On 7/11/02 1:23 PM, "s.mcclellan@attbi.com" <s.mcclellan@attbi.com> wrote:
So quiet out there lately -- guess everybody's gone sailing!
As for me -- the windy city has not been too windy lately. Or else like yesterday you've got wind from he northeast, 4-6 foot waves and a small-craft advisory.
Question: what would be the lightest predicted air (in knots) you'd consider taking the trouble to sail in?
And for the M15ers especially, what would be the biggest predicted waves you'd consider going out on?
(Just to get some discussion going.)
O -------(\_----------(\_--------- ~ ~ (\_ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Steve McClellan~~M15~#152~~Chicago
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Dear Steve: You almost got to meet me. I was in Waukegan over the Fourth holiday. When I am in that area I like to crawl around the yard at Larson Marine. They have a yellow M17 on the lot that is exactly the same as my M17, except it is different. I thought about calling to see if you wanted to try a sail last week, but decided not to so as to not screw up your holiday. In other words, my wife didn't want me to go. For a place like Lake Michigan, there has to be enough wind to keep the sails full and pulling or the chop will knock you back and the roll will toss your boom around, spilling your wind. I was out a few weeks ago and tried to sail back from a raft up in very light wind (5 knots or less and variable). It would vary from glass smooth to a few cat's paws. In some cases, I was making one or two knots...when that dropped off to dead calm, the sails would just go limp and the driftwood was beating me. That was ok and almost challenging to see what would work until the ski boats showed up and the left me bouncing in their wakes. All that flogging just puts stress on the sails and rigging. My old main actually ripped out under similar conditions during last year's CBR. At the other end of the scale, I've been out in 30+ knots with no problem, double reefed main and storm jib. But that was on a lake with less than a mile of fetch and 3' to 4' waves. She just stayed on top, didn't heel all that much and just scooted right along at 5+ knots. The biggest problem with that if you are single handed is getting out of the cockpit to mess with the sails. That's when most of my problems start. I seem to recall some of the M15 guys on the CBR talking about being out in 8' seas or worse. Probably much worse if the water is open. But I think that all depends on your experience level, comfort level and setup. I would also think that getting back into a harbor on Lake Michigan under those conditions might test my pucker factor! Howard M17, #278 "Audasea" (Pondering a name change to "Bianca". She is an all white boat).