Night sailing

[kpgraci]

I went out for my first on-purpose night sail last Sunday. I'd been out after dark several times in the past, but always the result of poor planning. We left the dock about an hour before sunset with a very nice 10kt breeze. We were several miles out when the sun set, then about an hour later we had a full moon rise. Visibility even before moon rise was remarkable good due to the nearby city lights.

I had heard that at night you get the impression that you are moving faster on the water than you would during the day, and it did indeed look like we were flying along at a blazing pace. I'm usually pretty good at estimating our speed based on how fast the bubbles glide past the stern, but in the glow of the stern light those bubbles were racing by. We did average a modest 4.2 kts over the 20 mile trip.

The buddy I took along had sailed with me on two other days sails and he said he thought night sailing was 10 times better than day sailing.

I tend to agree.

 

[navigator97]

I have always loved night sailing and have gone out overnight a number of times with other guy friends. No if I could only get the Admiral to want to do night sailing. There is nothing better.

 

[MrUnix]

The buddy I took along had sailed with me on two other days sails and he said he thought night sailing was 10 times better than day sailing.

I tend to agree.

Absolutely! Most of my more memorable trips have been night sailing. Apparently, lots of people feel the same way. Many times I would only see a handful of sailboats during the day, but as soon as the sun went down, I would see dozens of others out sailing. Not only is it beautiful to see the moon dancing off the wave crests, but it also adds an extra bit of excitement due to the reduced visibility injecting that little bit of the unknown.

My absolute favorite moment was cruising under the Card Sound Bridge down in the keys at around 2am.. seeing that giant bridge all lit up in contrast to my tiny little sailboat really made an impression that I will never forget. I had sailed under that bridge many times before in the daytime, but at night it just seemed so much more impressive.

Cheers,
Brad

 

[redhead78]

For me the really nice part of a planned nite sail is the quiiet water. What I mean is usually the breeze drops off by me in Raritan, around 6-PM, then water gets really still and maybe a 5 or 6 knot breeze fills in on glass like water, its very calming.Visibility is usually never a problem, remembering this is a planned sail in my cruising backyard..I also had horror stories, like nite sailing say in the delaware bay....yikes Red

 

[gpd955]

I also had horror stories, like nite sailing say in the delaware bay....

Yeah! I can tell you a few. When I delivered my C310 I had one of the best sails ever in the Bay though.

I love the fact that most power boats don't go out at night and it's usually sailors and serious fishermen. My son (8 years old) loves the night sky and learning about the stars so he is looking forward to finally going out at night this season. We have a lot of light pollution (AC's casinos) but once we head north off of LBI, it's absolutely beautiful.

 

[higgs]

i really used to love night sailing. Unfortunately, moving into my 60s my night vision has gone to hell and it is no longer fun for me.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Night sailing is fun, right?

A caution: city lights can be your enemy. Think about the background lights messing up your ability to see nav aids. We have lots of backlights here, and even though I know this place like the back of my hand, it's disconcerting when background lights mess up the view.

Be careful, but continue to enjoy. Don't get cocky.

 

[rpwillia]

Light Clutter on the Shore

Sadly, off of Quantico they have had some much building there is a lot of light on the shore. A few years back we were heading North in early November after a long day coming up the river and I did not see a barge with all of his lights until I saw him sweep his searchlight across in front of him. Thankfully we were quite a bit away and he was the only other boat on the river. With all of his lights we never saw him with all the lights on the shore (note there is an airfield there as well with a few red and green lights to boot). But it is pretty nice to be sailing at night, just watch out for the logs floating in the river.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

I like it, But in the back of my mind I think about floating logs and containers.

 

[sinnettc]

Seems like there's always one or two boats out with no lights on our lake. I like night sailing but if the moon isn't bright it can be a bit unnerving.

 

[MLampner]

Love night sailing when there is a moon. On the Chesapeake on those nights without a full moon crab pots become nearly invisible and if the wind drops much of its charm is lost craning into the dark to avoid snagging a pot with a spinning prop.

 

[Dan Hill]

Night sailing is something I look forward too every season. I only sail under a full moon and light winds for safety which are a rare combination on Cayuga Lake in NY. I always keep a flashlight handy to light up the mainsail if I hear a powerboat getting close. Night sailing is the most peaceful times I can remember at the helm. Once while tacking near a power boat that was drifting, having a meal I think, they were talking and laughing quite loud until someone hollered "oh my god it's a sailboat". After the tack they were dead quiet so I calmly said "good evening" as I ghosted by and they resumed their party

 

[gpdno]

I love night sailing. Watching the sun set over the gulf. Dolphins playing in the bow wake. Stars lots and lots of stars. It always amazes me how many stars you see when you get out of site of the city glow.

 

[kloudie1]

Love it.. A couple of memorable ones was motoring past St Louis Cathederal in the French Quarter of New Orleans at 2 AM.. quite a sight.. Lots of traffic to keep things interesting.. another was helping a friend get a boat out of Biloxi in front of Hurricane Andrew.. perfect sailing that night as we came through the Rigolets under sail.. Here on the North Shore of the Pontchartrain, the crab traps are pretty thick and ya really have to be vigilant.. but you are right, Ken.. Mighty fine to see the water slipping by and the stars ..

