Sure, we all live for the days when you're screaming along at six or seven knots with the lee rail in the water and the bit between your teeth. But how slow do you go? Imagine a quiet, sunny day, with no time pressures, when you're singlehanding. There's just enough wind to fill the sails and move you along. No wakes from power boats (can you imagine that?). Your boat is totally upright and ghosting through the water at a couple of knots. The hull makes a gentle burble, the only sound other than the scree of the gulls. Is this boring or do you see it as enjoyment? Are you challenged to see how much speed you can coax out of a gentle wind? How slow do you go before you drop sails and fire up the engine? Share your ghosting stories, then vote in this week's Quick Quizuiz at the bottom of the home page. (Quiz contributed by Gary Wyngarden)
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Jerry M. Lewis
Can it be called a RACE, if it's this slow?
I race my Capri 22 on a high mountain lake, not far from Lake Tahoe (but not that high up either). We have a dozen or so boats that come out to race and 4 or 5 top contenders that are very serious. One scheduled race date (we try to have three races each date, 12 dates for the season, 36 races total) there just was no wind at all. After sitting still for an hour waiting for wind, we decided to try a race in what little puff (barely left a ripple on the water). As the start countdown began, we all stayed as close to the line as we could, knowing any movement could suddenly stop between 'puffs.' We managed to get half the fleet across the line within a minute or two, but as we inched ever so slowly, with sails just hanging, full crew weight to leeward trying to help 'fill the sails' by leaning them way over, as we inched toward the windward mark 1/2 mile 'upwind' - the Race Committee shortened the course to be "first one to the mark" and stationed there, patiently waiting, aware of the 1 1/2 hour time limit for the first boat to finish. Everyone drifted, stopped, drifted some more, caught a puff on the outer edges of the laylines, came back to the middle and no wind, coasted, stopped, started up, with very little tacking, no talking and lots of anticipation. Who would get to the mark first? And who would correct out on top (PHRF)? With just three minutes to go in the time limit, a Lido 14 crossed the 'line' between the first windward mark and the RC boat to make the race "official" - now there was a 45 minute limit for all others to finish within. I did, as did another CP22 and two Catalina 22s, a Moore 24, a Space Sailor 20, a Holder 20, but the two Catalina 25s were just too big to ever get going - despite their advantage on 'waterline.' In this case, the littlest boat won. But it was fun for all. 90 minutes to go 1/2 mile - and it was tense the whole way! Fun under the sun.
I race my Capri 22 on a high mountain lake, not far from Lake Tahoe (but not that high up either). We have a dozen or so boats that come out to race and 4 or 5 top contenders that are very serious. One scheduled race date (we try to have three races each date, 12 dates for the season, 36 races total) there just was no wind at all. After sitting still for an hour waiting for wind, we decided to try a race in what little puff (barely left a ripple on the water). As the start countdown began, we all stayed as close to the line as we could, knowing any movement could suddenly stop between 'puffs.' We managed to get half the fleet across the line within a minute or two, but as we inched ever so slowly, with sails just hanging, full crew weight to leeward trying to help 'fill the sails' by leaning them way over, as we inched toward the windward mark 1/2 mile 'upwind' - the Race Committee shortened the course to be "first one to the mark" and stationed there, patiently waiting, aware of the 1 1/2 hour time limit for the first boat to finish. Everyone drifted, stopped, drifted some more, caught a puff on the outer edges of the laylines, came back to the middle and no wind, coasted, stopped, started up, with very little tacking, no talking and lots of anticipation. Who would get to the mark first? And who would correct out on top (PHRF)? With just three minutes to go in the time limit, a Lido 14 crossed the 'line' between the first windward mark and the RC boat to make the race "official" - now there was a 45 minute limit for all others to finish within. I did, as did another CP22 and two Catalina 22s, a Moore 24, a Space Sailor 20, a Holder 20, but the two Catalina 25s were just too big to ever get going - despite their advantage on 'waterline.' In this case, the littlest boat won. But it was fun for all. 90 minutes to go 1/2 mile - and it was tense the whole way! Fun under the sun.
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Ken Palmer
Cruising and the dreaded black fly.
