Well, I guess i should have checked, but the forecast was for 15kts and seas 1.5-2, and I have safely sailed in those conditions. the conditions at the marina seemed to confirm it. For some reason, the forecasts were really unreliable lately. Of course, i shoulda/coulda/woulda - after the fact. Interestingly, nobody in the marina mentioned to me there was an advisory. until after I came back. BTW, I know that "small craft" pertains to vessels under 65 ft.
So I went sailing in the small craft advisory weather...
- Thread starter Piotr
- Start date
BTW, as I was coming in (under power), a 250 was just getting out. Single-handed. So I wasn't the only one...
That's exactly what happened with me. The advisory was lifted at 2PM (an hour after we came back), and by 4 pm the wind was exactly as forecasted - 12-15 kts. But by then the boys were so spooked, we stayed in and went for pizza instead.
Well, have I known it's 6 B out there, i would never leave. 5B is my limit. So now I know - anything over 20 kts- stay home.
that was some of my reasoning. I found out that we could survive in those conditions , and my son got enough stories to tell for the rest of the summer. But pleasant it was not. Anyway, I was smart enough to listen to my son.
Well, as I said before - have I known the wind/seas on the Bay, I would have stayed in.
So, pretty good ideas/discussions here for us. One factor that I would like to add is that we have to be mindful in the present. I mean that when you noticed that the conditions were on the edge, regardless of the forecast, that was the time for deciding mindful to return or not. At that time a decision about the crew (obviously one of your main considerations), boat preparedness, and your own experience/capabilities had to be acted on. You took the correct action, but perhaps a half hour was a longtime to come to that realization.
Does the other kid want to go out sailing again? I try not to scare first-timers. About learning how to sail in challenging conditions. Yes, go for it, but as stated by others, do it in small steps, with lots of planning and have experienced people help you. I know a lot of people just "go for it", but a lot of people get in trouble that way. I'm probably a bit more cautious than most.
Does the other kid want to go out sailing again? I try not to scare first-timers. About learning how to sail in challenging conditions. Yes, go for it, but as stated by others, do it in small steps, with lots of planning and have experienced people help you. I know a lot of people just "go for it", but a lot of people get in trouble that way. I'm probably a bit more cautious than most.
You asked, I answered...goodonya for heading in once you realized it was the better choice under the circumstances.
He did. he sailed before 2 or 3 times, but each time we took him, there was no wind. The following day my son took him on his 16-footer and they had a blast (winds about 5 kts).
Oh, sorry - didn't mean to sound snappy. Just didn't want to be too repetitious. I do appreciate all comments. As you pointed out - I did ask beacuse I wanted to see what others thought. Frankly, I'm surprised - I thought I would get a lot of answers telling me I should have stayed out. I'm glad that most (if not all) agreed that going back was a good decision.
I think where I sail, there would be some correlation between a cautious answer (you should not have gone out) and actually sailing very little. I sailed about 80 days total in the two previous seasons and I would have gone for it - but probably left the newbie kid at home. Most of my days were single handed on three different sail craft and if I was "overly" cautious, I would have canceled most of those days (which were just wonderful days..). But.. I don’t know that area where you sailed and winds speeds I sail in have less power than at sea level (but you get the same power at higher wind speeds). And even very experienced crews have accidents.
It would have been interesting to have changed the question a little - what should I have done - and how many times did you sail last year.
It would have been interesting to have changed the question a little - what should I have done - and how many times did you sail last year.
for hour by hour wind forecast, I use sailflow, or NOAA graphical forcast.
both are fairly accurate. but better closer to the time you want to go out.
(*anything over 3 days is more about shifts and direction than pressures)
I suggest you to see if you can sail on a main alone. -its good practice for the heavy stuff.
both are fairly accurate. but better closer to the time you want to go out.
(*anything over 3 days is more about shifts and direction than pressures)
I suggest you to see if you can sail on a main alone. -its good practice for the heavy stuff.
I use http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/ofs/cbofs/wind_forecast.shtml.
They are ususally very accurate, but not this time.
Everybody in the marina uses this: http://www.bwsrh.com/.
Unfortunately, I didn't have time to look it up that day (went straight from the car on to the boat.
I tried sailing on the main alone, but this creates a very strong weather helm and makes it almost impossible to tack in heavy waves.
All good. BTW I give you HUGE credit for discussing this openly. You'll learn from it and get better. Probably others too. So good on you.
I have a balanced rudder, and very light helm. with main only. no matter the winds.
fwiw, in the winter which is mostly when I use the mac, its often 18-25 knts and I'll frequently sail with a reefed main over to my camping grounds (~ 2hrs). Often times I'm spilling air the whole way and on a close reach and pinching the wind.
regardless, What doesn't kill you....makes you stronger!
Braver then me, I would have turned it right around. I know what you mean about the excessive heel. Happened to me last week. I sailed closer to the wind to slow down getting out and opened up the main to spill air on the way back.
That's why in Canada it is now changed to Strong Wind Warning for winds 20 - 33 knots.
Reading this thread i wonder...don,t you fellow sailors watch the colors in the sky anymore? I mean really look up, see the cloud formations. Watch What are they are doing up there? Don,t you know their meanings? Feel the wind on you face. Look at the state of the sea? Is it choppy? Wavy? White caps? Are they frothing off at the top? Look at your barometer, falling or rising? is it getting cooler? Warmer? Stickier? Check the horizon, If you are going out in your boat you should know what the changes in the world around you are telling you. Simple things Like red sun at night, sailors delight. These and many more sayings can guide your decisions.
Yes i have an iPhone, apps , gps, chart-plotter etc but nothing here is Actual Knowledge like being there, in it. Knowing what your boat can do, what you can do. When you know how to do these things then, you are a sailor. And unless you go out and do it you will forever be an armchair sailor. Real sailors know when to turn around and come back to harbor and when to go on. They know what their eyes are telling them by looking at how the world around them is reacting. all these new devices are great but out on the water its you, the captain, who decides the fate of all aboard.
Yes use everything you can can to make a pleasant voyage but make good real time decisions. We all have 20 20 hindsight.
Yes i have an iPhone, apps , gps, chart-plotter etc but nothing here is Actual Knowledge like being there, in it. Knowing what your boat can do, what you can do. When you know how to do these things then, you are a sailor. And unless you go out and do it you will forever be an armchair sailor. Real sailors know when to turn around and come back to harbor and when to go on. They know what their eyes are telling them by looking at how the world around them is reacting. all these new devices are great but out on the water its you, the captain, who decides the fate of all aboard.
Yes use everything you can can to make a pleasant voyage but make good real time decisions. We all have 20 20 hindsight.