In how much wind have you sailed?

[ggrizzard]

After reading the following in an early forum thread, I thought we could do with an update.

(Quiz originally contributed by Gary Wyngarden)

What's the strongest wind you've sailed in? Did you go out on purpose in this wind or get caught in an unexpected blow? Where were you at the time? What kind of sail configuration did you use? Did you continue with your sailing plans or head for the nearest harbor? When it was all over, was your reaction 'never again' or 'yee-hah'?
Share your wind stories (with us).

 

[Ross]

Honestly , probably 15-20 and we did go out deliberately. We sailed to the weather tacking down the channel. Wanted to see how much sail we could carry in that wind. Had a full main and a small working jib.
Nancy won't go out in those conditions and I won't ask her to.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Hrm....sailed in....maybe 20-25 (that was not fun) but I have been out in 40 knots or better. It is not a good situation to be caught between Smith Point and Point Lookout with a sustained Gale blowing out of the North West when you are trying to head into the Potomac River.

 

[Steve Dion]

July 4th weekend, sailing out of Pittsburg, CA we had 30-35 kts on a run to a broad reach with full main. It was a hand full to handle but she did well. It helped by being able to let the main out 90 deg. We were hitting 10-11 kts on the GPS.

 

[Paul356]

30-35 mph. Went out on purpose, felt we had to move in order to line up our crossing Lake Michigan back home. Plus we were bored stiff sitting there waiting for the weather to clear. Pretty much dead downwind, 45 mi in 5 hours flat, no lie. "It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be." The boat did really well, and took care of the crew pretty nicely, too. It's a pretty fine boat.

 

[David in Sandusky]

35 knots

The forecast and conditions looked like SW at 25 knots, with gusts to 30 when we left Sandusky Harbor Marina for Kellys Island. We thought we could handle those winds with the first reef in our main on a broad reach on port, then starboard until we were sheltered behind Kellys Island.

When we got out into the channel heading east, the wind piped up to 30, then 35 knots. Our plan might have worked, but our friends had their 150 genny up rolled in to about 130. When the big winds hit, they broached, and decided it was time to return to port. We followed them back, sailing on a double reefed main alone. We hove to to set the second reef, and it worked OK, remembering that we were still sheltered by a windward shore. I did lose my prescription sunglasses overboard setting the second reef. With our harnesses and tethers on jack lines or the strong point in the cockpit, we felt secure through the blow - that is a lot of wind though.

We did experience 50 knot winds while a anchor in the bay this summer when a front blew through just after we went to bed. With our 22 pound Bruce anchor on a scope of 7, we were fine. Our canvas cover over the boom did hold up until we could get it down, and there was a pretty good chop going, even with the short fetch in the bay.

 

[LuzSD]

30-35 mph. Went out on purpose, felt we had to move in order to line up our crossing Lake Michigan back home. Plus we were bored stiff sitting there waiting for the weather to clear. Pretty much dead downwind, 45 mi in 5 hours flat, no lie. "It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be." The boat did really well, and took care of the crew pretty nicely, too. It's a pretty fine boat.

Paul, since you mentioned what a nice boat it was TWICE, at least tell us What size and kind it is ! It really helps to get the visual! thanks

 

[LooseDiamond]

The wife and I headed out for an overnight at Cat Island. It was blowing 15-20kts on the way out. Same all night, and next morning. After 2 days, things were picking up! Storms predicted that pm, so we knew we had to go, or stay. Motoring out of the cove in my 22 footer and 4.5 merc was iffy. Making 1-2 1/2 kts depending on if the prop was in the water or not. Motoring into wind/ waves I wondered what would happen if I turned her abeam to it. Wife asked what I had planned and I said didn't know! It was maybe her second overnight. She managed to keep her into the wind and I raised the jib. Immediately the boat stabilized and I realized this was very doable. Sailed on that tack until almost DDW to harbor. We flew back to harbor, with waves coming under the boat and surfing. The wife was looking aft, saying the waves were above the stern rail. I was looking forward and watching them come under the boat and away. Awesome. I had plenty of time to contemplate the age of my sail, rigging, etc.! Wind had increased during the 2-3hr trip, and at some point I realized that if I could not keep the prop in the water at cove, I surely could not just head upwind, drop sails, and motor in like Sunday driving. I had entered harbor/slip under sail once before, in benign conditions (5-7kts). Oh well, better chance of survival inside the breakwater than out. I sailed it like I had stolen it, navigated the channel and breakwater, then tacked toward my slip. I intended to round up, drop the jib, and enter slip. I mis-calculated and did not round up enough. The sail filled and we shot down the slips, 5 ft from all those boats! Nothing but concrete awaited me at the end of the pier. Managed to round up and get sail down/ into slip with no damage to myself, boat, or others. The wife had not been enough, and I had not instructed her on lowering sail. This would have helped. I was busy at helm. Looked back at data, and it was blowing 25-28kts with higher gusts as I approached harbor. Maybe 5-6 footers. In a larger boat, or even one with an inboard, it would not have been that big of a deal. With a 22 footer, swing keel, and cavitating outboard, it was a bigger deal. All's well that ends well. And the wife went back. All good. Living and learning in MS!

 

[faithdillard]

30+ kts, small craft advisories... fun!