We love to cruise from one port to another here on Lake Ontario. If the going gets too slow (less than 3 knots), it seems like every bug on the lake is looking to bite you. The black fly must be the worst there is, attacking your ankles and taking chunks out of them. This is a great time to improve your fly swatting skills; or you can start the iron genny and get going, hopefully leaving the critters behind. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
We love to cruise from one port to another here on Lake Ontario. If the going gets too slow (less than 3 knots), it seems like every bug on the lake is looking to bite you. The black fly must be the worst there is, attacking your ankles and taking chunks out of them. This is a great time to improve your fly swatting skills; or you can start the iron genny and get going, hopefully leaving the critters behind. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
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Cam W
Ghosting Along
Back in the days of my Rhodes 22, I could get a couple of knotts out of a whistle. It would ghost along on the slightest breeze. With stronger winds, larger boats would pass me in the foam (no dust here!). However, whatever sailing speed, I enjoy the sails and can forgo the engine. Only if I am in a hurry to get in would I start the engine. When I was bringing my boat home from southern Maryland, I did motor most of the way from Gaylesville to the Patapsco because the wind was right on our nost and tacking might have taken a couple of days. As it was, we got in about dusk sunday night. I have sat in the water with no wind and finally I was forced to start the engine. camw s/v C36 - Wolf's Den
Back in the days of my Rhodes 22, I could get a couple of knotts out of a whistle. It would ghost along on the slightest breeze. With stronger winds, larger boats would pass me in the foam (no dust here!). However, whatever sailing speed, I enjoy the sails and can forgo the engine. Only if I am in a hurry to get in would I start the engine. When I was bringing my boat home from southern Maryland, I did motor most of the way from Gaylesville to the Patapsco because the wind was right on our nost and tacking might have taken a couple of days. As it was, we got in about dusk sunday night. I have sat in the water with no wind and finally I was forced to start the engine. camw s/v C36 - Wolf's Den
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Garry
Ghosting of Eleuthera
Rosebud's engine had been getting cranky and finally would not start. We ha holed up for a storm and now I wanted to get to Eleuthera to find a mechanic. The wind was a gentle breath and the sea was flat calm. Not a ripple. The kotmeter register one knot. The calm sea allowed the full main and light genoa to remain perfectly filled. I launched the dinghy and let Rosebud sail herself while I rowed all around and took some pictures. She was beautiful.
Rosebud's engine had been getting cranky and finally would not start. We ha holed up for a storm and now I wanted to get to Eleuthera to find a mechanic. The wind was a gentle breath and the sea was flat calm. Not a ripple. The kotmeter register one knot. The calm sea allowed the full main and light genoa to remain perfectly filled. I launched the dinghy and let Rosebud sail herself while I rowed all around and took some pictures. She was beautiful.
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Doug T.
Backwards
We'd much prefer to drift at the whim of the currents and tides. Engine only gets fired up when near the slip or if it's really getting late....
We'd much prefer to drift at the whim of the currents and tides. Engine only gets fired up when near the slip or if it's really getting late....
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Sean Davern
My girl liked it slow
One of my fondest sailing memories is of an evening early in my wife and I's dating days. Besides being my new girlfriend, my wife was also new to sailing. Never having learned to swim, the water can be scary. The big boat and a brawny, wooing boy somehow made it very comfortable. But I diverge... It was late in the year when the Saginaw Bay gets these light but very consistent WSW breezes. We met up after work. I had sushi and wine. We motored down the river to the Bay and had enough time to get the sails set before enjoying a beautiful sunset. There was just enough wind to fill the big Genoa and hold it out to starboard on our nearly N course from the mouth of the river. With calm water and the autopilot at the helm, we laid on the deck with our pillows and wine glasses and fed each other dinner. As night fell the air naturally encouraged a need to snuggle under a blanket. We probably made 2 knots at best. This last august we tied a knot of our own.
One of my fondest sailing memories is of an evening early in my wife and I's dating days. Besides being my new girlfriend, my wife was also new to sailing. Never having learned to swim, the water can be scary. The big boat and a brawny, wooing boy somehow made it very comfortable. But I diverge... It was late in the year when the Saginaw Bay gets these light but very consistent WSW breezes. We met up after work. I had sushi and wine. We motored down the river to the Bay and had enough time to get the sails set before enjoying a beautiful sunset. There was just enough wind to fill the big Genoa and hold it out to starboard on our nearly N course from the mouth of the river. With calm water and the autopilot at the helm, we laid on the deck with our pillows and wine glasses and fed each other dinner. As night fell the air naturally encouraged a need to snuggle under a blanket. We probably made 2 knots at best. This last august we tied a knot of our own.
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Frank Coleman
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Jenny Poniske
Not quite sailing the Chesapeake
If I really had to GO somewhere, I wouldn't be sailing. The joy is in being on the water and not being bombarded with the noise of enigines. On those dog days of August, when the winds of Chesapeake are all but non-existent, just ghosting along watching birds or sealife is a balm to the soul. P.S. I will fire up the engine to cross the shipping lane quickly and avoid being run down by behemouths...
If I really had to GO somewhere, I wouldn't be sailing. The joy is in being on the water and not being bombarded with the noise of enigines. On those dog days of August, when the winds of Chesapeake are all but non-existent, just ghosting along watching birds or sealife is a balm to the soul. P.S. I will fire up the engine to cross the shipping lane quickly and avoid being run down by behemouths...
