The weather has been really really bad here (SE Michigan) since October started. I responded to a question about the length of the sailing season on a 170 by saying probably memorial day to labor day is about what you can expect. The sub-normal temps probably clouded my answer. the weather has rebounded though, and I went sailing two days ago and it was GREAT! The water was freezing, so I would not have gone out in a hobie, but it was perfect on my 170. Now that I think of it there are rare years when it would be pleasant sailing into early November. There were only two other boats on the lake, and one of them was another 170. john