 

[alexco38]

NIGHT racing - try that

We do 2 night racing a year. Try it,,,, your'll love it.

One overnight race in May just to get ready.
One 4 days, 3 nights 300 miles race - non stop around a big lake (LO 300).

Love the night race. Got to see the Milky way, Lakers and tankers !!!!

Wouldn't miss it. Highlight of the sailing season.

 

[Benny17441]

We departed our berth in Tampa Bay one Friday evening to go down to Venice, FL. It was December the 30th and we intended to spend the weekend over there and enjoy the New Year festivities at the Crow's Nest Marina Restaurant. By 10:00 PM we were approaching The Sunshine Skyway bridge having been chased down for the last hour by a Carnival cruise ship. I gave her a wide berth so she could go under the bridge before we did but I did not know that they were stopping under the bridge for the passangers to take pictures. It was a pretty sight to see the ship all lit up against the backdrop of the bridge which was also lit up and all the flashes from cameras some which were pointed at us. We could hear the music and see the people moving around. It was like we were part of the party. We did not need to go through the main span so we just cut across and went ahead on our merry way. It was an unexpected treat.

 

[AtlanticAl]

I love night sailing, i think its easier, you can see lights miles off, much further than you can see a ship during the day, when you get out really far, their is no light polution, and you can see ever star in the sky, and when you come in, you can pick up all those buoys, one after the other, i have heard people say, background lights make it hard to pick up buoys but i have never found that problem, maybe when you are far off, but then you are heading for the lights, as the lights are a port, when you get nearer, you see the lights in the water.

What i hate at night, is bad weather, I hate to look up at that mast at night, and see it swing, and i hate not knowing what size the next wave will be, i also hate being in busy places at night, with ships moving close, that really scares me, and sometimes at night, you think lights are further than they are, and find yourself nearly tripping over a buoy, that you thought was a ship. but it is the most relaxing time.

 

[John Howitt]

My first experience night sailing was also my first time out of sight of land.
Over the next three months I became addicted to both ,but sadly have not done much of either since.
Fond lasting memories

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

For years I enjoyed sailing at night on Smith Mountain Lake, Va particularly when one of the shuttles was scheduled to go overhead. I took many friends and customers. Even the logo of my company was patterned with a sailboat sailing under the moon and stars. However, I added a shooting star as I often saw many.

One Saturday morning at 2:30 am with two customers, I heard an approaching power boat with no lights and shined my spot light in that direction and turned it off to alert who was approaching to be careful. Suddenly, blue light specail came on and it was two game wardens patroling who started to read me the riot act. I simply reminded them the rules of lights on as theirs' were not on and simply shined my light toward them to give them a warning I was there too but had my lights on. They apologized particularly when they saw me.

Another time was during the winter on a Sunday morning at 3 am during a snow storm.
I had every light on so I could not be missed. Again I heard an approaching boat but with lights on. Well, it was the same two game wardens who then put on their blue light special. They were not wearing enough warm clothing. We tied off and talked and then offered them hot coffee. They thought the sails bellowing in the snow was beautiful. We became close freinds from then on.

In the early 80's While sailing offshore in a 22' Southcoast 20 miles off, I turned and headed in toward the opening of the Chesapeak Bay Bridge Tunnel. Unfortuantely, the winds died contrary to the local forecast. Without my knowledge, the other sailor had supposedly turned off the stereo but did not the previous morning hours. Needless to say, batteries were dead and I approached darkness without running lights as fog set in at night heading toward Willoughby Spit. Also, he had dropped the charts overboard.
Well, I pulled out the little AM radio and state highway road map which I did not let him touch. Using the radio as an RDF in conjuction with the insert of the Bay on the map,
I was able to bring us in under power within 700 feet to my destination laying anchor.

Although this is long, there are several considerations for those who want to sail at night. Safety is the most important item. Know the area you are sailing in with use of GPS and backed up with current maps. Listen and keep a sharp lookout for others. The old adage of do not drink and drive is true for the skipper sailing at night. Check the weather often and head in if approaching weather is not good. Maintain your batteries and keep a good flashlight with extra batteries on board with current charts.
There is more but you get the point.

Enjoy sailing at night like I did.

crazy dave condon

 

[kpgraci]

A caution: city lights can be your enemy. Think about the background lights messing up your ability to see nav aids. We have lots of backlights here, and even though I know this place like the back of my hand, it's disconcerting when background lights mess up the view.

Oh yeah. My harbor is next to a small airport that juts out into the lake, there is no shortage of flashing lights along the shoreline - combined with street and other lights the channel marker is well hidden with it's anemic little flashing white light - it's really funny because it's the dimest and least obvious light out there.

However - the airport's rotating beacon is easy to spot and lies with 1/2 mile of my harbor entrance - during the day I use the airports tower as my guide, at night the beacon.