Cruising World - November - December 2016

HANDS-ON SAILOR

any loose objects on deck would become
“airborne missiles,” Golden says. He
suggests going below deck to avoid fl ying
debris, but notes that there’s a real risk of
capsize, especially on a smaller boat.
Lastly, Golden warns against the
“foolhardy behavior” he’s witnessed

increasingly often on social media.
“Some people in small craft have
purposely penetrated waterspouts and
managed to come out of it alive. That’s an
extremely risky practice,” he says.
“If they do it again, they are going to
get caught in a big one and could suf er
very major damage or even loss of life.”

Scott Neuman is on sabbatical r om his job
at National Public Radio as he and his wife,
Noi, sail the Caribbean aboard Symbiosis, the
couple’s Tayana 37. Follow their journey via
their blog (svsymbiosis.blogspot.com).

WEATHER TIP

With speeds of 10 to 15 knots,

waterspouts are slower than land-

based tornadoes but still faster than

most cruisers can sail or motor.

Never try to outrun a waterspout

along its axis of forward motion.

ILLUSTRATION BY TIM BARKER

Waterspouts form when warm water and cool air are stirred by light winds

from the east or northeast. In the United States, the Florida Keys are a hotbed

for spouts, which are especially likely to occur in humid summer months.

Warm water, in

the 80s, is key

to waterspout

formation.

Rotation begins as warm air

converges on the column of

rising air.

Light winds from

E and NE help

spin updrafts

of air, forming

cumulus clouds.

Surface winds of 50

knots can produce sea

spray at the base of the

waterspout.

A dark spot on

the water is the

fi rst sign o f a

waterspout.

WARM AIR

COLD AIR

WIND

WAVES

12

5

3

4