We had a weather window of sorts Sunday and yesterday. Needed a north to northeast wind as was forecast to move one boat each day 30 miles south to winter storage. Sunday was clear and mild and the wind had moved north. We had some leftover rollers from the southwest and new waves from the north. Made the move in about 5 hours.
Yesterday, different story. The wind was supposed to be from the east and wave less than one foot, with a 30% chance of rain in the afternoon. The mistake I made was not to bring my foul weather gear. Started out from Manistee at 0730, almost flat calm and sun coming up through scattered clouds, wind coming off the east shore as predicted.
It was still a fairly easy trip, averaging about 5.5 knots. As we came around Big Sable point, the wind began to shift from east to southeast to almost southwest, and those ominous gray clouds started to appear. Waves built up to 2 feet plus out of the southeast, smacking the bow occasionally and sending a bit of spray over the bow. Then it poured. NOAA, as usual, can’t predict Michigan weather.
(The rain quit, and sun came out just as we made the breakwater in Pentwater, and the afternoon when it was forecast to rain was clear. Overall we still averaged around 5 knots and made it in just under 6 hours. Not bad for having to emulate trawlers because the sails were off the boats.)