Lake Erie had very heavy conditions on Saturday. We had to make a boat delivery and made the decision to go out. We faced moderate winds but the sea conditions were wild. Never have I experienced 10' swells. There was the comment from crew "should we head back'? We almost did, however we went a bit further and it actually became quite a bit of fun. Nothing teaches better than experience of doing. We rode a downwind course for 4 hours and there was never any thought of losing control. We put up a small headsail and rode an average of 6-7 kts. This experience, although a bit nerve racking in the beginninng makes you a better sailor. I would say that it was the highlight of the season. Any reference material about heavy sea conditions would really be helpful. One never knows when the sea may change. Regards
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Allan
Lake Erie Storms
Phil your right, Lake Erie storms will make a believer out of you in a hurry. We left port colborne last year with 3-4' nice sail sw winds by the time we got to Buffalo we were surfing 8' waves. These are not like 8' ocean waves either, shorter chop a 28' boat fits right in the wave trough between waves. Experiences and practice are what sailing is all about, know your boat and crew limits before venturing out in less than favorable conditions, getting cought in it is a different thing.
Phil your right, Lake Erie storms will make a believer out of you in a hurry. We left port colborne last year with 3-4' nice sail sw winds by the time we got to Buffalo we were surfing 8' waves. These are not like 8' ocean waves either, shorter chop a 28' boat fits right in the wave trough between waves. Experiences and practice are what sailing is all about, know your boat and crew limits before venturing out in less than favorable conditions, getting cought in it is a different thing.
square
We departed our home waters of Lake Superior, headed for a 10-year sojourn in the Bahamas etc. During the trip South, we encountered the tail-end of hurricane “Danielle”, and then the remnants of “Dennis”. The following spring (‘93), we encountered the “Storm of the Century”, at Governor’s Harbour. A not altogether auspicious inauguration to our live-aboard cruising experience. But, by far, the most uncomfortable waters were the 3-4 chop of Lake Erie. Those little ankle biters come from every which direction, and they’re “square”. My hats off to those that sail Erie - she’s a bitch. Gord
We departed our home waters of Lake Superior, headed for a 10-year sojourn in the Bahamas etc. During the trip South, we encountered the tail-end of hurricane “Danielle”, and then the remnants of “Dennis”. The following spring (‘93), we encountered the “Storm of the Century”, at Governor’s Harbour. A not altogether auspicious inauguration to our live-aboard cruising experience. But, by far, the most uncomfortable waters were the 3-4 chop of Lake Erie. Those little ankle biters come from every which direction, and they’re “square”. My hats off to those that sail Erie - she’s a bitch. Gord
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Tim McCarty
I was out there Saturday too
Funny...I commented to my wife how there wouldn't be too many days like this left in the season (meaning it was a pretty good sail). I was on the west end though, experiencing about 4-6 foot waves, with apparent wind clocking around 11-15knots. I've been sailing on Lake Erie for 10 years, and have kind of gotten used to the chop, although it can definitely be a pain sometimes, and I have been caught in situations where I simply turned the boat around and headed back in. Phil, I'm guessing that you were at the east end, and your weather was probably a bit rougher. That's the funny thing about Lake Erie...it's like the ocean, in that, on one end, it could be serene (although Sat was certainly not serene) and a great sail, while at the other end, it could be a churning nightmare.
Funny...I commented to my wife how there wouldn't be too many days like this left in the season (meaning it was a pretty good sail). I was on the west end though, experiencing about 4-6 foot waves, with apparent wind clocking around 11-15knots. I've been sailing on Lake Erie for 10 years, and have kind of gotten used to the chop, although it can definitely be a pain sometimes, and I have been caught in situations where I simply turned the boat around and headed back in. Phil, I'm guessing that you were at the east end, and your weather was probably a bit rougher. That's the funny thing about Lake Erie...it's like the ocean, in that, on one end, it could be serene (although Sat was certainly not serene) and a great sail, while at the other end, it could be a churning nightmare.
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tom habanek
We were out there too
We were out on Friday and Saturday in 6-8 footers. It might have been higher near Buffalo. In my 37'er, my buddy asked if it was OK to go out of the inner harbor. I said sure and away we went! These waves were spread out and we had a great sail. A few years ago a tall ship came into Lake E. The captain,an ocean guy with a few years under his belt as captain on this boat, was cocky thinking all he heard and read of LE was a myth. Within a few miles, he lost 50 ft. of his foremast (30" or more in dia.), his rail was buried (he said that NEVER happened on the ocean) and his sails were shredded in seconds. He became a believer.
We were out on Friday and Saturday in 6-8 footers. It might have been higher near Buffalo. In my 37'er, my buddy asked if it was OK to go out of the inner harbor. I said sure and away we went! These waves were spread out and we had a great sail. A few years ago a tall ship came into Lake E. The captain,an ocean guy with a few years under his belt as captain on this boat, was cocky thinking all he heard and read of LE was a myth. Within a few miles, he lost 50 ft. of his foremast (30" or more in dia.), his rail was buried (he said that NEVER happened on the ocean) and his sails were shredded in seconds. He became a believer.
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Steve O.
point of sail makes difference
Phil, you said you "rode downwind" for 4 hours, I can gaurantee that you would have been much more uncomfortable going into the wind and waves.
Phil, you said you "rode downwind" for 4 hours, I can gaurantee that you would have been much more uncomfortable going into the wind and waves.
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Mike Misko
Lake Erie off Cleveland
Went to the bluff at the end of our street and looked out to check conditions at about 2 PM Saturday. Looked like 3 to 4 footers, all with whitecaps. Given our boat (H23) and comfort level, we stayed in for the day. Wind turned SSW yesterday. Lake flattened out and we had a terrific Autumn sail in 10 to 15 mph breezes.
Went to the bluff at the end of our street and looked out to check conditions at about 2 PM Saturday. Looked like 3 to 4 footers, all with whitecaps. Given our boat (H23) and comfort level, we stayed in for the day. Wind turned SSW yesterday. Lake flattened out and we had a terrific Autumn sail in 10 to 15 mph breezes.
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