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Patrick
Great on a hazy evening
We purchased our first boat, a Catalina 27 (and the first "big" boat I'd sailed), late last June. The first few times we took it out just to get used to how it handled under power (and to figure out how to get in and out of the slip!). The first day we ever raised a sail was a quiet evening about 7 p.m. in July. It was a typically hazy, almost still evening on the York River about 8 miles up from the Cheaspeake Bay. The genoa just barely filled as I stopped the engine for the first time we weren't moored to the dock. With few others out there to spoil the silence we got to hear the first, faint chuckle of water under the transom as we experienced our first moments under sail. To us it was a magical time.
We purchased our first boat, a Catalina 27 (and the first "big" boat I'd sailed), late last June. The first few times we took it out just to get used to how it handled under power (and to figure out how to get in and out of the slip!). The first day we ever raised a sail was a quiet evening about 7 p.m. in July. It was a typically hazy, almost still evening on the York River about 8 miles up from the Cheaspeake Bay. The genoa just barely filled as I stopped the engine for the first time we weren't moored to the dock. With few others out there to spoil the silence we got to hear the first, faint chuckle of water under the transom as we experienced our first moments under sail. To us it was a magical time.
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Dana Smith
Are we moving?
Several years ago my partner and I entered the Double Hand Race from Muskegon to Port Washington Wi.(just north of Milwaukee) A distance of roughly 70 miles. Absolutly no wind, by 2:30 it was hot and the flies were horrible, the RC authorized a swim call as long as noboby would beter their position by kicking behind the boat. Not a chance of that as if anything moved, it would be spotted. 18 hours into the race (pitch black night) I would drop a small piece of tissue in the water to see if we were moving, slowly slowly it would disaprar behind us but movement could not be felt. The Loran was pegged @ 999 hours to destination, 0 VMG. We finally arived the next day at like 11:30 AM local CT. We could hardly believe we placed, after all, 28 hours to go 70 miles. The return trip was quite the opposit, more wind than we would request and 10 to 12 foot waves screaming from the north. That is Lake Michigan sailing, chickens or feathers!
Several years ago my partner and I entered the Double Hand Race from Muskegon to Port Washington Wi.(just north of Milwaukee) A distance of roughly 70 miles. Absolutly no wind, by 2:30 it was hot and the flies were horrible, the RC authorized a swim call as long as noboby would beter their position by kicking behind the boat. Not a chance of that as if anything moved, it would be spotted. 18 hours into the race (pitch black night) I would drop a small piece of tissue in the water to see if we were moving, slowly slowly it would disaprar behind us but movement could not be felt. The Loran was pegged @ 999 hours to destination, 0 VMG. We finally arived the next day at like 11:30 AM local CT. We could hardly believe we placed, after all, 28 hours to go 70 miles. The return trip was quite the opposit, more wind than we would request and 10 to 12 foot waves screaming from the north. That is Lake Michigan sailing, chickens or feathers!
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John Kester
storms
I had a hobie that only did good on stormy days when the wind was blowing at around 15 to 20 mph thats when the hull would come up and it got fun..
I had a hobie that only did good on stormy days when the wind was blowing at around 15 to 20 mph thats when the hull would come up and it got fun..
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Lewie
Night Ghosting
The most peaceful sailing experience is ghosting along the lake under a full moon. There is no desire to get anywhere quickly, just to glide past the homes along the shore and here the muted voices and home sounds drifting across the water.
The most peaceful sailing experience is ghosting along the lake under a full moon. There is no desire to get anywhere quickly, just to glide past the homes along the shore and here the muted voices and home sounds drifting across the water.
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Frank Sears
It's nice just to be out there...
Yes, I love to have a 20 degree heel racing along... Feels great. Yesterday, we were out with no wind for a couple hours. We talked, I played with my reefing lines, drank a lot of wine, walked around with no one at the helm... looked up once and we had turned completely around... made no difference... eventually the wind came to us and we sailed. A nice day.
Yes, I love to have a 20 degree heel racing along... Feels great. Yesterday, we were out with no wind for a couple hours. We talked, I played with my reefing lines, drank a lot of wine, walked around with no one at the helm... looked up once and we had turned completely around... made no difference... eventually the wind came to us and we sailed. A nice day.
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Tom
Ghosted into the slip. It took a little while but
it was a nice afternoon and we weren't in a hurry. We wanted to see if we could sail all the way in. We weren't in a hurry and it was really nice. The wind really started to die as we approached the marina but we kept going. We had to zig-zag our way thru the dock. Near the end to keep the head sail from colapsing I had to have my girlfreind stand on the side of the boat and hold the sail out (No whisker pole).....It was fun. Near the slip we were going less than a knot but I refused to turn on the engine this one time.
it was a nice afternoon and we weren't in a hurry. We wanted to see if we could sail all the way in. We weren't in a hurry and it was really nice. The wind really started to die as we approached the marina but we kept going. We had to zig-zag our way thru the dock. Near the end to keep the head sail from colapsing I had to have my girlfreind stand on the side of the boat and hold the sail out (No whisker pole).....It was fun. Near the slip we were going less than a knot but I refused to turn on the engine this one time.
