Good, bad, and wonderful.
I learned to sail on a jury-rigged 14'with only a mainsail on Cayuga Lake. I found the off-shore night winds to be delightful. However, it's a bugger to get to shore with the high banks giving turbulence within 100yds of shore.This year we moved our "new" '73 Oday 27 from Deale MD to Buzzard Point VA. The second day we went from a following wind the first day to an increasing wind all day and it was straight into our nose. I had the 150% Genoa out and didn't dare to get up there to take it down. We must have tacked a hundred miles, ending up just short of the Potomac River and what looked like shelter. With very heavy seas and at least a 15kt wind (I think it was more) we lost the ability to track well. It was after dark, cold spray and nasty. I dropped the sails- a very exciting event and tried to motor (9.9 outboard), but couldn't control that either. The boat was new to us, so I thought it was the wind on the sails which were down, but not stowed... After the Coast Guard pulled us in, the petty officer said "I think I see your problem.." A crab pot bouy had found it's way between the rudder and the skeg in front of it. I was dragging about a 30 pound anchor. Advice.. you can't steer in this condition. I now know to take the boat hook and sweep the water behind the motor if I lose steerage.Following this my wife was still game to go out on Labor Day weekend, leaving at sundown to sail directly into a rising full moon (the best direction to sail in the dark) toward Tangier Island. The air temperature stayed at 74 deg because the water was warm. It was terrific! We dropped anchor off the island for the balance of the night and went in during daylight.