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Sailing is all about the Weather.
Big into the exploration of Atlantic Hurricanes since Katrina came uninvited into his world, James (Jim) Gurley (JamesG161) has followed every Tropical Storm birthed in Atlantic, Gulf and Caribbean waters since. Being a boater, he knows that we often need more time to prepare than we get from the TV weather folk. Jim relies on the science of storm development to share early warning info with friends and fellow boaters.
Early in 2018, Jim and John Shepard, (JSSailem) started to chat about the weather data available. John asked Jim to help forecast Pacific NW storms, and this morphed into discussions on weather forecasting.For John, sailing in the PNW is sometimes hit and miss. One day is ugly, then a string of beautiful days but no wind, followed by a series of blue-sky days and 12 knot breezes. Being ready for those great sailing days means you need to look to the Pacific Ocean and what is brewing. John has been into Pacific NW Weather since the 1970’s when his first PNW November storm hit bringing more than 40 days and 40 nights of continual rain.
Together we want to share information, new APPs, safety, and thoughts about letting the weather help you. Identify some of the resources for sailors and help prepare you for your next sailboat outing.It is far better to go out on the water knowing what to expect in weather terms, than to be out on the water and see dark ominous clouds suddenly appear, unprepared.
Beat the Heat
- Thread starter JamesG161
- Start date
Beating the heat, good thread today.
This worked for us during last weekends heat warnings. First, we sailed a lot and didn't motor much. You can get a cool breeze powering into a headwind, but the engine still builds up heat onboard and below. Sailing to windward even in light breezes, cooled us well even requiring a fleece layer one evening.
But we had to turn downwind eventually. We sailed one morning in a light breeze with just the main and mizzen. The main was too much bother (on our boat) in the heat and once you start turning downwind our main becomes blanketed by the genoa (or vice-versa).
The trick was to bring the apparent wind just forward enough to sweep the deck and cockpit.
The reason we turned downwind was to get into the upper reaches of Penobscot Bay. The air temperature gets warmer as the distance to the open sea increases, but the water gets warmer.
That paid off as the swimming and wading, in water temperatures in the mid to upper 60's, were wonderful in the heat. Plus we rigged our awning before high noon and had that shade to live under.
The photo above and the one below were taken at about 7 am. The sun was already hot. It was wise to do our hiking, swimming early before it became too hot. Early morning was a pleasant time to take a good row.
One other thing, we didn't do much cooking below for the obvious heat generated. We used the grill, hanging downwind of the cockpit, more often.
We partially steamed these lobsters at home and kept them cool in the ice box. At about 7 pm one night, they were split, brushed with hot butter and fresh basil leaves, and grilled for 5 minutes on each side.
They went well with chilled local greens and a cool Rose'.
This worked for us during last weekends heat warnings. First, we sailed a lot and didn't motor much. You can get a cool breeze powering into a headwind, but the engine still builds up heat onboard and below. Sailing to windward even in light breezes, cooled us well even requiring a fleece layer one evening.
But we had to turn downwind eventually. We sailed one morning in a light breeze with just the main and mizzen. The main was too much bother (on our boat) in the heat and once you start turning downwind our main becomes blanketed by the genoa (or vice-versa).
The trick was to bring the apparent wind just forward enough to sweep the deck and cockpit.
The reason we turned downwind was to get into the upper reaches of Penobscot Bay. The air temperature gets warmer as the distance to the open sea increases, but the water gets warmer.
That paid off as the swimming and wading, in water temperatures in the mid to upper 60's, were wonderful in the heat. Plus we rigged our awning before high noon and had that shade to live under.
The photo above and the one below were taken at about 7 am. The sun was already hot. It was wise to do our hiking, swimming early before it became too hot. Early morning was a pleasant time to take a good row.
One other thing, we didn't do much cooking below for the obvious heat generated. We used the grill, hanging downwind of the cockpit, more often.
We partially steamed these lobsters at home and kept them cool in the ice box. At about 7 pm one night, they were split, brushed with hot butter and fresh basil leaves, and grilled for 5 minutes on each side.
They went well with chilled local greens and a cool Rose'.
A better way of putting it.Our course setting recently has been “maximum apparent wind”.
YUM!
You could always make a nice cold lobster salad roll, but I think some things are worth a little heat exposure. YUM!
-Will (Dragonfly)
In fact about my favorite way to eat lobster is in a cold salad or roll.
We're leaving tomorrow for 3 weeks of sailing not far from home. I'm looking forward to not going too far - sailing a lot - and anchoring in some new and old spots. Nothing more.
We'll likely be dealing with warmer than normal temperatures (as will you, Will, by the odds), according to NOAA's month out prediction.
However, they are also predicting normal rainfall. I'm happy with that.
Very good way to cool off yesterday near Two Harbors Catalina Island
