Fall sailing is great! Friday morning Clarity and I went for a romp as well. With strong winds out of the north I set the 155 genoa and full main for a downwind ride south on Lake Roosevelt. Two hours and nearly 14 miles later we were still going with increasing winds. I had set the trip computer on my GPS before leaving and at this point it showed an average speed of 6.5 mph (my GPS shows mph not knots). It also showed the maximum speed reached at 7.9 mph. After sailing behind a bluff, dropping sail and heaving to for a short break. I contemplated the long beat back to the mooring in the increasing north wind. I'm not sure how hard it was blowing but beyond the bluff I could see lots of white caps increasing in size and frequency. Since I didn't have the storm jib on the boat, I decided on a double reefed main and the 85% working jib. I sailed out from the protection of the bluff and sailed close-hauled with the boat heeling 20 to 25 degrees as I beat and tacked my way north against the wind and the choppy seas. Four hours and 20 minutes later, I was sailing up to my mooring buoy. Its always a good feeling when you go sailing and never have to put the motor in the water. It was a good test for myself and the boat. I was pleased to see that the track lines on my mapping GPS showed that the boat made nearly 90 degree tacks which as you know is progress over the bottom against the wind and a slight down-lake current. Back on the mooring the GPS reported that I had been out for nearly seven hours and had traveled a total of 31.6 miles. The boat did great. As for myself, I am still suffering from a case of sore muscles... but still, one of the best sails this season. Jeff M23 Clarity ----- Original Message ----- From: <Nebwest2@aol.com> To: <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Monday, October 13, 2008 9:22 AM Subject: M_Boats: new Montgomery sailing video
Hey gang,
Dauntless is now sitting in her winter berth where we keep her each year. Finally, our AZ weather pattern has shifted to the normal fall/winter scenario with good North winds pushing through as frontal systems dig down from the Pacific Northwest. Usually we get just the wind, not the clouds or rain. This week has been a perfect example. Temps finally dropped into the double digits!! and the wind climbed into the double digits!!!
SOOOOO....we threw off the dock lines and took Dauntless out for a romp. I broke 'Jo's camera when we were sailing at the Cruiser's Challenge in Monterey this year by flexing the screen on the back which broke it. So, there is no viewfinder on the camera now. BUT, that doesn't stop me! We had some great sailing I took some terrible video. Actually, considering there was no viewfinder at all, and that also include no menus to tell you what the camera is doing, what the settings are, etc... I thought it came out pretty good! It even impressed Jo who you will see laughing at me trying to figure out how to get the dang thing to work.
Winds were forecasted to be 15 to 25 with gusts to 30. Don't think we ever made it near 30 as we never reefed the main. We were, however, able to get up over 7 knots boatspeed on a broad reach with a "glad bag sized" 36 square foot "Micro Jib" flying. So what was the windspeed......I think the wind was blowing "fun" miles per hour! :-) And that can't be disputed!!!! ;-)
We had a good time. If you'd like to see the video go to my home page at _www.havasumontgomerys.piczo.com_ (http://www.havasumontgomerys.piczo.com) and scroll down the home page to find the video near the bottom. It's nothing special, just something to wet your whistle for a trip to Havasu this February to attend the 09 Poker Run/Scavenger Hunt sail!
AND.....Hey Yakester!!!! You know I'm excited to see the first official San Juans 09 post!!! Woohoo!!! It's gonna happen!!!! :-)
Sean M23 Dauntless _www.havasumontgomerys.piczo.com_ (http://www.havasumontgomerys.piczo.com)
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