I have been night sailing a few times in the Gulf of Mexico sailing between Pensacola and Panama City and it was a mixed deal. The wind died most nights and we had to motor. One night we had patchy fog and a ship comong out of the fog is scarey. But last night for the first time we went for a night sail in our lake. We sailed to the far end of the lake about 10 miles during the day and just before dark headed back towards the marina. Just after a great sunset we had a full moon rise behind us. The wind was a little light but pretty steady and it was very cool and pleasant. We had a couple of barges pass during the day but only pleasure boats at night. Night sailing is now going to be part of our sailing adventures!!!! Anyone have any warnings about night sailing???? Of course I realize sailing on a clear warm night with a full moon is probably perfect conditons.
Night Sail!!!!
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Moonsailer
I too love night sailing, particularly offshore. In your area it's really nice and clean out there. A few rigs around the entrance to Mobile bay, but east of there it is clear water. Very little ship traffic, no oil rigs, usually pretty calm water. Go out and enjoy.
I too love night sailing, particularly offshore. In your area it's really nice and clean out there. A few rigs around the entrance to Mobile bay, but east of there it is clear water. Very little ship traffic, no oil rigs, usually pretty calm water. Go out and enjoy.
be careful with the spot lights and DON'T
shine them directly onto an oncoming boat sweep the water in front and the air above but don't blind him. There are a few 4th of July power boaters in our bend of the river that can't find their way home after dark and at even a 1000 yards those damn lights are blinding.
shine them directly onto an oncoming boat sweep the water in front and the air above but don't blind him. There are a few 4th of July power boaters in our bend of the river that can't find their way home after dark and at even a 1000 yards those damn lights are blinding.
last Night was great!
The full moon rose minutes after the sun set Saturday night.
I sailed solo until midnight in perfect conditions.
One thing I noticed, was that not all nav lights are easily visible. It may have been the bright moonlight that made some lights hard to see; but some sailboat lights were not even noticable until they were a quarter mile away or closer. It would be easy to miss those dim lights in a mist or fog.
It also helps to have a wind indicator that is visible(the nav lights illuminate mine), without ruining your night vision.
The full moon rose minutes after the sun set Saturday night.
I sailed solo until midnight in perfect conditions.
One thing I noticed, was that not all nav lights are easily visible. It may have been the bright moonlight that made some lights hard to see; but some sailboat lights were not even noticable until they were a quarter mile away or closer. It would be easy to miss those dim lights in a mist or fog.
It also helps to have a wind indicator that is visible(the nav lights illuminate mine), without ruining your night vision.
Barge Traffic!!!!
This weekend during a night sail we had a barge shine it's intense lights on us for a long time. I was completely blinded. My wife got on the VHf and asked if we were in their way. He replied "not now". Wow that barge had bright lights!!!!
We thought we saw a barge but were not sure as the barge had few lights and the dam and bridge were brightly lit. I decided to sail south just in case and was most of the way acroos the lake when the barge shinned it's lights. It is strange that barges have so few lights and they are dim.
OTOH it was a great night with some good wind and a sky full of stars. We sailed until about 10 pm and then went in for the night.
BEWARE sailing at night the barges can be very hard to see!!!!!
This weekend during a night sail we had a barge shine it's intense lights on us for a long time. I was completely blinded. My wife got on the VHf and asked if we were in their way. He replied "not now". Wow that barge had bright lights!!!!
We thought we saw a barge but were not sure as the barge had few lights and the dam and bridge were brightly lit. I decided to sail south just in case and was most of the way acroos the lake when the barge shinned it's lights. It is strange that barges have so few lights and they are dim.
OTOH it was a great night with some good wind and a sky full of stars. We sailed until about 10 pm and then went in for the night.
BEWARE sailing at night the barges can be very hard to see!!!!!
Pen Light
We spent our vacations on Lake George for three years and night sailing was the highlight of the trips for me. As others have said the red lights in the cabin work great. When I heard another boat comming I had a small flashlight (white) that I would just flash upward to my own sails a few times to make me very visable to the approcing boat. It also made it very clear we were under sail.
We spent our vacations on Lake George for three years and night sailing was the highlight of the trips for me. As others have said the red lights in the cabin work great. When I heard another boat comming I had a small flashlight (white) that I would just flash upward to my own sails a few times to make me very visable to the approcing boat. It also made it very clear we were under sail.
Headlamp
I like to have a LED headlamp handy, especially when I'm a bit short handed at nite. I use a red lens, or you can cover the light with red film purchased from a craft store.
I like to have a LED headlamp handy, especially when I'm a bit short handed at nite. I use a red lens, or you can cover the light with red film purchased from a craft store.
night etiquite
If a vessel approaches, it's:
bad manners to shine a light at them, and
good manners to shine a light on your sails.
Best thing about night sailing: watching the phosphorescent trails of a pair of dolphins playing in your bow wave on a moonless night.
Worth thing about night sailing: when your miles and miles from land, and the deep scattering layer (DSL) comes up to near the surface, and your depth gauge suddenly indicates that you're about to go aground. (First time this happened to me I jibed, hove to, and then had to explain to all the guys off watch, who were suddenly on deck in their skivvies, why I was worried about going aground 30 nautical miles offshore.)
If a vessel approaches, it's:
bad manners to shine a light at them, and
good manners to shine a light on your sails.
Best thing about night sailing: watching the phosphorescent trails of a pair of dolphins playing in your bow wave on a moonless night.
Worth thing about night sailing: when your miles and miles from land, and the deep scattering layer (DSL) comes up to near the surface, and your depth gauge suddenly indicates that you're about to go aground. (First time this happened to me I jibed, hove to, and then had to explain to all the guys off watch, who were suddenly on deck in their skivvies, why I was worried about going aground 30 nautical miles offshore.)
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