I once said I would never go out on a day with small craft advisories again. Then I spent a week on a J37 with a JWorld Instructor. Our first day out with a double reefed main we had pretty good surf with about 30 knot winds. Heavy weather sailing with a fantastic instructor was worth every penny spent.
Since then, we have repowered our boat with a new diesel and done some refitting. Multiple days out in good winds have only revealed one unremedied problem - I need to re-seal my forward hatch. It drips onto my mattress topper!
As long as I feel my boat is seaworthy (and I have all the spare parts I need onboard) and a capable crew, I love to have somewhere to go when the wind is howling. The only downside is that it can be tiring, and when you're tired, hungry (and really cold, as in our last windy day out), it is really hard to find time to get food and drink in.
I've attached a photo of our O'Day 27 with rails almost in the water. This was 11.6.10 near Point Lookout as we approached the Chesapeake. Winds were from the North at 20-25 knots and we had full main and our 160 Genoa out, I think our max speed was about 7.6 kts under sail. Of course, the fun ended when we had to head north and needed to be docked at Solomons before sunset. The second photo is us beating into four foot seas motoring north. Ugh. (the seas were large enough and it was so windy it was almost impossible to reef the main while underway... something I'm very particular about!)
faith

 

[higgs]

At anchor: Over 100 in the North Channel

Rode out 60 w/bare poles on Lake Michigan

Sailed with a double reef with gusts to 48 - offshore breeze so waves were minimal.

 

[njsail]

Had a blast sailing in 30-35kt's under a tight reefed main. It was the first year we owned this boat so we went out intentionally to see how it handled the wind. It was exciting and I was very pleased with the boats performance. Waves were minimal since we were in the lee of a shoreline. I also did an experiment with bare poles. The boat held a course nicely under bare poles and autopilot. So many other things I wanted to try but we were having too much fun just sailing. ...Next time. It's only the first season with this boat and hopefully we'll have many more.

 

[dscribner]

20 knots w/ gusts to 30. We did it on purpose. Lost a winch and all my mainsail mast slugs that day. Shoulda reefed, huh? I was . . . tense but having fun. Two kayakers lost their live that day, a couple of miles away. The water was about 45 degrees. Nuff, said?

I enjoy 10-15 knots. I can reach hull speed pretty easy at that. Actually exceeded it a couple of times. Dumb luck.

 

[tommays]

I did a distance race in the mid 80s with pretty steady 50s knot winds and it was the worst time i ever had between my own misery and my family worring

The last time was the 2009 Around Long Island race
It was a funny day started out dead CALM at 5 Am motoring out of Northport and through NYC to the ocean start and the wind just did a steady build to about 50 knots
We started the race and sailed for less than and hour as the VMG to Montalk was about 2 knots and nobody was having fun

Most of the time and 80% or strom jib and a main with DEEP DEEP reefs

 

[Tim R.]

30-35 staysail and double reefed main making 6+ knots in our new home about 6 weeks ago. She sailed like a dream with minimal heel. I cannot wait for spring as those are some of the best winds in Maine. Typically NW 20-30.

Since then we have had 50-60 at the dock. Thank God for cross ties.

 

[Buck420]

Here's mine ... and 'never again'

http://archives.sailboatowners.com/pviewarch.htm?fno=0&sku=2003119070302.56&browse=T&g=[g]&ptl=So%2C%20Hunters%20Are%20Unseaworthy%2C%20%20Huh......

 

[rgranger]

Hurrican Hannah

In 2008 the remains of Hurricane Hannah passed over Smith Mountain Lake at noon. We hit the water at 2:00. Sustained winds at noon were 50 mph. I'm guessing we were still in the 40s. At the time I owned a Coronado 25. Much heavier than my current boat. We put two reefs in the main and put up our storm jib. As we rounded a point and reached into a long fetch the port jib sheet parted. BANG! It sounded like a shot gun. My helmsman was quick and brought her about fast so I could cinch up the jib using the starboard sheet. I went below to retrieve some line to repair the port sheet and BANG! The starboard sheet parted. The helmsman put her on a run with the main pulled in tight while I lowered the jib. It took me about 15 minutes to replace the jib sheets and then we plowed on. It was a very exciting day. I guess you would call that a yee-haw moment.

This past Friday I went out (same place) in my Macgregor V2-22. Similar sail configuration (two reefs in the main and my 75% jib). We had sustained winds at 15 mph and gusts up to 28 and we felt safe but gust to 28 is about all this boat can handle. I also had 5 teenagers with me for ballast so with less crew it might be harder to control the Mac with those winds. The Coronado is a much heavier boat and you notice in heavy air. I have a 30% jib I could also fly on the Mac so I'm guessing the Mac could handle sustained 30s with the smaller head sail. I have also run before a thunderstorm in the Albemarle once with just the 30% jib. Not sure what the winds were but the rain was stinging our faces. That was not a yee-haw moment.:naughty:

 

[wflowe2]

Re: Hurrican Hannah

Recently sailed as part of a crew from Newport to Bermuda. Winds from 25 to 55 kt for six straight days. Measured waves up to 40' with gps. I didn't enjoy it and won't put myself in that situation again.

 

[Freedom77]

August 1977. Wife seven months pregnant. Left for Santa Cruz Island, 25 miles from Santa Barbara, mid day. Best friend Dale as crew. Mid channel winds picked up to 30+.Stowed wife safely below. Double reefed main and put up storm jib. The mast of my boat sits 28 ft off the deck. My buddy had the same boat as mine. When we went down into a trough we couldn't see top of his mast. Waves broke over the cabin top. Tanker past us mid channel and waves were breaking over the bow. Just another nice day at sea. Got safely into Frys Harbor. Water flat as a pancake. Fair Winds and Full Sails...

 

[dparilla]

25G30 on the Chesapeake, 20-25 on Narragansett. Boat performed well, had a blast, really learned how to dock the thing in those conditions. Rode out a 65KT blow on the Potomac earlier this year...15 degrees of heel, tied to the dock! Glad I was stationary for that one.

 

[Paul356]

Paul, since you mentioned what a nice boat it was TWICE, at least tell us What size and kind it is ! It really helps to get the visual! thanks

It's a Hunter 356, 2003 model. The 36 is the upgraded replacement. It's been a great boat for us.