Quality Time
I love the warm days, the wind in my face, the sounds of sails and the boat cutting through the water. I find it interesting that on those windlss ghost days my mind works exactly the same. For me, I love the challenges of a hard blow or even a windless day. It's called sailing! Enjoy it and learn from it, for it is overcoming the challenges that sailing offers us that makes us "sailors". Have you noticed that "fair weather sailors" have no longevity.
I love the warm days, the wind in my face, the sounds of sails and the boat cutting through the water. I find it interesting that on those windlss ghost days my mind works exactly the same. For me, I love the challenges of a hard blow or even a windless day. It's called sailing! Enjoy it and learn from it, for it is overcoming the challenges that sailing offers us that makes us "sailors". Have you noticed that "fair weather sailors" have no longevity.
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Beth W
It depends...
It really depends... most days, we're just happy to be out there - floating along with good company in nice weather... and I do love the challenge of squeezing out another half-knot from each little puff. The Cheasapeake in August can get pretty nasty, though - so when it's incredibly hot and we haven't moved in a long time, we'll fire up the engine to get a little relief and make our own breeze.
It really depends... most days, we're just happy to be out there - floating along with good company in nice weather... and I do love the challenge of squeezing out another half-knot from each little puff. The Cheasapeake in August can get pretty nasty, though - so when it's incredibly hot and we haven't moved in a long time, we'll fire up the engine to get a little relief and make our own breeze.
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Paul Lange
Butterfly Sanctuary
I remember trying to sail one afternoon at about 2:00pm on Grapevine Lake just north of DFW airport. What little winds were there had completely died off, and the lake was like a bathtub. There were no boats, no waves, and just an occaisional ripple. I had every bit of canvas up just waiting for anything, moving only by sculling with my tiller. Then all of the sudden...one by one, two's, ten's, fifities, I could not keep up with all the butterflies taking over my rigging and landing on me as well, everything was covered with moving wings. As the butterfly cloud moved around and over me with a constant exchange of landings and takeoffs I felt as if I was a floating Sanctuary. It only lasted about ten minutes or so but, it was one of the strangest and prettiest days I have ever sailed.
I remember trying to sail one afternoon at about 2:00pm on Grapevine Lake just north of DFW airport. What little winds were there had completely died off, and the lake was like a bathtub. There were no boats, no waves, and just an occaisional ripple. I had every bit of canvas up just waiting for anything, moving only by sculling with my tiller. Then all of the sudden...one by one, two's, ten's, fifities, I could not keep up with all the butterflies taking over my rigging and landing on me as well, everything was covered with moving wings. As the butterfly cloud moved around and over me with a constant exchange of landings and takeoffs I felt as if I was a floating Sanctuary. It only lasted about ten minutes or so but, it was one of the strangest and prettiest days I have ever sailed.
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jenna
Ghosting on Lake Hartwell
We ghost along until the boat begins to bob in the water like a cork and the sails flap noisily. So basically, we just keep drifting until it's too noisy or it becomes unbearably hot even under the bimini. Then we fire up the iron-sail. Until then we hold the sails out ourselves and try all kinds of tricks to eek out the last bit of wind. We sail a 23' Hunter.
We ghost along until the boat begins to bob in the water like a cork and the sails flap noisily. So basically, we just keep drifting until it's too noisy or it becomes unbearably hot even under the bimini. Then we fire up the iron-sail. Until then we hold the sails out ourselves and try all kinds of tricks to eek out the last bit of wind. We sail a 23' Hunter.
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Chris
REAL slow
A couple of times I've sailed with practically no wind at all. Sails wouldn't fill and you couldn't feel even the slightest wind to tell which direction it was coming from. The boat took a couple of hours to go about half a mile. Basically I enjoyed the peace and quiet. It was as if I was anchored, but I still got to steer the boat. (BTW, that was on Lake Houston in the winter, very few boats, beautiful sunny day with no clouds) Chris S/V Doghouse
A couple of times I've sailed with practically no wind at all. Sails wouldn't fill and you couldn't feel even the slightest wind to tell which direction it was coming from. The boat took a couple of hours to go about half a mile. Basically I enjoyed the peace and quiet. It was as if I was anchored, but I still got to steer the boat. (BTW, that was on Lake Houston in the winter, very few boats, beautiful sunny day with no clouds) Chris S/V Doghouse
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