Arrived Friday night to our slip to set sail the next day the 25 nm distance from Harbor Beach to Port Sanilac. Harbor Beach is not equipped to haul our boat and Port Sanilac is the closest place that has proper facilities to haul and store Hotspur for the winter. As we arrived we were just in time to be greeted by a pretty fierce storm, but we snugged into our salon below and ate cheese and drank wine by candlelight while we listened to the weather reports for Saturday and Sunday. Gale winds were predicted overnight diminishing Saturday to moderate. Wave heights were predicted to be 2 to 3 meters diminishing to 1 to 2 meters on Saturday. Wind direction on Saturday was predicted to be WNW. Then Saturday night gale winds were predicted overnight and all day Sunday clocking around to SE. We hoped Saturday would be the window we needed to make the five hour trip in more comfortable conditions. We awoke Saturday morning to chilier temperatures, but the overcast sky was breaking up to the west. Winds were 8 to 10 knots in the marina. We debated whether, with the wind being out of the west, we would get a little bit of sheltering effect if we stayed within a mile of shore, and would get a break from the waves since the wind would be from shore. Water depth would stay a consistent 30 feet. We could see the big lumpy waves on the horizon from the gales the night before, but the waves outside of the harbor appeared to be in the 3 to 4 foot range. So we set out at 10:00 am and said goodbye to our friends that still had boats in the water in Harbor Beach. The skies turned to partly cloudy with big patches of sun and temperatures began to approach the high 50's. The wind stayed around ten knots, so, on starboard tack, with a reef in the mainsail and genoa set, we screamed to Port Sanilac on a beam to broad reach the entire 25 nautical miles -- much of the time at hull speed or just slightly under. WHAT A RIDE! And what a great way to end the season. Lesley and I had a great first year cruising, and we're already planning next year's places to visit. I'm not entirely sad having to put the boat away for the next seven months. I have way too many things to do around the house that have been neglected over the summer. And I can live vicariously through those of you fine people who live in warmer climes. Cheers.
- Status
Hi Geoff
Glad you had a great first year on your 335. It sounds like you're seriously infected with the sailing bug! Don't feel guilty about the house. Sailboat owners houses are supposed to be neglected. ;-) Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
Glad you had a great first year on your 335. It sounds like you're seriously infected with the sailing bug! Don't feel guilty about the house. Sailboat owners houses are supposed to be neglected. ;-) Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
Well said Geoff,
about your final sail and putting the boat away. Our southern friends think we are giving up too much but don't realize how much more we enjoy an outing like your last one. We had one like that yesterday, offshore breezes of 15-18 so the water was smooth but fast. We are pushing the envelope, don't come out until the 28th. We hope to get in a few more "Indian summer" outings. Then it's rake leaves, leaves, and more leaves. At least the grass should stop growing.
about your final sail and putting the boat away. Our southern friends think we are giving up too much but don't realize how much more we enjoy an outing like your last one. We had one like that yesterday, offshore breezes of 15-18 so the water was smooth but fast. We are pushing the envelope, don't come out until the 28th. We hope to get in a few more "Indian summer" outings. Then it's rake leaves, leaves, and more leaves. At least the grass should stop growing.
- Status