Canceled a good sail trip today from cape cod to newport, done the trip many times however with gale force winds predicted, gusts up to 35 knots, rain and limited visibility I decided to wait another week. I've got a 33' Cal, she handles well in a blow but with a new ligament, I felt it better to wait for better days. The problem here in the Northeast is that the past five weekends have been $#@!. Question, when do most of you cancel a sail?
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Missed a good show
Hey fool! You missed a good boat show here, forget the ligament put on the knee brace and get some wind, rain, and sea in your face! Feels good!
Hey fool! You missed a good boat show here, forget the ligament put on the knee brace and get some wind, rain, and sea in your face! Feels good!
Ya know...
... it sounds like good judgment to me. When to cancel? When safety is an issue, or when likely discomfort outweighs likely pleasure. Sailing in bad weather can be fun, but there are times when it is just, well, unnecessary. Fair winds NEXT weekend. You can drive to the show. Sanders
... it sounds like good judgment to me. When to cancel? When safety is an issue, or when likely discomfort outweighs likely pleasure. Sailing in bad weather can be fun, but there are times when it is just, well, unnecessary. Fair winds NEXT weekend. You can drive to the show. Sanders
good decision
Macho crap aside, you made a good decision. I've been in a hurricane before and I know the sea is to be respected.
Macho crap aside, you made a good decision. I've been in a hurricane before and I know the sea is to be respected.
That's a 6 hr sail!
25 knots or plus sustained wind is enough for me to cancel. Your trip is about 7 hours, the hull speed of a Cal that size is approx. 7knots, that's a long way to be bouncing around on the deck.
25 knots or plus sustained wind is enough for me to cancel. Your trip is about 7 hours, the hull speed of a Cal that size is approx. 7knots, that's a long way to be bouncing around on the deck.
When to Cancel a sail....
... is related to the decision process regarding when to reef. The time to cancel is when you first think about it, just like reefing. Anything later is always toooooooooo late. Shucking and jiving in bad weather is something you do (or rather I do) of necessity, not for pleasure or fun. Those days are gone forever and I don't miss'em. You made the right choice.
... is related to the decision process regarding when to reef. The time to cancel is when you first think about it, just like reefing. Anything later is always toooooooooo late. Shucking and jiving in bad weather is something you do (or rather I do) of necessity, not for pleasure or fun. Those days are gone forever and I don't miss'em. You made the right choice.
I always struggle with the decision
Hello, The problems (IMHO) is that the weather forecast is so inaccurate. On Friday 5/20, the forecast for the Long Island Sound was for rain most of the day Saturday. Saturday dawned bright and clear without a cloud in the sky. The weather forecast then became rain in the afternoon. In reality, the day was beautiful - clear sky, good wind. If you planned on sailing somewhere over the weekend, and then canceled your plans because of the forecast, you would be kicking yourself. OTOH, if you went, and the weather was as bad as forecast, you would be kicking yourself! I am planning a trip over the memorial day weekend. I'll be watching the weather forecast very carefully, but I still will worry about wether to go or not. Tough to win! Barry
Hello, The problems (IMHO) is that the weather forecast is so inaccurate. On Friday 5/20, the forecast for the Long Island Sound was for rain most of the day Saturday. Saturday dawned bright and clear without a cloud in the sky. The weather forecast then became rain in the afternoon. In reality, the day was beautiful - clear sky, good wind. If you planned on sailing somewhere over the weekend, and then canceled your plans because of the forecast, you would be kicking yourself. OTOH, if you went, and the weather was as bad as forecast, you would be kicking yourself! I am planning a trip over the memorial day weekend. I'll be watching the weather forecast very carefully, but I still will worry about wether to go or not. Tough to win! Barry
When in Doubt!
Don't go out!! Morning William: I'd rather have people calling me chicken than to have them calling me a "statistic" or the old Monday morning quarterback comment "he should have known better than that". I might get caught in a storm, but would never set out in one, nor when one was predicted. Coast Guard goes out to rescue the macho's every time a bad storm hits.
Don't go out!! Morning William: I'd rather have people calling me chicken than to have them calling me a "statistic" or the old Monday morning quarterback comment "he should have known better than that". I might get caught in a storm, but would never set out in one, nor when one was predicted. Coast Guard goes out to rescue the macho's every time a bad storm hits.
John Murray Gloucester
John Murray founded a church in Gloucester, on the walls are written the names of locals who lost their lives at sea, over 10,000 names. Given a choice I'll delay a sail for any blow over 30 knots.
John Murray founded a church in Gloucester, on the walls are written the names of locals who lost their lives at sea, over 10,000 names. Given a choice I'll delay a sail for any blow over 30 knots.
Northeast Sailing
I'm tired of the weather reports, there's rain predicted here all week long. I'm going out this weekend hell or high water!
I'm tired of the weather reports, there's rain predicted here all week long. I'm going out this weekend hell or high water!
Mike
Is that a picture of a sailboat heeled at 60 degrees? It looks as if it's lieing ahull with a couple feet of headsail out. Strange...wouldn't it at least be best to run the motor and head into the waves then to lie ahull if they didn't have a sea anchor?
Is that a picture of a sailboat heeled at 60 degrees? It looks as if it's lieing ahull with a couple feet of headsail out. Strange...wouldn't it at least be best to run the motor and head into the waves then to lie ahull if they didn't have a sea anchor?
Santori
Actually Franklin that's a photo of the Santori, the coast guard made the captain leave the boat during the perfect storm in 1991 October. He had a storm sail out and flipped the boat twice, he was actually correct in that he wanted to stay with the boat. The boat survived. 50-100ft waves, his crew two frightened ladies on their way to bermuda called the mayday. I think your right though, bare poles would be the way to go!
Actually Franklin that's a photo of the Santori, the coast guard made the captain leave the boat during the perfect storm in 1991 October. He had a storm sail out and flipped the boat twice, he was actually correct in that he wanted to stay with the boat. The boat survived. 50-100ft waves, his crew two frightened ladies on their way to bermuda called the mayday. I think your right though, bare poles would be the way to go!
Are we still having fun?
I abandon a sail when I stop having fun or the prospect of the wind/waves/rain will not be fun.
I abandon a sail when I stop having fun or the prospect of the wind/waves/rain will not be fun.
My 2 cents
William: My "when to cancel" decisions are made easier in that my partner in life and sailing (my wife) is much more sensitive to rough conditions than I. However when I have cancelled and gone to the local beach to eyeball the conditions she is usually vindicated in her input to put a trip off for another day. Staying over even in a small port can have its charms if your open to exploring and meeting new people. Fair Winds, Mike
William: My "when to cancel" decisions are made easier in that my partner in life and sailing (my wife) is much more sensitive to rough conditions than I. However when I have cancelled and gone to the local beach to eyeball the conditions she is usually vindicated in her input to put a trip off for another day. Staying over even in a small port can have its charms if your open to exploring and meeting new people. Fair Winds, Mike
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