Two of us (one boat) are planning our first overnight/sail-thru-the-night from Willoughby (Norfolk,VA) to Tangier Island this weekend. We have lots of experience sailing the Chesapeake Bay, but I would appreciate any advice on night sailing the bay. Thanks, Joe
Any last minute tips?
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Have a great trip
Joe, Night sailing is the best once you have had the experience, you may never want to see day light again. The peace and quiet, stars, heightened senses - all great. Couple of suggestions: Get some experience on a few evening/night sails before you go. Very important that you try some dark night out of the marina in the most familiar area first to acclimate yourselves and see what you should expect. Make sure you have charged all batteries for the boat, spot lights, flash lights, VHF, GPS, or whatever other DC stuff you might carry. To make sure you can navigate well in the dark, bring good binoculars (again, try them at night before you go so you see the limitations). Make sure you have your course plotted and keep checking your position underway. Have flares? Horn? Keep off the deck unless jacked into harness and let partner know before you go. I always monitor at least channels 9, 16, 13. Commercial vessels will issue Securite calls rounding points, etc. and it's good to know well in advance. Make sure you leave a copy of your plotted route and ETA and check in times with someone also (good habit even for small trips). Hope this helps.
Joe, Night sailing is the best once you have had the experience, you may never want to see day light again. The peace and quiet, stars, heightened senses - all great. Couple of suggestions: Get some experience on a few evening/night sails before you go. Very important that you try some dark night out of the marina in the most familiar area first to acclimate yourselves and see what you should expect. Make sure you have charged all batteries for the boat, spot lights, flash lights, VHF, GPS, or whatever other DC stuff you might carry. To make sure you can navigate well in the dark, bring good binoculars (again, try them at night before you go so you see the limitations). Make sure you have your course plotted and keep checking your position underway. Have flares? Horn? Keep off the deck unless jacked into harness and let partner know before you go. I always monitor at least channels 9, 16, 13. Commercial vessels will issue Securite calls rounding points, etc. and it's good to know well in advance. Make sure you leave a copy of your plotted route and ETA and check in times with someone also (good habit even for small trips). Hope this helps.
Red Lights / Night Vision
Remember that your night vision takes a while to build up and can be blown in a second's exposure to normal, white light. Find the red lenses for any interior lights that have that feature. Remind yourself and your crew to not turn on a cabin light or flashlight unless it's an emergency. Figure out how to dim your cockpit instruments ahead of time. Listen. You might hear something before you can see it. Enjoy. Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
Remember that your night vision takes a while to build up and can be blown in a second's exposure to normal, white light. Find the red lenses for any interior lights that have that feature. Remind yourself and your crew to not turn on a cabin light or flashlight unless it's an emergency. Figure out how to dim your cockpit instruments ahead of time. Listen. You might hear something before you can see it. Enjoy. Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
Have fun
Joe - I agree 100% with Jan - Night time sailing is wonderfull. I typically do not get out until late in the afternoon and have come back at midnight - Not going anywhere just enjoying the water, the peace, the calm the moon etc etc. As Jan suggested if you have not sailed at night it is a good idea to try a few late evening/early night sails - The winds are normally not so high and the seas can be calmer - so it's wonderful and calming. If you have the option I would try to sail on a night when the moon is full or near full. If there are not too many clouds you will be suprised what you can see once you eyes get used to the dark. Being able to see and be seen is imposrtant - it sometimes seems that everyone thinks they are the only boat out there. A flashlight with a red lens will help you keep your night vision if you have to search around for something rather than using cabin lights. Have a good 500,000 + candlepower handheld light avaiable so that you can put some light on "mysterious" objects if you are in doubt. Also have some kind of light available so that you can shine it on your sails if necessary to make sure the person in the speed boat who is barreling along at 20 knots can see you. All the best - let us know how you do! James
Joe - I agree 100% with Jan - Night time sailing is wonderfull. I typically do not get out until late in the afternoon and have come back at midnight - Not going anywhere just enjoying the water, the peace, the calm the moon etc etc. As Jan suggested if you have not sailed at night it is a good idea to try a few late evening/early night sails - The winds are normally not so high and the seas can be calmer - so it's wonderful and calming. If you have the option I would try to sail on a night when the moon is full or near full. If there are not too many clouds you will be suprised what you can see once you eyes get used to the dark. Being able to see and be seen is imposrtant - it sometimes seems that everyone thinks they are the only boat out there. A flashlight with a red lens will help you keep your night vision if you have to search around for something rather than using cabin lights. Have a good 500,000 + candlepower handheld light avaiable so that you can put some light on "mysterious" objects if you are in doubt. Also have some kind of light available so that you can shine it on your sails if necessary to make sure the person in the speed boat who is barreling along at 20 knots can see you. All the best - let us know how you do! James
Have backups for navigation
I sail a lot more at night since I got a chartplotter, but I worry about being able to navigate without it. So, I plug my intended route(s) into my old backup GPS and activate them. I also have paper charts and a small flashlight ready to take to the cockpit if the fancy gizmo fails. I have a powerful handheld spot, but I have stopped using it because it usually caused more confusion than anything. Keep your cabin lights low to preserve your night vision.
I sail a lot more at night since I got a chartplotter, but I worry about being able to navigate without it. So, I plug my intended route(s) into my old backup GPS and activate them. I also have paper charts and a small flashlight ready to take to the cockpit if the fancy gizmo fails. I have a powerful handheld spot, but I have stopped using it because it usually caused more confusion than anything. Keep your cabin lights low to preserve your night vision.
V
Vasco
look behind you
Look behind you once in a while. Forgot that one cold night going up the bay, all scrunched up behind the dodger - nearly got run over. Luckily heard something on 16 about "an idiot having a death wish". Looked behind me and jibed as fast as I could! Boy, those container ships can move! *yks
Look behind you once in a while. Forgot that one cold night going up the bay, all scrunched up behind the dodger - nearly got run over. Luckily heard something on 16 about "an idiot having a death wish". Looked behind me and jibed as fast as I could! Boy, those container ships can move! *yks
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