley gear; CD's; clock & barometer sets; charts; fishing equipment; tools; spare parts; supplies & items not specifically listed on equipment list specifications sheet.

• Request Info

Contact Form Submission

Send request.

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better.

You can use this tool to change your cookie settings. Otherwise, we’ll assume you’re OK to continue.

Some of the cookies we use opens in a new tab/window are essential for the site to work.

We also use some non-essential cookies to collect information for making reports and to help us improve the site. The cookies collect information in an anonymous form.

To control third party cookies, you can also adjust your browser settings opens in a new tab/window .

Inquire About This Yacht

Find A Dealer

After hundreds of years of combined experience in designing, building and cruising yachts on the open ocean, Fleming Yachts are bringing to you what will be the ultimate of cruising yachts. A brand new design from the keel up. The Fleming 85.

Our Mission

To design and build literally the finest possible ocean going pilothouse motor yacht, in every respect. With true ocean crossing range the Fleming 85 will take you anywhere you want to be in the world, in total comfort, grace and peace of mind.

Standard Specifications

85' 2' (25.9 m)

72' 3' (22 m)

20' 6' (6.3 m)

5' 5' (1.7 m)

20' (6.1 m)

Displacement Light:

146,280 lbs (66,350 kg)

Displacement Full:

183,050 lbs (83,030 kg)

3,170 US gal (11,999 l)

500 US gal (1,892 l)

View Full Specs

Fleming 85 brochure

Fleming 85 Specifications

Overview Continued...

Design and Engineering

From the renowned naval architects of Norman R Wright and Sons the hull is designed to be the most efficient and most beautiful semi-displacement hull on the water. 

Building on their experience we have made extensive use of Computational Fluid Dynamics CFD software to fine tune the hull design to ensure it is absolutely the most efficient it can be and have the best possible behavioural characteristics in all sea states.

Composite engineers have designed the optimum strength/weight ratio of the structure, so we retain the traditional robust construction you would expect from Fleming – but it is achieved with less weight and is all verified by DNV.

The hull design and engineering will result in the best fuel economy and range of any semi displacement boat in the world. 

The absolute highest specification of equipment available - as standard – installed the Fleming way, with redundancy and access for maintenance in mind.

Two versions

Open air – for those who prefer the wind in their hair, the traditional style Fleming open flybridge.

Enclosed – The pilothouse is moved to the upper deck where it is fully enclosed and still fully outfitted like a Fleming pilothouse should be. Down below more space is opened up for flexible dining and entertaining.

Style 

Exterior - The lines and the look are unmistakably classic Fleming. Furthermore the exterior details have been refined and simplified to create a cleaner look with flush and hidden hardware throughout.

Interior – Various options from traditional to contemporary, but always elegant, warm, comfortable and practical. Double glazing as standard throughout keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer.

Deck Spaces

Foredeck – Hydraulic and electric Maxwell windlasses, Ultra anchors and s/s chain. Huge storage lockers for all shapes and sizes of gear. Fold away seating alcove.

Flybridge deck – Everything you need for cruising, entertaining and relaxing as well as space for a 17 foot tender that can be launched on either port or stbd sides via the 2000lb crane.

Aft deck – Raised and sheltered seating and dining for 10 with amenities you need and sheltered gul-wing door access to engine room and crew’s quarters below.

Cockpit – Easy access, ample storage for all the dive gear and fishing equipment you may need. Warping winches to help take the load off

Swim platform – expansive enough for all uses and hydraulic lowering option makes it easy for additional tender or PWC storage and launching. 

Easy boarding – Multiple side boarding gates make accessibility from fixed or floating docks easy and safe for all.

Interior Layout options

Accommodation A - 3 cabin layout

Accommodation B - 4 cabin layout

Crews quarters A – Twin cabins and crew galley

Crews quarters B – Single cabin and crew galley

Specifications

• LOA: 85' 2" (25.98 m)
• Beam Max: 21' 2" (6.48 m) 
• Draft: 5' 5" (1.69 m)   
• W/L to top of mast: 26' 6" (8.10 m) 
• Displacement min: 146,280 lbs (66,350 kg)   
• Displacement max: 183,050 lbs (83,030 kg)  
• Main Engines: Twin MAN V12-1550 HP @ 2,300 RPM
• Transmissions: Twin Disc MGX 6599A with Quickshift 
• Engine Controls: Twin Disc EC600 with EJS and EPS 
• Driveline: Aqua Drive CV60 & HDL 780HT 
• Generators: Two Onan eQD 29 Kw 240v 60Hz (27Kw 230v 50Hz)
• Stabilizers: Humphree 16 sq. ft (1.5 sq. m) fins zero-speed, 24 vdc
• Interceptors: Humphree (Active Ride Control System) 
• Bow Thruster: Twin Disc BP600 82HP Hydraulic 
• Stern Thruster: Twin Disc BP400 47HP Hydraulic 
• Fuel: 3,170 US gals (12,000 l) 
• Water: 500 US gals (1,900 l) 
• Black Water Tank: 224 US gals (850 l) in single FRP tank
• Grey Water Tank: 224 US gals (850 l) in single FRP tank